Blog Post
Youth & Teen Book Awards Announced!
by erin
For at least a year librarians all over the country read, and read, and read and then in the dead of winter in some predetermined location (this time it was Philadelphia) they meet at their annual conference and discuss, and argue and determine the best books, audio and video for children and teens! On Monday, January 27 the ALA (American Library Association) hosted the Youth Media Awards and came up with their best picks. Without further ado find out what books you should start reading NOW! The big three awards are the Newbery, Caldecott and the Printz, but there are many other awards so be sure to look through the whole list!
The Newbery Medal honors the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
2014 Winner: Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventure, by Kate DiCamillo
Honor Books:
Doll Bones, by Holly Black
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
One Came Home, by Amy Timberlake
Paperboy, by Vince Vawter
The Caldecott Medal honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
2014 Winner: Locomotive, illustrated and written by Brian Floca
Honor Books:
Journey, written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
Flora and the Flamingo, written and illustrated by Molly Idle
Mr. Wuffles! written and illustrated by David Wiesner
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
2014 Winner:
Midwinter Blood by Marcus Sedgwick
Honor Books:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
Other Awards:
The Batchelder Award is given to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.
2014 Winner: Mister Orange written by Truus Matti, and translated from the Dutch by Laura Watkinson.
Honor Books:
The Bathing Costume or the Worst Vacation of My Life, written by Charlotte Moundlic, illustrated by Olivier Tallec
My Father’s Arms Are a Boat written by Stein Erik Lunde, illustrated by Øyvind Torseter
The War Within These Walls written by Aline Sax
The Belpré Medal honors a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
2014 Author Winner:
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass written by Meg Medina
2014 Illustrator Winner:
Niño Wrestles the World illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales
Honor Books:
The Lightning Dreamer written by Margarita Engle
The Living,” written by Matt de la Peña
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (for Author and Illustrator)
Maria Had a Little Llama illustrated and written by Angela Dominguez
Tito Puente,” illustrated by Rafael López
The Andrew Carnegie Medal honors the most outstanding video productions for children released during the previous year.
2014 Winner:
Bink and Gollie
The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.
2014 Winner:
The Watermelon Seed,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
Honor Books:
Ball,” written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan
A Big Guy Took My Ball! written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Penny and Her Marble,” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
This Odyssey award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.
2014 Winner:
Scowler,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Daniel Kraus and narrated by Kirby Heyborne.
Honor Books:
Better Nate Than Ever,”produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, written and narrated by Tim Federle
Creepy Carrots!” produced by Weston Woods Studios, Inc., and written by Aaron Reynolds
Eleanor & Park produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Rainbow Rowell, and narrated by Rebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhotra
Matilda,” produced by Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., written by Roald Dahl, and narrated by Kate Winslet.
The Sibert Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year.
2014 Winner:
Parrots over Puerto Rico,” written by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, illustrated by Susan L. Roth,
Honor Books:
A Splash of Red, written by Jen Bryant
Look Up!,written and illustrated by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Locomotive ”written and illustrated by Brian Floca
he Mad Potter,written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.
2014 Winner:
The Nazi Hunters written by Neal Bascomb
Finalists:
Go written by Chip Kidd
imprisoned written by Martin W. Sandler
Courage Has No Color written by Tanya Lee Stone
The President Has Been Shot! written by James L. Swanson
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.
2014 Winner:
Charm & Strange written by Stephanie Kuehn
Finalists:
Sex & Violence written by Carrie Mesrobian
Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets written by Evan Roskos
Belle Epoque written by Elizabeth Ross
in the Shadow of Blackbirds written by Cat Winters
The Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults. Each year the recognize an author and an illustrator.
2014 Author Winner:
P.S. Be Eleven, written by Rita Williams-Garcia
2014 Illustrator Winner:
Knock Knock, illustrated by Bryan Collier
Author & Illustrator Honor Books:
March: Book One,” written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
Darius & Twig,written by Walter Dean Myers
Words with Wings, written by Nikki Grimes
Nelson Mandela, illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson
The Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:
2014 Winner:
A Splash of Red, written by Jen Bryant (for younger children)
Handbook for Dragon Slayers,” written by Merrie Haskell (for middle grade children)
Rose under Fire, written by Elizabeth Wein (for teens)
The Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award is given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.
2014 Winner:
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, written by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Honor Books:
Better Nate Than Ever, written by Tim Federle
Branded by the Pink Triangle, written by Ken Setterington
Two Boys Kissing,”written by David Levithan
Blog Post
Building Budding Builders
by StoryLaura
The Wedgits are out at the Downtown Library and there are lots of them! What a simple, yet elegant toy with so much play potential! Babies like how easy they are to grasp and they like to bang them together. Tots seem pleased with how easy they stack to make a tower. It’s the adults who get stuck playing at the tot table though, maybe because this simple, award winning nesting toy gives us a sense of order in this wacky world!
Blog Post
At the Art Table: Self Portraits!
by manz
The next time you’re at the Downtown Library, pop into the Youth Department and check out the new art project at the art table.
This time around you’ll be working with paper and pencil to create a self portrait, suitable for framing. Sit at the art table and glance in the mirror at yourself. What are your brightest features? What are the features you want to focus on? Will you make a simple line drawing? Will your art be black and white or full of color? Will you just draw your face? Let's find out!
To see some famous self portraits or get tips on creating your own, check out these children’s books and adult books.
Blog Post
Magic Mushroom House
by StoryLaura
The tot table at the Downtown Library feeds into the fairy frenzy when the Magic Cabin's Mushroom House, gnomes and winged creatures come out to play. Any fairy hunters looking for the famous door will want to stop and enjoy the cozy forest scene. Make sure to take a peek at our fairytale collection and a fairy book or two while you are here. Remember that Sunday in A2 is magic fairy dust day when parking everywhere is free!
Blog Post
Going to the Zoo
by StoryLaura
There’s nothing like a brisk visit to the Detroit Zoo or the Toledo Zoo in the winter time, but if you want to stay warm and cozy with your little one, just stop at the tot table at the Downtown Library. We have the PLAYMOBIL 123 zoo critters for your playing pleasure. This nifty little set, for the very young, was picked up at Learning Express right here in Ann Arbor.
Blog Post
Shapes In Art
by manz
The next time you’re at the Downtown Library stop by the art table in the Youth Department and work with shapes! We have a variety of wooden shapes that children will enjoy making into different designs. We have some templates out for you to get ideas from.
If you’re inspired to read some picture books about shapes, check these out. And for more shapes in art books check out: Museum Shapes, I Spy Shapes In Art, and Shapes.
Blog Post
We've Got Community!
by StoryLaura
Playing at the Downtown Library tot table with the garages, cars and traffic signs, provides a great opportunity to talk to your little one about our community, ">neighborhoods and incredible C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Watch out for that stop sign!
Blog Post
Chesstastic on Sunday, November 10 at Traverwood
by K.C.
Sunday, November 10 | 1-4 PM | Traverwood Branch | Gr. K-Adult
Come and play one of the world's most popular games with players of all ages! Chess sets (and snacks) are provided.
Coming up in the “world” of chess is the 2013 SportsAccord World Mind Games held December 12-18 in Beijing. Chess along with other mind games. Check the list of players who will compete.
Blog Post
At the Art Table: Veterans Day Cards!
by manz
Next time you’re at the Downtown branch, stop by the art table in the Youth Department and create a Veterans Day card! We've got the supplies needed to make a SUPER STAR card for a Veteran. All cards collected in time will be delivered to the Ann Arbor VA hospital in time for Veterans Day on November 11.
Blog Post
Recipe for Fun at the Tot Table Downtown
by StoryLaura
One pretend apple pie
Multi-flavored scoops of ice cream
Colorful plates for serving
Very young chefs
Grown Ups who love to sample apple pie
And...while you are here, check out some of the apple pie books and children’s cookbooks.