Children Book Awards

The American Library Association recently announced the Newbery and Caldecott Award and Honor Award winners for 2008. These books represent the best of the year and provide a wonderful array of quality titles for young readers. Check out the titles that might be of interest to your young reader, you will not be disappointed!

The Newbery Medal honors "the most outstanding contribution to children's literature." The winner is Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz.

The Newberry honor books for 2008 are:

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis.
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt.
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson.

The Caldecott Medal honors "the most distinguished American picture book for children." The winner is The Invention of Hugo Cabret, illustrated by Brian Selznick.

The Caldecott Honor Books for 2008 are:

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad, illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by Ellen Levine.

First the Egg, illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger.

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, illustrated and written by Peter Sís.

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, illustrated and written by Mo Willems.

Award lists can be the first step in choosing books to read, but don't limit your selections to award books. Don't be limited by genre, either. If a picture book has appeal, don't worry if your reader is older. A good book can have a broader appeal than the age limit on the back cover. An interesting novel may make a perfect read-aloud choice for younger kids. Keep those pages turning!

Like A Maccabee - This middle-grade chapter book tells the story of Ben, a 10-year-old boy who is gearing up for a championship soccer game while adjusting to the changes in his family that have occurred since his grandfather moved in. Ben faces challenges at school, including the bully from the opposing soccer team, and frustrations at home.

About Barbara Bietz