The winners of the most prestigious prizes for children's books were announced in January at the American Library Association's mid-winter meeting. They include a ghost story, a lovely bedtime chant and a fascinating history of the Negro baseball leagues.
The John Newbery Medal honoring the author of the most outstanding contribution to children's literature was given to The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
A family is murdered in their beds, all but the baby, whose nighttime wanderings saved his life. Toddling through an ancient graveyard, the baby is discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Owens - who just happen to be dead. The graveyard denizens decide to keep the baby, name him "Nobody" and protect him from the killer, who still seeks him.
The Randolph Caldecott Medal honoring the illustrator of the most distinguished American picture book for children was given to The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes, written by Susan Marie Swanson.
A soothing bedtime chant opens with a key to the house, flies through the starry night, and circles back to a home full of light and a comfy bed. The black and white scratchboard illustrations, imbued with golden highlights, convey both the cozy safety and the vast splendor of a child's world.
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award honoring the author and illustrator of an outstanding book for beginning readers was given to Are you Ready To Play Outside?, written and illustrated by Mo Willems.
Piggie is excited about playing outside, until it starts to rain. He hates the rain, until two worms show him how much fun it can be. Simply brilliant dialogue and expressive cartoon illustrations make this a perfect book to read to your child or have your beginning reader read to you.
The winner of The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, given for the most distinguished informational book was given to We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
"Seems like we've been playing baseball for a mighty long time. At least as long as we've been free," begins the gruff narrator who relates the history of the Negro baseball league with pride. The accompanying oil paintings have a steely dignity, and their from-the-ground perspective makes the players look larger than life.
The Coretta Scott King Book Award is given to African-American authors and illustrators for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The author award was given to We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. This book also received a Coretta Scott King Honor medal for the illustrations.
The illustrator award was given to The Blacker The Berry illustrated by Floyd Cooper and written by Joyce Carol Thomas.
"Colors, without black, couldn't sparkle quite so bright." Twelve poems that celebrate the range of skin color in the African-American community are accompanied by Cooper's masterful portraits.
For more information about the awards and to view the entire list of award-winning and honor books, visit www.ala.org.
