My Newbery hopefuls:
Aurora County All-Stars, by Deborah Wiles

Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale

Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick

Wednesday Wars, by Gary Schmidt

Anyone gonna take a shot at the Printz awards? My favorite YA of the year so far is Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature, by Robin Brande

Um...anyone care to tell me how to insert a line break into my future comments...? ;)

I think "Good Master, Sweet Ladies" is a long shot, though you know I have an affection for it as well. And your description of "Feathers" is spot-on. What about "The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World"?

We're doing a Mock Caldecott this year, and we're having the same problem: there's nothing we're overwhelmingly fond of. "Old Penn Station" has come up, and there has been some love for "Wicked Big Toddlah." There's also the predictable love for "Knuffle Bunny Too" and "Baby Bear, Baby Bear..." And one of my colleagues gave an intriguing argument in favor of "Fred Stays with Me". But, um, yeah...no standouts.

So both No Castles Here and Emma Jean Lazarus are debut novels, which gets me to wondering: over the years, how many Newberys (um, Newberies?) have been awarded to first-time authors? Betsy, I'm sure your readership will know the answer! [Sarah Miller, I haven't been able to insert break lines either since the blog moved.]

Well I don't have the stats on how many debut authors...but one of those most memorable ones is EL Konigsburg. Her first two novels were published in the same year...one got the Newbery, the other a Newbery Honor.

How about Ashley Bryan's stunning "Let it Shine" for a Caldecott possiblity? I read the book back in January, and my eyes are still twirling around in their sockets from the beauty of it all.

I just wanna say "heck yeah" for LET IT SHINE!

I'd put 'The Apple Pie That Papa Baked' (by Laura Thompson, illustrated by Jonathan Bean) up for Caldecott - it's like nothing else I've seen this year. The style is influenced by Wanda G'ag, and Virginia Lee Burton, yet I think it's rather refreshing and original. There's something exciting and satisfying about seeing a book with classic three color illustrations. (Which feels like a bold move in the current picture book landscape.) I don't know if it's got a shot, but I'm rootin' for it!

The art in Jeremy Tankard's Grumpy Bird is like none I've seen this year. -- Jules, 7-Imp

Oh, but I should add:

Yes, Sis' The Wall is pretty flippin' amazing.

-- Jules

Ooooh, I'm so happy to hear other people talking about "Let It Shine"!!! I was beginning to think I was the only one out there! The spread with the hands held out is transcendent.

Let It Shine is, indeed, beautiful. I'll be covering it soon at 7Imp.

Jules

I can't even tell you how useful this is. "Let It Shine" completely fell under my radar. I never would have forgiven myself if it won an award and came out oh so long ago in JANUARY. Must go review it now.

Why would "Good Masters" be a long shot? It doesn't fall neatly into a category, but I think that just aids it in terms of the Newbery where, in other awards, it would be a problem. And you have to admit, everyone who reads it LOVES it. "Mysterious Edge" is fine reading but, as a fellow librarian told me the other day "it's not a children's book". That puppy was written with adults in mind and that is it. By the way, if "Fred Stays With Me" won a Caldecott I could die a happy woman. I adored that book (and made the mistake of reviewing it LAST year).

I know there's been lots of fuss over "Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County" - that could be a possibility. And I will readily admit everyone who reads "Good Master" loves it, but I also fear that it may be a bit highbrow and lack wide appeal...which would probably make it the perfect award recipient. I love "Fred Stays With Me" but I'm not optimistic about its chances - it would be very easy for it to fly under the radar and be vastly underrated. Everyone keeps mentioning "Hugo Cabret" but I don't think it can win. It doesn't stand alone on its text and it doesn't stand alone on its illustrations. But I would still be ecstatic to see it win something - it's brilliant.

There is no award currently in existence that can go to "Hugo Cabret". The Horn Book-Globe Award was probably the closest it could get, but that's it. For a while I thought maybe it would have a chance at the Caldecott, but I've since been informed that this cannot be the case. Ah well. I'm ashamed to have forgotten "Chicken-Chasing Queen" since that was one of my favorite books at the beginning of the year. By all means that should win!

caldecott; wait till you see Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose, the Dillons

I just finished "Feathers" and I think it's outstanding. Jacqueline Woodson weaves together the stories and perspectives of several characters, and they all come to life brilliantly. It's a fine study in relationships, prejudice, faith, and love. An unusual and original story that's definitely worthy of Newbery consideration.