News and interviews with award winning authors and illustrators including Newbery, Caldecott, and more, from School Library Journal
Nominations Open for the I Love My Librarian! Award By Rocco Staino - 09/14/2009
Know a librarian whose work has improved the lives of people in their communities? The New York Times, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the American Library Association (ALA) are encouraging the nominations of public, school, college, and academic librarians for the I Love My Librarian! Award. More
Hoose’s ‘Claudette Colvin’ Wins National Book Award for Young People’s Literature By Rocco Staino - 11/18/2009
Author and historian Phillip Hoose’s true story about a brave African-American teen who defied Jim Crow laws in March 1955 by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white woman in Montgomery, AL, is the recipient of the 2009 National Book Award in the category for Young People’s Literature.
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Teens Hobnob with National Book Award Finalists By Rocco Staino - 11/18/2009
Students from New York City area schools were treated to a surprise guest at this year’s National Book Award’s Teen Press conference with award finalists—Claudette Colvin, the little known civil rights activist and subject of a book by Phillip Hoose showed up at the event.
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Kid Science Book Finalists Announced By Rocco Staino - 10/28/2009
Books that chronicle a day of scientific mishaps, the 1991 discovery of the oldest mummy in the Italian Alps, and a meticulously illustrated depiction of the Apollo 11 moon flight are among the finalists for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Prizes for Excellence in Science Books for children and young adults.
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Society of Illustrators Gives Lifetime Achievement Award to Van Allsburg By Rocco Staino - 10/26/2009
The Society of Illustrators last week honored two-time Caldecott Medalist Chris Van Allsburg with its Lifetime Achievement Award during the association’s annual Original Art exhibit, which showcases a cross section of the best-illustrated books of the year.
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Teens Vote John Green’s ‘Paper Towns’ No. 1 By SLJ Staff - 10/21/2009
Teens around the country voted John Green’s page-turning mystery Paper Towns (Dutton, 2008) as their favorite book this year in the annual Teens' Top Ten vote, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).
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Kid-Focused Libraries Win IMLS Highest Honors By Lauren Barack - 10/20/2009
Public libraries that offer stellar programs for Pre-K-12 students, provide quality programming to its blind and physically handicapped patrons, and tell the story of the citizen soldier in American history are among five winners of this year’s National Medal for Museum and Library Service, sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
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Author Linda Sue Park Wins Empire State Author Award By Rocco Staino - 10/19/2009
Newbery Award-winning author Linda Sue Park is this year’s winner of the Empire State Author Award, given to a New York State children’s or YA author for a body of work.
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Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog Jonathan Hunt, Librarian and teacher, Modesto City Schools November 11, 2009 Charles and Emma
While CHARLES AND EMMA is easily one of the best books of the year, I do think many... More
2009 National Book Awards On the red carpet with nominees in the Young People's Literature category.
Photos by Rocco Staino.
SLJ Covers 2009 A bigger and better view of SLJ's covers from 2009
BookExpo America 2009: SLJ's Day of Dialog School Library Journal held a Day of Dialog in conjunction with the annual BookExpo America on May 28, 2009 at the Brooklyn Public Library. Full story: bit.ly/1a0G7o
Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (unabr.). 9 cassettes or 9 CDs. 11 hrs. Recorded Books (recordedbooks.com). 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-3888-3: $67.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3892-0: $97.75. Gr 7 Up–Seventeen-year-old Jessica Packwood was adopted as an infant and raised in rural Lebanon County, PA, by a socially conscious vegan couple.
Celebrity decorator Evette Rios reads to enthusiastic second graders at the Brooklyn Brownstone School library as part of a First Book donation event. The Eight O' Clock Coffee brand and Candlewick Press are teaming up to contribute 20,000 books to children across the country through their partnership with First Book, an organization that provides new books to children in need.
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Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (unabr.). 9 cassettes or 9 CDs. 11 hrs. Recorded Books (recordedbooks.com). 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-3888-3: $67.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3892-0: $97.75. 
