2012 Odyssey Award Announced!

This annual award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.

Listening Library, an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc., producer of Rotters, written by Daniel Kraus and narrated by Kirby Heyborne.

 

Heyborne’s versatile character voicing animates this strange tale of Joey, a 16-year-old whose mother has died.  His struggle begins as he is dropped into the isolated world of his father, a grave robber.  The exquisite timing pulls us through the chilling story of the destruction and rebuilding of Joey’s personality.

2012 Honor Audiobooks

Ghetto Cowboy, written by G. Neri, narrated by JD Jackson and produced by Brilliance Audio.

Twelve-year-old Cole grows from near-delinquent to responsible teen and passionate horseman as he helps his father and the cowboys save their endangered stables in inner-city Philadelphia.  Neri’s captivating tale, inspired by real-life black urban cowboys, resonates in Jackson’s rich baritone performance.

 

Okay for Now, written by Gary D. Schmidt, narrated by Lincoln Hoppe and produced by Listening Library, an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc.

 

 

Doug’s miserable life includes a new town and a dysfunctional family until the works of Audubon help him see that his life might just be “okay.”  Narrator Hoppe wears this audiobook like Doug’s beloved baseball jacket and his empathetic performance echoes long after the last word.

The Scorpio Races, written by Maggie Stiefvater, narrated by Steve Westand Fiona Hardingham and produced by Scholastic Inc., Scholastic Audiobooks.

The stakes are high for Sean and Puck in their islands’ annual race of savage water horses.  Narrators West and Hardingham’s lyrical narration evokes the atmosphere of a rugged island culture forever bound to fearsome mythical creatures.

Young Fredle, written by Cynthia Voigt, narrated by Wendy Carter and produced by Listening Library, an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc.

Carter captures all the curiosity, fear and delight of young Fredle, as listeners follow the mouse’s adventures both inside and outside the house.  Voigt’s gentle and heartwarming story features cats, dogs, raccoons and owls, all brought to fine characterization through Carter’s spectacular performance.

2012 Media Awards Announced!

On Jan.23, 2012  the American Library Association (ALA) announced the top awards in children’s and young adult literature

2012 Media Awards Announced! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Newbery Medal The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launced on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder.

Newbery Honor

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Caldecott Medal The Caldecott Medal  is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka

In a wordless book with huge children’s appeal, Chris Raschka gives us the story of an irrepressible little dog whose most prized possession is accidently destroyed.  With brilliant economy of line and color, Raschka captures Daisy’s total (yet temporary) devastation. A buoyant tale of loss, recovery and friendship.

Caldecott Honor

Blackout by John Rocco

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Children of the World

How We Live, Learn, and Play in Poems, Drawings, and Photographs by Anthony Asael and Stephanie Rabemiafara

Between 2005 and 2009, photographers Anthony Asael and Stephanie Ravemiafara spent 1,464 days traveling roughly 385,000 miles around the globe. Their mission? To capture the smiles of more than 18,000 children worldwide. With the help of UNICEF, the photographers (and founder of the nonprofit organization Art in All of Us) visited 310 schools in 192 countries and held artistic workshops for children of all ages. By encouraging children to explore what it means to be a child in their own countries through drawings, paintings, and poems, the photographers collected 25,000 pieces of art and 160,000 photos.The children’s firsthand reflections allow readers a glimpse into vastly diverse cultures. Read Jada Sweeting’s poem and visualize the beautiful beaches of the Bahamas. Discover the importance of cows in Switzerland through Melanie Oppliger’s drawing. Learn about the favorite foods of Malaysian children with Shi Ying’s poem. Discover exotic wildlife around the world with Lizen Pan’s drawing of a giraffe in South Africa. Poems are presented in their original language and accompanied by English translations and all pieces of art are presented in their original vivid colors. On every page of this book, the lives of children come to life.

How To Draw a Happy Witch

and 99 Things that Go Bump in the Night

by Joy Sikorski & Nick Sunday

How to Draw a Jack-O’-Lantern and 99 other adventurous drawing lessons. In this book, you’ll learn how to draw autumn leaves, a happy witch, a skinny scarecrow, and eerie bat, a tiny field mouse, a busy lightning bug – even funny creatures that shout, “TRICK OR TREAT!” AND you can read a nighttime story about Little Man the cat (a true hunter) walking far into the wetland forest on Halloween night to dine at the Black Cat Bistro. A tasty dish of snails cooked by the Happy Witch awaits him. There’s a costume party going on and the guests are disguised as friendly animals that live in the forest. Look for lots of fun drawing tips, and, on every page, examples of how to color your drawings with pastel chalks. If you like to draw, or would like to know how, this book is for you!

101 Fun Things To Do with Your Dog!

Tricks, Games, Spiorts, and Other Playtime Activities by Alison Smith

101 Fun Things to Do With Your Dog is a fantastic catalog of games, tricks, and activities. Overflowing with exciting ideas for dogs and owners of all ages and fitness levels, the book includes outdoor scent games, speed tests, and obstacle courses, plus indoor rainy day boredom busters. You’ll also find breed-specific games that allow you to match your dog with his natural abilities. Easily recognizable icons at the beginning of each section indicate the number of dogs and people needed for the game, whether it’s an indoor or outdoor activity, and any equipment needed. With plenty of group activities that get the whole family involved, 101 Fun Things to Do With your Dog is sure to strengthen the bond between you and your dog while keeping your canine physically fit and mentally stimulated.