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Employment and Internship Opportunities in Children's Book Publishing. Updated weekly.
National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
NATIONAL CHILDREN'S CHOICE BOOK AWARDS ANNOUNCED
The Children's Book Council (CBC) in association with the CBC Foundation, announced the winners of the first annual Children's Choice Book Awards at a gala in New York City, hosted by Jon Scieszka, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Children across the country voted for their favorite books, author, and illustrator at bookstores, school libraries, and at www.BookWeekOnline.com. Close to 55,000 votes were received. Click here to read the press release.
StoryTubes is here!
Children, parents, educators, librarians and anyone else who loves stories - StoryTubes is here!
Kids across the country in Grades 1-6 are invited to talk about their favorite book on YouTube for a chance to win prizes. It's simple! Just make a 2-minute-or-shorter video about your favorite book and upload it to YouTube. Then, go to the StoryTubes.info web site with a parent, upload your video and send the link to your video to the National StoryTubes Contest.
StoryTubes videos can be entered beginning April 1. You choose a category for your video:
Hair-Raising Tales
From or For the Heart
Of Heroes and Heroines
Facts, Fads and Phenoms
Each week, the top ten videos in each category will be featured for voting.
Voting mania will then begin and happen each week in May! At the end of each week, one lucky contestant will win $500 in books. Their sponsoring organization (school, library or designated organization for home-schooled youth) will receive $1,000 in books. Book prizes are sponsored by publishers Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Eaglemont Press, DK Publishing, Charlesbridge Publishing and Shenanigan Books.
The StoryTubes national partner libraries are:
Northeast: Middle Country Public Library of Centereach; NY
Southeast: The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County/ImaginOn, Charlotte, NC
Midwest: Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
Northwest: King County Library System, Issaquah, WA
Southwest: Pasadena Public Library, Pasadena, CA
Get your story, camera (almost any digital camera will do) and let the streaming
stories begin! For more information, visit www.storytubes.info.
WNBA Announces Children's Bookseller Award Nominees
The Women's National Book Association is proud to announce the nominees for the 2008 Lucile Micheels Pannell Award. Established in 1981 to honor Lucile Micheels Pannell, a model bookwoman and children's bookseller, the Pannell Award recognizes retail bookstores that excel at inspiring the interest of young people in books and reading. WNBA will present the Award to two bookstores (one general and one children's specialty store) at BookExpo America 2008 in Los Angeles.
Each recipient will receive a check for $1,000 and a framed piece of original art by a children's book illustrator. In addition to the Women's National Book Association, the award will be sponsored by Penguin Young Readers Group, a leading publisher of books for young people.
The nominees represent a mix of well-established stores, as well as relatively new stores, located all over the country:
Children's Specialty Stores:
Books on First--Dixon, IL
Flying Pig Books-- Shelburne, VT
Children's Place Bookstore-Portland, OR
The Hidden Room Book Shoppe - South Haven, MI
Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop - La Verne, CA
General Stores:
Vroman's Bookstore-- Pasadena CA
Barnes & Noble Store #1857 - North Miami, FL
Green Apple Books - San Francisco, CA
Liberty Bay Books - Poulsbo, WA
Kepler's Books & Magazines -Menlo Park, CA
LaDeDa Books and Beans-Manitowoc, WI
Lift Bridge Book Shop-Brockport, NY
BookCourt -- Brooklyn, NY
Vero Beach Book Center -- Vero Beach, FL
Women and Children First-Chicago, IL
A jury of five book industry professionals will select the award winners based on the store's demonstration of creativity, responsiveness to community needs, passion and a genuine understanding of making the connection between books and young readers.
The Women's National Book Association, founded in 1917, is a national organization of women and men who work with and value books. WNBA, an all-volunteer organization, exists to promote reading and to support the role of women in the community of the book. To learn more about the organization and the Pannell Award, visit their web page at www.wnba-books.org.
Vera B. Williams named the 50th Regina Medal recipient
Highly respected and celebrated children's author and illustrator Vera B. Williams is the 50th recipient of the Regina Medal for her continued, distinguished contribution to the field of children's literature. This annual award is administered by Catholic Library Association through the Children's Library Services Section.
Greenwillow has published all of Ms. Williams' books, beginning in 1975 with It's a Gingerbread House. She has won two Caldecott Honors: A Chair for My Mother (1983) and "More More More," Said the Baby: Three Love Stories (1990). Many of her works have been translated into Spanish.
When she was nine years old, her painting "Yentas" was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The young artist was highlighted in the then popular Movietone film reels explaining her painting to another pioneering American woman, then first-lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Ms. Williams graduated from Black Mountain College near Asheville, North Carolina with a degree in graphic arts. She has always been a strong supporter of non-violence, children, woman, and the environment.
Ms. Williams will receive the Regina Medal at a luncheon in her honor at the CLA national convention in Indianapolis, IN on March 26, 2008. For luncheon tickets or to purchase 2008 Regina Medal bookmarks, please visit www.cathla.org.
2007 Carter G. Woodson Book Awards and Honors
The Carter G. Woodson Book Award Select Subcommittee has chosen the 2007 Carter G. Woodson elementary, middle, and secondary level
book award winners, as well as three honor book award recipients. The NCSS Carter G. Woodson Book Awards recognize the most distinguished
social science books depicting ethnicity in the United States that are appropriate for young readers. The awards will be presented
at the 87th NCSS Annual Conference in San Diego, CA at a reception on Saturday evening, December 1. Award-winning authors will also
sign books at the conference. Check your conference program to find out the date, time, and location. This year’s winners are as follows:
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
Elementary Level (Grades K-6)
John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement
By Jim Haskins and Kathleen Benson; Illustrations by Benny Andrews
Middle Level (Grades 5 - 8)
Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott
By Russell Freedman
Secondary Level (Grades 7 - 12)
Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese-American Incarceration During World War II and a Librarian Who Made a Difference
By Joanne Oppenheim
Carter G. Woodson Honor Book
Elementary Level (Grades K-6)
Gordon Parks: No Excuses
By Ann Parr; Photographs by Gordon Parks; Illustrations by Kathryn Breidenthal
Middle Level (Grades 5 - 8)
Up Before Daybreak: Cotton and People in America
By Deborah Hopkinson
Secondary Level (Grades 7 - 12)
Growing Season: The Life of a Migrant Community
Photographs by Gary Harwood; Text by David Hassler
The awards are given in honor of
Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950),
scholar, educator, historian, and
founding editor of The Journal of Negro
History. In 1915, Woodson founded the
Association for the Study of Negro Life
and History, and, in 1926, initiated
Negro History Week, which gave rise in
1976 to Black History Month.
Librarian Of Congress To Name National Ambassador For Young People's Literature
The Library of Congress announced today that, through its Center for the Book, it will create the post of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Appointed for a two-year term by the Librarian of Congress, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature will speak to the importance of fiction and non-fiction books in children’s lives. Selected for extraordinary contributions to the world of books for young people, the National Ambassador will encourage the appreciation of young people’s literature throughout the United States through both personal and media appearances. (PDF)
Calling New Authors: Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Launches Children’s Book Contest!
Cheerios Puts Out Casting Call for Prospective Authors,
with Cash Prize, Potential Book Deal for Top Story (PDF)
Magaret K. McElderry at the Regina Medal Luncheon
The Regina Medal is presented annually by Catholic Library Association to a living author, editor, or illustrator for his/her outstanding lifetime contribution to children's literature. It was presented to Magaret K. McElderry on April 11, 2007.
above, left to right: Margaret K. McElderry, recipient; Jean Elvekrog, Chair of Regina Medal Committee; Lanore Spearing, Chair of the Children's Library Services Section; Rev. Kenneth O'Malley, CP, President of Catholic Library Association. (photographer: Richard Gladziszewski)
(5/1/07)
Jane Addams Children's Book Awards Announced
Winners of the 2007 Jane Addams Children's Book Awards, announced by the Jane Addams Peace Association, are, in the category of Books for Younger Children,
A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy-Lee Tai, illustrated by Felicia Hoshino (Children's Book Press); and in the category of Books for Older Children, Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum Books for Young Readers). Honor books in the Books for Younger Children Category: Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom Tim Tingle, illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridges (Cinco Puntos Press); and Night Boat to Freedom by Margot Theis Raven, illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux). Honor books in the Books for Older Children category: Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman (Holiday House); and Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House Children's Books). Since 1953, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award jas annually acknowledged books published in the U.S. during the previous year that promote peace, justice, world community, and/or equality of the sexes and all races. The 2007 Jane Addams Children's Book Awards will be presented Friday, October 19 in New York City. For more information contact JAPA Executive Director Linda B. Belle, 777 United Nations Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017-3521; 212-682-8830; japa@igc.org; or visit www.janeaddamspeace.org.
(4/27/2007)
American Library Association announces literary award winners
The American Library Association (ALA) today announced its top books for children and young adults at its Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.
- John Newbery Medal: The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (Richard Jackson/Simon & Schuster)
- Randolph Caldecott Medal: Flotsam by David Wiesner (Clarion)
- Michael L. Printz Award: American Born Chinese, a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang (First Second/Roaring Brook)
- Coretta Scott King Book Awards: Copper Sun by Sharon Draper (Atheneum) and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (written by Carole Boston Weatherford) (Jump at the Sun/Hyperion)
- Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
- Schneider Family Book Award:
- ages 0-10: The Deaf Musicians by Pete Seeger and Paul DuBois Jacobs, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (G. P. Putnam's Sons)
- ages 11-13: Rules written by Cynthia Lord (Scholastic Press)
- ages 13-18: Small Steps by Louis Sachar (Delacorte Press)
- Theodor Seuss Geisel Beginning Reader Award: Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways by Laura McGee Kvasnosky (Candlewick Press)
- Margaret A. Edwards Award: Lois Lowry
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Award: James Marshall
- Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award: Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh (Houghton)
- Mildred L. Batchelder Award: The Pull of the Ocean (L'enfant Océan) by Jean-Claude Mourlevat, translated by Y. Maudet (Delacorte)
For information on other awards and lists of honor books, visit the ALA website.
(1/30/07)
Bridge to Terabithia Movie
Based on the popular Newbery Award-winning novel by Katherine Paterson in which two friends create the secret, magical kingdom only accessible by swinging on an old rope over a stream, the feature-film version of Bridge to Terabithia will open on February 16, 2007. The film comes from the producers of The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, with visual effects by Weta Digital (The Lord of the Rings, King Kong).
(1/20/07)
Joan Lowery Nixon Award Mystery Writing Contest
MWA: Reads—a Mystery Writers of America literacy program that encourages children and teens to read mysteries by joining authors with students, parents, teachers, and librarians—will hold its second annual Joan Lowery Nixon Award mystery writing contest in 2007. Students in public and private schools, as well as homeschooled students, are encouraged to participate. The contest is open to students in the second through tenth grades. Winners in two categories will receive $250 cash prizes. Submissions will be accepted February 3 through February 28, 2007. Winners will be announced at the Mystery Writers of AmericaÕs Edgar Awards on April 26, 2007. For more information visit www.mysterywriters.org/MWAreads. (11/29/06)
2006 National Book Awards
The winners of the 2006 National Book Awards were announced November 15, 2006, at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The annual awards are given by the National Book Foundation to recognize achievements in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature. The recipent for Young People's Literature was The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party by M. T. Anderson (Candlewick). (11/16/06)
PEN USA's 2006 Literary Awards
PEN USA, the West Coast arm of International PEN, has announced the winners of the 2006 Literary Awards, who will be honored at the Literary Awards Festival Gala Dinner on December 12. Each winner, in ten categories and two career achievement awards, receives a $1000 prize. The award for Children's Literature will be presented to The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales (Wendy Lamb/Random House). (10/13/06)
57th National Book Awards
The National Book Foundation has announced the finalists in the National Book Awards, Young People's Literature Category: M. T. Anderson, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party (Candlewick Press); Martine Leavitt, Keturah and Lord Death (Front Street Books/Boyds Mills Press); Patricia McCormick, Sold (Hyperion Books for Children); Nancy Werlin, The Rules of Survival (Dial/Penguin); and Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese (First Second/Roaring Brook Press/Holtzbrinck). The awards will be presented November 15 in New York City. (10/11/06)
IBBY Virtual Exhibition: Books For Africa—Books From Africa
IBBY (International Board on Books for Young Peoples) announces the launch of the virtual exhibition Books for Africa—Books from Africa, showcasing the production of books published in Africa by Africans for African children. The exhibition celebrates writers, illustrators, editors, and publishers providing quality reading material for children and promoting childhood literacy by making books available in local languages. Eighty-four books published by 43 different publishers from 15 African countries in more than 12 languages are presented in the following categories: Picture Books, Children's Fiction, Folk Tales, Fiction for Young Adults and Others. The exhibition includes images, sample text, and reviews by specialists. (8/31/06)
2006 Children's Africana Book Award winners
The Outreach Council of the African Studies Association (ASA) has announced the winners of the 2006 Children's Africana Book Awards: Best Book for Older Readers: The Mzungu Boy by Meja Mwangi (Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press; Best Book for Young Children: How the Amazon Queen Fought the Prince of Egypt by Tamara Bower (Atheneum Books for Young Readers). Three books, also with historical themes, received Honor distinction: The Ancient Kushites by Liz Sonneborn (Scholastic Inc./Franklin Watts), Empires of Medieval West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay by David C. Conrad (Facts on File), and The Old African by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (Penguin/Dial Books). The Children's Africana Book Awards were established in 1991 to encourage the publication and use of accurate, balanced children's materials on Africa in U.S. schools and libraries. Forty-nine books have been honored through 2006. The 2006 awards will be presented November 18, 2006, in San Francisco during the Teachers' Workshop at the annual meeting of the African Studies Association. (8/4/06)
Lisl Weil
From Lee Bennett Hopkins in CCBC: "It seems as if there were few obituaries on Lisl Weil. Those who know and loved her work will remember her passing at the age of 95, on 2/5/2006. I had the privilege of having two books illustrated by her back in the l970's. In addition to work featured in the Kerlan Collection, Lisl was well known in bringing art and music to life at Lincoln Center, in NYC, where she performed many concerts for children. What a fine, wondrous, animated, full-of-life woman she was." (6/12/06)
2006 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards
Now in their fortieth year, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards are given annually in three categories: Fiction and Poetry, Picture Book, and Nonfiction. This year's winners are: Fiction and Poetry: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (Candlewick); Picture Book: Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt); Nonfiction: If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty, illustrated by Steven Kellogg (Scholastic). The judges selected two honor books in each category: Fiction and Poetry: Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary by Julie Larios, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Harcourt), Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy (Marshall Cavendish); Picture Book: Mama: A True Story in Which a Baby Hippo Loses His Mama during a Tsunami, but Finds a New Home, and a New Mama by Jeanette Winter (Harcourt), Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by James E. Ransome (Schwartz & Wade/Random House); Nonfiction: A Mother's Journey by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Alan Marks (Charlesbridge), Wildfire by Taylor Morrison (Lorraine/Houghton). The awards ceremony will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Boston Athenaeum on Friday, October 13. (6/6/06)
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