In the Spotlight: Awards

It’s awards season. The Golden Globes, the Grammy Awards, and the Academy Awards are all given out around this time of the year. The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC, a division of the American Library Association) also announces its children’s book awards this time of year. This year’s winners include some wonderful books for younger children. The Caldecott Medal, awarded to the artist of a picture book, was given to “The House in the Night” illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson. This cumulative bedtime story is sure to comfort and soothe the youngest of readers. A starred review from Booklist says “…the art is spectacular.” You’ll want to check it out and see for yourself!

Another of the awards recently announced by the ALSC was the Geisel Award, an award given in honor of Theodor Seuss Geisel, the one and only Dr. Seuss. This award is for an outstanding book for beginning readers. The award for 2009 was given to “Are You Ready to Play Outside?” by Mo Willems. It’s a wonderful story about Piggie and Gerald and how they deal with a rainy afternoon. You will laugh and fall in love with the characters on the first read! Then be sure to check out Willems’ other “Elephant and Piggie” books. Your beginning reader is sure to love them all!

For a complete listing of all of the 2009 ALSC Award Winners click on this link.

While we’re on the topic of award winners, you’ll want to check out this year’s Grammy winner for Best Musical Album for Children. It’s “Here Come the 123s” by They Might Be Giants.

This Weeks Storytime in a Bag
by Daytha Howell

The Wide-Mouth Frog by Keith Faulkner

The reason I chose this book for Storytime in a Bag was…it’s just plain fun to read aloud! The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner is a pop-up book, and pop-ups are enjoyed by kids (and adults) of all ages. When the wide-mouthed frog asks different animals what they eat, the reader just has to open his mouth as wide as he or she can. Then, at the end when he asks the alligator what he eats and finds out that it’s wide-mouthed frogs…well, that is when you purse your lips and deny you’re a wide-mouthed frog. What fun!!!!