Printz-winner (Going Bovine) Libba Bray has signed to write a new YA series called The Diviners for a rumored $2 million, according to Publishers Weekly. Described as supernatural fantasy set in Manhattan during the 1920s, Bray said the series will offer  ”readers a wild new ride full of dames and dapper dons, jazz babies and Prohibition-defying parties, conspiracy and prophecy—and all manner of things that go bump in the neon-drenched night.”

The first title in the four-book series is planned for Fall 2012.

The books were won in a six-house auction by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Bray’s last four books were published by Delacorte.

The only H1N1 novel for the Wimpy Kid crowd. Writing and drawing in his English assignment journal, the snarky narrator observes the over-reaction of his family to the announced pandemic.

Finn Reeder, Flu Fighter: How I Survived a Worldwide Pandemic, the School Bully, and the Craziest Game of Dodge Ball Ever Eric Stevens Retail Price: $9.99 Hardcover: 80 pages Publisher: Stone Arch Books – (2010-01-15) ISBN / EAN: 1434225623 / 9781434225627

This Sunday, Jan. 24th, I’ll be conducting a live interview with the always engaging and hilarious John Scieszka (author of The Time Warp Trio series and the modern classic The Stinky Cheese Man) at Symphony Space in NYC. The event includes a discussion with the audience, a creative writing project, and a book signing. Click here for tickets.

Also coming up is my online course, Children’s Book Publishing 101, offered through the Bank Street School. It runs January 29th through February 12th. Deadline for registration is today.

Fox’s high school musical comedy Glee just won a Golden Globe for best TV musical or comedy series. I just learned that Little Brown Books for Young Readers will be publishing Glee books in the fall; original stories featuring our show favorites. Whoo, hooo!

Also coming is a Ghost Hunters series for middle grade readers, based on the Syfy series.

No bibliographic information yet; we’ll let you know when it’s available.

Libraries and booksellers will not have to scramble to find copies of the Newbery and Caldecott winners this year; both are on the bestseller lists and in stock at wholesalers.

For all the winners, including Honor books and other awards, see the official press release.

Caldecott

The Lion & the Mouse Jerry Pinkney Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers – (2009-09-01) ISBN / EAN: 0316013560 / 9780316013567

EarlyWord Kid’s contributor, Lisa Von Drasek was an early proponent; see her review on The Barnes and Noble Review.

Newbery

When You Reach Me Rebecca Stead Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 208 pages Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books – (2009-07-14) ISBN / EAN: 0385737424 / 9780385737425

Printz

Going Bovine Libba Bray Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 496 pages Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers – (2009-09-22) ISBN / EAN: 0385733976 / 9780385733977

Coretta Scott King

John Steptoe Award for New Talent

The Rock and the River Kekla Magoon Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Aladdin – (2009-01-06) ISBN / EAN: 1416975829 / 9781416975823

Illustrator

Charles R. Smith for:

My People Langston Hughes Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Ginee Seo Books – (2009-01-06) ISBN / EAN: 1416935401 / 9781416935407

See Lisa Von Drasek’s essay about Langston Hughes’ books for children. It includes both the winner and the Honor book, The Negro Speaks of Rivers.

Author

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal (Exceptional Social Studies Titles for Intermediate Grades) Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Retail Price: $17.95 Library Binding: 40 pages Publisher: Carolrhoda Books – (2009-11-01) ISBN / EAN: 0822567644 / 9780822567646

Eighty-nine 5th and 6th graders from Bank Street School discussed the candidates and  voted!

Here’s the results:

Short list

• Magician’s Elephant
• When you Reach Me
• The Cats of Roxville Station
• Strawberry Hill
• The Year the Swallows Came Early
• The Blue Shoe
• Al Capone Shines My Shoes

Extra credit

• The Dragon of Trellian
• 11 Birthdays
• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
• When the Whistle Blows

The Winner

When You Reach Me Rebecca Stead Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 208 pages Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books – (2009-07-14) ISBN / EAN: 0385737424 / 9780385737425

Honor Books

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers – (2009-07-01) ISBN / EAN: 0316114278 / 9780316114271

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11 Birthdays Wendy Mass Retail Price: $6.99 Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks – (2010-01-01) ISBN / EAN: 0545052408 / 9780545052405

They’re anxiously waiting to see how their results stack up against the professionals.

Q: “Do you have any picture books of Haiti?’

A: Yes! Small press Cinco Puntos  has a wonderful book that is joyously illustrated despite its serious subject matter;  homeless/ familyless children. It was a 2005 ALA Notable Book.

Selavi, That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope Youme Landowne Retail Price: $17.95 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press – (2004-04-01) ISBN / EAN: 0938317849 / 9780938317845

Also available in paperback:

Selavi, That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope Youme Landowne Retail Price: $8.95 Paperback: 40 pages Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press – (2005-09-01) ISBN / EAN: 0938317954 / 9780938317951

Deadline is Friday!

Sponsored by Asset Based Thinking for Teens and James Patterson’s James Patterson’s Read Kiddo Read, the program will donate $2,500 to a school or library for creating a program that sparks the passion for reading in teens.

1) Teen librarians and teachers are invited to submit a program plan by Jan. 15

2) The top ten programs will be selected by a panel of judges. Each library will receive a Kodak Vid Camera to document the program

3) One grand winner will be selected to win $2,500

For more specifics, click here

If you’re looking for a quick reminder of favorite winter-themed titles for a book display, check out my article in the new Nick Jr. on “Books that Celebrate Winter.”

Katherine Paterson takes the helm as the new Ambassador for Young People’s Literature today. She’s the second to hold that position and the first woman (Jon Scieszka filled the post admirably last year).

The position was created “to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature,” so it is fitting that the New York Times‘ publishing reporter, Motoko Rich, interviews Paterson today.

Paterson tells Rich,

I want people to be reading about children of other places and other races and religions. I think novels are a wonderful way to do that because you get in somebody else’s psyche and you see things quite differently than the way you see things simply through your own eyes.

Hurrah; Scholastic is reviving the Baby Sitters Club.

I don’t know about you but I have a whole new generation of readers who will love a refreshed look and updating (no more “perms;” the girls will now have their hair “styled”). I’m not the only one excited about it; the NYT devoted a fairly long story to the announcement.

The first two volumes are coming in April, along with a newly written prequel, The Summer Before, which will be followed by a reissue of three more next year (ther are 213 titles in the entire series).

As a sign of how things have changed since the series’ original publication (1986 to 2000), they are now being aimed at a slightly younger ages group — 7 to 10, rather than 8 to 12.

The Summer Before (Babysitters Club) Ann M. Martin Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Scholastic Inc. – (2010-04-01) ISBN / EAN: 0545160936 / 9780545160933

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If you just can’t get enough of best children’s books lists, rejoice. Horn Book has named their top picks of the year, 27 in all. The Barnes & Noble Review enlisted Lisa Von Drasek to pick her favorite Picture Books and Liz Rosenberg for the Best Chapter Books. The dearly departed Kirkus managed to get their lists of the Best Children’s and YA Books out in the knick of time.

We’ve updated our spreadsheet of all the picks, so you can check holdings, test your book knowledge, and identify titles you might have missed. The list includes ISBN’s for your ordering pleasure.

So, which titles seem to be on everyone’s list? Jerry Pinkney’s beautiful The Lion the Mouse got the most nods, with seven picks. The only list it’s not on is the NYT BR Notable Children’s Books, but it is on the NYT BR’s Best Illustrated.

The NBA Winner, Claudette Colvin by Phillip Hoose was on every list it was eligible for, six in total, except the NYT Notable.

Following it are Francisco X. Stork’s Marcelo in the Real World, tied with Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me, which each got five picks (this time, BOTH are on the NYT Notable list). Two picture books also got five picks; Moonshot by Brian Floca and Yummy by Lucy Cousins.

How do I buy a book for a kid I don’t know well?

It’s a common question and our own Lisa Von Drasek bravely offers answers over at the Barnes and Noble Review. She suggests dozens of kid pleasers for every age range, while avoiding top sellers that kids might already own.

For instance, what kid wouldn’t be fascinated by the following title, written by the executive director of the International Spy Museum?

The Real Spy’s Guide to Becoming a Spy Peter Earnest, Suzanne Harper Retail Price: $16.95 Hardcover: 144 pages Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers – (2009-10-01) ISBN / EAN: 081098329X / 9780810983298

All five titles on NPR’s year-end shortlist are on other YA “best books” lists, which we have handily rounded up in our Bests — All Children’s Titles — Spreadsheet.

Take, for example, Laini Taylor’s Lips Touch, a collection of two novelettes and a novella about kissing, populated by goblins and demons. It was a National Book Award finalist, and also appeared on the PW kids list.  World Cat says 416 libraries have it. Those we checked have 20 or fewer copies, with comparable holds.

Lips Touch: Three Times Laini Taylor Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books – (2009-10-01) ISBN / EAN: 0545055857 / 9780545055857

Over at the Barnes & Noble Review, I take a look at the good, the bad and not-so-bad of sequels. Below are the titles I cover:

Wishing for Tomorrow: The Sequel to A Little Princess Hilary McKay Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry – (2010-01-05) ISBN / EAN: 1442401699 / 9781442401693

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Return to the Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie-The-Pooh Collection) David Benedictus Retail Price: $19.99 Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Dutton Juvenile – (2009-10-05) ISBN / EAN: 0525421602 / 9780525421603

Audio CD: Penguin Audio; 9780143145073; $19.95

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And Another Thing… Eoin Colfer Retail Price: $25.99 Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Hyperion – (2009-10-12) ISBN / EAN: 1401323588 / 9781401323585

Audio: Hyperion; 9781401394226; $39.95