I am thrilled to announce that over 10,000 children have registered to participate in the Irma S. Black Award for Excellence in Picture Books. Whoo Hooo!!!!! Thanks for helping us reach our goal.

It’s not too late to register and participate with your classes.

Nuts and Bolts available here. Remember, votes are due by midnight on April 11th.

If you are in the New York area and would like to attend the award breakfast, the date is May 19th. The keynote speaker is Perri Klass, noted pediatrician/ journalist talking about early childhood literacy. Questions? Just email me.

There’s been some grousing about the casting of blonde Jennifer Lawrence as the dark-haired, olive-skinned Katniss Everdeen in the film version of Hunger Games.

In a statement to Entertainment Weekly‘s “Inside Movies,” author Suzanne Collins weighs in on the choice, saying she was part of the casting process and “…after watching dozens of auditions by a group of very fine young actresses, I felt there was only one who truly captured the character I wrote in the book” and that actress was Lawrence.

Dozens of movie news sources, including Entertaiment Weekly‘s “Inside Movies”,  are reporting that Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges will star in the Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures’ adaptation of the YA series, The Last Apprentice by Joseph Delaney. Originally titled after the book series, the movie is now being called The Seventh Son. Moore will play Mother Malkin, “the most evil witch in the world.” Bridges plays the exorcist mentor to the young apprentice (not yet cast) in the 1700’s.

The movie, planned as the first in a series, will be based on Revenge of the Witch.

Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice) Joseph Delaney Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Greenwillow Books – (2005-09-01) ISBN / EAN: 0060766182 / 9780060766184

The next book in the series, the eighth, Rage of the Fallen, has a 4/19/11 on sale date. Series Web site: LastApprenticeBooks.com

Announcement and invitation….

Join us this Thursday (see invitation) to celebrate the winners of this years Bank Street College of Education’s Children’s Book Committee will be honored on March 17th.

Sharon Draper will be accepting the fiction award for Out of My Mind. A moving first person… (more…)

For the last 13 years, I have had the privilege of participating in the Irma Black Award process. Every year, I have read piles and piles of picture books to help create a “short” list of about 100 titles. I have had joyful, frustrating, exuberant meetings with graduate faculty, reviewers, teacher/librarians, public librarians and colleagues, arguing and advocating about what makes the best picture book of the year, illustrations AND words.

Then the letting go… leading conversations about these books but also trusting that 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds can make the choice of the four finalists. That they internalize these questions…do the pictures tell more than the words? Show me. Is the story clear? Age appropriate for 1st and 2nd graders? Do you want to hear the story again? Why? Do you want to share this book with someone else? Does the art reflect the mood and tone of the story?

And they do… whew! They select the best read-aloud books of the year. Those of you looking to boost your read-aloud collection need look no further than the past winners. This list of winners and honor books is a fine collection of backlist books that are a joy to share with children.

Previously only twelve cooperating schools’ students were invited to participate. This year, in conjunction with School Library Journal, we invite you, your librarians and your communities’ children to revel in the best picture books of the year and vote.

Think of it as a pop-up program. Do you have school visits with 1^st and 2^nd graders? After school programs? Are you pressured to show that your programming is tied in to state standards?

To join us, please register on the SLJ site. Then, read aloud and discuss the four finalists with 1st and 2nd graders, several times over four weeks. Ask the kids to vote on their favorites, through the links we send once you have registered (more information is available here, under the FAQ). Help us make our goal of 10,000 kids voting.

The Four Finalist for the 2010 Irma Black Award

How Rocket Learned To Read by Tad Hills, Schwartz & Wade Books

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown, Little Brown

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea written by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, Simon and Schuster

Dust Devil written by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Paul Zelinsky, Schwartz & Wade Books

The New York Times Book Review will post an additional, online-only picture book review each week. The first one is for Il Sung Na’s book about the change of seasons,  Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit.

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons Il Sung Na Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 24 pages Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers – (2011-01-11) ISBN / EAN: 0375867864 / 9780375867866

Also available in library binding

The Vampire Diaries, now in its 2nd season, and based on the books by L.J. Smith is the CW Network’s biggest hit. Unsurprisingly, then, they have just given the greenlight to a pilot based on another series by Smith, The Secret Circle (departing from vampires, this one is about witches).

The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive Part I L. J. Smith Retail Price: $8.99 Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: HarperTeen – (2008-08-01) ISBN / EAN: 0061670855 / 9780061670855

It seems Smith will no longer write The Vampire Diaries books (which are produced by Alloy Entertainment). According to the author’s blog, the next title, Midnight, coming in March, is by her but the following one, Phantom will involve a ghostwriter.

The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Midnight L. J. Smith Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 576 pages Publisher: HarperTeen – (2011-03-01) ISBN / EAN: 0061720852 / 9780061720857

One of the YALSA Best Books of 2008, Jay Asher’s novel 13 Reasons Why has been acquired by Universal as a starring vehicle for Selena Gomez, who made her big screen debut in Ramona and Beezus last year (she is also know as Justin Bieber’s girlfriend).

MTV jumped in with casting suggestions for the other roles.

After a successful run in hardcover (two years on the NYT Childrens Chapter Books Best Seller list), the book will finally be released in paperback in June.

Thirteen Reasons Why Retail Price: $9.99 Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Razorbill – (2011 -06-14) ISBN / EAN: 159514188X / 9781595141880

Above: Author Megan McDonald with Jordanna Beatty, who plays Judy Moody in the upcoming movie

The movie Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer will be released in the US on June 10, 2011.

Candlewick will publish five totally Moody movie tie-in titles which go on-sale May 24th.

In more Moody News, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Judy Moody books, Candlewick has reissued the entire series, with new covers (below is the first title; see them all in Candlewick’s Spring Catalog, pg. 92 or on the new Judy Moody Web site).

Judy Moody (Book #1) Megan McDonald Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Candlewick – (2010-02-09) ISBN / EAN: 0763648507 / 9780763648503

See Candlewick’s Spring Catalog, pgs. 93 to 95 for the movie tie-ins.

A teacher completing her MLS last fall wrote on the school librarians listserv,  LM_NET, that she was concerned about being able to get a job. With all the doom saying on listservs, blogs and professional journals, she wanted learn how to make herself more marketable as she applied for jobs in the coming spring.

I started to write some advice about marketing; how to focus a resume, what to include in a cover letter, how to prepare a demo lesson and what to avoid, based on things actual job seekers did that drove me crazy (like being late for interviews, bringing a friend and dressing inappropriately — yes, one candidate actually wore  flip-flops).

I  soon realized that it was way too much to post on LM_Net, and it evolved in to the cover story of the new issue of School Library Journal, “Hang in There: How to Get a Job Against All Odds.” It may give hope to those who fear they’ll never get a library job.

It’s become a tradition. The Tuesday after the Newbery/Caldecott Awards are announced, the winners, along with the YALSA or ALA president, are guests on the Today Show.

But the only author on the show this Tuesday was MTV Jersey Shore star Snooki, for her debut novel, A Shore Thing.

Publishers Weekly reports that, in response to inquiries, the Today show said they turned down the segment this year because of a a “lack of interest and scheduling problems,” but asserted that the show “does more book segments in a given year than any other television show,” and “supports the publishing industry with initiatives like Al’s Book Club for Kids and Read for the Record.”

Below is last year’s show:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And, here’s Snooki:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Today Show missed an opportinity; in libraries that own copies of A Shore Thing, holds are much lower than for Moon Over Manifest or for A Sick Day for Amos McGee.

USA Today features the cover, title and first chapter of of Rick Riordan’s second book in the The Kane Chronicles, releasing May 3.

The Throne of Fire again features the son and daughter of an Egyptologist, who  “…embark on a worldwide search for the Book of Ra, but the House of Life and the gods of chaos are determined to stop them.” (Publisher’s annotation).

They did it again — the Newbery and Caldecott committees outwitted prognosticators and gave their highest awards to unexpected titles. In both cases, they are debut titles.

Newbery

Moon Over Manifest Clare Vanderpool Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers – (2010-10-12) ISBN / EAN: 0385738838 / 9780385738835

The Newbery Medal was the biggest surprise, going to the debut Moon over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool, Delacorte/Random. Currently out of stock, it also caught the publisher and wholesalers by surprise. Amazon, where it quickly shot up to #11 from #31,660 in sales rankings, is currently showing a week to 3 weeks for delivery. Of the 15 year-end best books lists, it appeared on only one, the Kirkus list.

The front-runner on many Mock Newbery‘s and the top title on best books lists, One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia (Amistad/HarperCollins) was named as one of four honor books and won the Coretta Scott King Author Award.

Caldecott

A Sick Day for Amos McGee Philip Christian Stead Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Roaring Brook Press – (2010-05-25) ISBN / EAN: 1596434023 / 9781596434028

The Caldecott Medal winner, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (Roaring Brook/Macmillan), was on just 4 of 15 best books lists. The top contenders for this award were considered to be City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems, illustrated by Jon Muth (Hyperion) and Art & Max, written and illustrated by David Wiesner (Clarion/HMH). Neither received a nod as an honor book.

Printz

Ship Breaker Paolo Bacigalupi Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers – (2010-05-01) ISBN / EAN: 0316056219 / 9780316056212

The Printz winner was less of a surprise. It went to Ship Breaker, by Paolo Bacigalupi (Little, Brown/Hachette), a book that enjoyed a great deal of buzz at PLA this year. The award brings the book to its highest ranking yet on Amazon, from #7,884 before the announcement, to #233 yesterday.

Alex Awards

Among the Alex Awards, for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences, are several titles we’ve written about extensively on EarlyWord,

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Aimee Bender, (Doubleday/Random); librarians embraced this book after it was presented in the PLA Buzz session in March; the publisher credits librarian support for making the book a NYT best seller.

Room, Emma Donoghue, (Little, Brown/ Hachette); librarians buzzed about this book at BEA back in May. It went on to be a finalist for the Booker Award and is still on the NYT best seller list after 10 weeks. It was also selected as a RUSA Notable Book.

The Radleys, Matt Haig, (Free Press/S&S); this comic twist on a vampire tale arrived in the U.S. less than a month ago. In the UK, it was published as both an adult and a YA title.

Girl in Translation, Jean Kwok, (Riverhead/ Penguin); The author appeared at the ALTAFF First Author, First Book program at ALA in June.

Link to the full ALA Youth Media Awards here.

USA Today’s “Book Buzz” column reports that the majority of Mock Newbery’s are going to Rita Williams-Garcia’s One Crazy Summer.

Going against the tide, the Banks Street College kids (96 fifth and sixth graders), discussed and voted on a list of titles and picked Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper as the winner of their Mock Newbery.

Out of My Mind Sharon M. Draper Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Atheneum – (2010-03-09) ISBN / EAN: 141697170X / 9781416971702

Sam, 10 – liked that the story came out of the main character’s mind…that was interesting.

Alexandra, 10 – the story was touching and pulled you in and you wanted to read it all at once

Adam, 10 – you really saw how mean people can be to people who are different. Being disabled is not being stupid.

Carly, 10 – even though she went through tough stuff, she kept trying

Ayra, 10 – because I heard her story from her, it was like being in her shoes

Allie, 10 – I have never read a book like this

Jenna, 11 – it was really detailed and I felt a lot of emotion

Hazel, 12 – …dramatic- felt like a light read…I read fast…It was real.

Casy, 11 -…it touched me deep down. I felt real emotion. My heart was bursting for her.

Francesca, 11– it was cool how that over the time I could see her change and do things

Emily, 11 – I could not let this book go.

Ava, 11 – really realistic and unique. I liked that we could see inside her head. It was bittersweet.

Jules, 11 – there was a mix of emotions, I burst out laughing. The language was juicy.

Evie, 11 – it was great. I felt like I was reading her mind.

Eliana, 11 – it was a fantastic book.

Ghopal, 11 – I disagree. It was perfectly long

Maggie, 12 – draws you in fast. I liked the flashbacks. You really felt her frustration and wanted to scream with her.

Lauren, 12 – really good…I made a connection with her. Her thoughts were just regular.

Joshua, 11 – Original…great first person

Honor Books

Belly Up Stuart Gibbs Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – (2010-05-18) ISBN / EAN: 1416987312 / 9781416987314

Casy, 11 – fantabulous mystery – funny, cliffhangers…didn’t want it to end.

Imani, 10 – good interesting mystery. Cliffhanging a lot.

Ava, 10 – better than other mystery books. Characters were real

Adam, 10 – Kept you on your toes. A fun read.
…………………………

The Search for WondLa Tony DiTerlizzi Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 496 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – (2010-09-21) ISBN / EAN: 1416983104 / 9781416983101

Dax, 10 – long, unexpected , good descriptions

Sam, 10 – it was a mystery and a fantasy. Satisfying and had many characters and places you wouldn’t expect.

Laura 12 – a whole made up world. Plot was good and characters weren’t human but you could relate to them.

Adrian 12 – I really enjoyed the references and connections to other children’s books.

Patrick 12 – took me awhile to get into it but I stuck with it and now can’t wait for the next book.

…………………………

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda Tom Angleberger Retail Price: $12.95 Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Amulet Books – (2010-03-01) ISBN / EAN: 0810984253 / 9780810984257

Bobby, 12 – Different than all the other books we read this year

Ali, 12 – I didn’t think I would like this book that seemed random about a finger puppet but I did.

Kerem, 12 – something any student around my age would relate to. It was wack and crazy

Louis, 11 – Everything comes together in the end

Irene, 11 – Funny to boys and girls

…………………………

A Whole Nother Story Dr. Cuthbert Soup Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books – (2009-12-22) ISBN / EAN: 1599904357/9781599904351

Anya, 11 – really funny, not predictable

Adrien – Had a little bit of everything – adventure , fantasy, from the first moment draws you in – liked the dark grim humor.

Eric – made you want to keep reading

…………………………

Half Upon a Time James Riley Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: Aladdin – (2010-09-07) ISBN / EAN: 1416995935 / 9781416995937

Donnie, 11 – Most fairy tales are boring. This one was different. Didn’t have a happily ever after ending.

Hazel, 12 – I stayed up all night reading

Evie, 12– well done. I didn’t get bored.

Sophie, 10 – I was entertained…a new creative story from old stories

Raymond, 11 – Funny , creative with a big twist

Ghopal, 12 – I enjoyed the writing style especially the humorous asides

Josua, 11 – Corny, but funny and creative.

Forty seventh graders (12 and 13 year-olds) at the Bank Street School discussed and voted on a list of candidates for the Mock Printz, 2011. Below are the winner and the three honor books, with comments from the kids.

The Bank Street School 2011 Mock Printz Winner

Half Brother Kenneth Oppel Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 384 pages Publisher: Scholastic Press – (2010-09-01) ISBN / EAN: 0545229251 / 9780545229258

Student comments:

Andre — Everything you want in a book…drama…sadness…action.

Emma — I felt a lot of compassion for the character. I really got fed up with his parents.

Ana — This was the first book that I couldn’t stop reading. My mom made me stop. It was a page turner.

Katie — Interesting, unique plot

Ben — Unpredictable, in a good way

Josh — Entertaining, good story

Nicole — Interesting plot. Fresh

The Bank Street School 2011 Mock Printz Honor Books

Will Grayson, Will Grayson John Green, David Levithan Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Dutton Juvenile – (2010-04-06) ISBN / EAN: 0525421580 / 9780525421580

Brilliance Audio; UNABR
OverDrive WMA Audiobook

Student comments:

Maya — Some people think this book should be older but a lot of us in this age group know situations and people like this already. It was great to read a book where we get to know the characters in this special way that we have not met before.

Nicole — Interesting how the two Will Graysons met and the relationships that formed around them

Emma — It was really funny and realistic.

Josh — I liked that it was realistic and I could relate to the characters. I enjoyed the themes of friendship and acceptance.

Emily — It was easy to read, easy to relate to. I found myself laughing aloud.

Josh – I laughed out loud too. It is everything I want in a book.

The Search for WondLa Tony DiTerlizzi Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 496 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – (2010-09-21) ISBN / EAN: 1416983104 / 9781416983101

Student comments:

Simon — Interesting story, very satisfying

Steven — Good descriptions but also an adventure mystery

Noni — Good because there was always something happening

Josh — I don’t generally like fantasy but this one had a lot that I could relate to.

Steven — The author really was able to make the very different world real.

White Cat (Curse Workers, Book 1) Holly Black Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry/ S&S – (2010-05-04) ISBN / EAN: 1416963960 / 9781416963967

Student comments:

Lincoln — The characters were well-written. Less of a fantasy to me … more like a book about gangsters or mafia.

Nick — When you pick it up , you can’t stop reading.

Julia — I normally don’t like fantasy but this book had a very real element. The characters develop over time