Moon Over Manifest

Last year's Newbery Award totally escaped me - I hadn't heard of it or read it for that matter.  So - I just recently got a copy and read it and LOVED it.  Talk about fun - Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool is truly a feast for book lovers - it has a little of everything - mystery, family, quirky characters, prejudice, friendship, humor - and all superbly well-written.  I felt like I lived in Manifest and really KNEW these characters.  The main character, Abilene Tucker is a guaranteed pleaser - she is sweet, innocent, and totally likable.  The friends she meets in the town of Manifest are brilliant and all add to her growth in life - some good, some bad!  You can't miss Abilene's journey down the "Path to Perdition" and Miss Sadie as she pays off her debt - that is how she learns much about her past and begins to also start her new future.

Award Day

I just LOVE this big day!!!

All of the awards are listed - check them out. I am shaking my head in shame as many of these have missed my radar - let me know what you think though!

AWARDS

Big Day for Awards

It is the BIG day - when SO many great awards are announced:
Newberry Award - pleased to say I've read all but ONE!!!  (That always makes me proud!)  The winner was:  When you Reach Me  by Rebecca Stead - a story I enjoyed - although certainly not one of my all-time favorites for the year - but they do this to me almost every year - I'm not surprised!

Caldecott Award - this one I fell short - but they are now all on order for our library! I had not seen the winner - The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney - but it looks fabulous!

So there you go - now you are "in the know" too!!  Enjoy!

Adaptive Blue Love

I just emailed Adaptive Blue last week and asked for new widgets for this year's Newbery and Caldecott winners and the obliged so kindly!!! So I put them in my side bar and I'm sharing them with you all!! Thank you Adaptive Blue - you are AMAZING!!!

Newbery
Caldecott

Newbery and Caldecott's Announced!!

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

Newbery - Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! by Laura Amy Schlitz (author of one of my favorites - the Drowned Maiden's Hair)

Honors - Elijah of Buxton - Christopher Paul Curtis

Wednesday Wars - Gary D. Schmidt (ok, I'll admit it - this is the one I WANTED to win!!!)

Feathers - Jacqueline Woodson

Caldecott - Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick

Honors - Henry's Freedom Box - ills. by Kadir Nelson, written by Ellen Levine

First the Egg - written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain - written and illustrated by Peter Sís

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity - written and illustrated Mo Willems

To see more, go HERE.

Higher Power of Lucky

I finished The Higher Power of Lucky yesterday and wanted to turn right around and start it all over again!! I kid you not - it was THAT good! I fell head over heels for Lucky - an adorable little girl left without a momma or a dad. She is left with a guardian whom, she is sure, wants to leave her and head back to France. Lucky is spunky and adoring and sure to be one of my favorite new heroines!!! Grab a copy and read it soon!!
I wanted to add this extra blurb on upcoming excitement for the book as well:

SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING TO LAUNCH EXTENSIVE MULTI-PLATFORM NEWBERY CAMPAIGN FOR The Higher Power of Lucky

New York, NY, March 13, 2007 —Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing today announced a multi-platform marketing and publicity campaign for the 2007 Newbery medal winning THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY by Susan Patron and illustrated by Matt Phelan. The campaign kicks off with a brand new online video, featuring an interview of Susan Patron conducted by Cynthia Kadohata, author of the 2005 Newbery winning KIRA-KIRA, where Patron delivers a powerful message to kids about the importance of books.Rick Richter, the President of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing provides an introductory statement to the video, touching on the recent controversy surrounding the book and the groundswell of support the book has received – widely ranging from authors like Maurice Sendak and Neil Gaiman to a New York Times editorial. This video will be distributed through a number of online channels to librarians, educators and bookstores, as well as having a presence on more consumer oriented sites like youtube, google video and simonsays.com. The following is a link to watch the video, click here.