CALDECOTT! NEWBERY! MY Annual Geek-OUT!

DRUMROLL PLEASE!

This post slides from my usual Tuesday schedule to Monday in honor of  this once-a-year extravaganza.  

The American Library Association's YOUTH MEDIA AWARDS!

If you are reading this in time, you can watch the full awards program LIVE at this link, on Monday, January 27 at 11:00 AM Eastern time.  But  if you miss it live you can view it as a recording within a few hours of the event. Either way, pour yourself some tea or coffee or cocoa, sit back, and savor excellence in books for youth.

What in the world am I writing about? For the full description, click on YOUTH MEDIA AWARDS above. My take, though, is that this is the annual book party for readers from birth to twenty. It celebrates the books and their creators, curators, educators, and  circulators.Everyone enjoys awards programs, although we can acknowledge that great art and creativity should not be in competition with itself. But we know that is always the case. The Oscars, the Emmys, the TONYs, and even the  People's Choice are viewed with glee. And on and on. We all get an adrenaline rush when seeing our own favorites gained wider recognition through awards. And we ache a bit for those that seem to have been overlooked.

Anyone reading my posts can imagine that watching a room full of other book-lovers, perching at the edge of seats and screaming in glee over each announcement of winning and honored books in each category, is a high point in my year. When I had my own classroom of book-lovers, we would hype this during the months ahead by sharing as many prime candidates as possible, offering our personal awards predictions and reviews, and many other award-related activities that engaged kids with a wide range of high-quality reading options. 

These days, I consider readers here as my audience to cheer for various superb books throughout the year, landing on this decision day with hopes that one or more of my recommendations might be selected. Some of the more widely-read book advocates post predictions, and I urge you to read theirs HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, just to get a sense of the convergences and divergence of opinions. There are no wrongs and rights, but be prepared to take notes for your library hold lists, wishlists at your favorite indie bookstore, and gift lists for young readers you know and love. The links  to predictions focus on Caldecott (illustration award) and Newbery (Youth literature award), but the morning announcements incorporate multiple categories that will excite and impress viewers. The specialty awards are each worthy of a program of their own. Taken together, this is an adrenaline-inducing experience that I hope many will view, live or later. 

Some that I expect you might hear mentioned (this is as close as I'll come to making award predictions) have been featured in posts during the past year. I'm sharing only a few of the titles I'll be rooting for, but they are a great sample of why such choices are hard to make. SO. MANY. GREAT. BOOKS. Truly. Click any of the following to see what i had to say about them.

Nonfiction: 

FROM BAM TO BURP!    SCRATCHING THE SURFACE  

IN THE WORLD OF WHALES, 

CALDECOTT (Illustration):

WHEN NIGHT CAME CALLING, DEAR ACORN, LOVE OAK, 

WHERE DEER SLLIP THROUGH, TO SEE AND OWL.

There are categories for graphic novels, audio books, beginning readers, and so much more. Enough reading here for now. Get over to that link, live or as a recording, and experience the excitement for yourselves. 

FLORAL AND THE JAZZERS: Follow Your Dreams!

 Somehow this author/illustrator and her work flew under my radar until now. FLORA AND THE JAZZERS is a delightful twist/mashup of a Cinderella-style story. I'm a sucker for picture book characters who are well-rendered animals, especially rodents. In Flora's case, this ferret figure is ideal for the role and era portrayed. Flora Ferret is the creation of Astrid Sheckels. A quick click on her name will reveal her website. Allow a bit of time to explore there, since I found I was utterly enthralled with the worlds and characters she has shared in her art and books. After poking there I was ashamed to admit that not only was she new to me, her books also were. They are award-winning and utterly appealing, but ... somehow I've missed them all this time.

Waxwing Books, 2025

So, I'm grateful to FLORA for introducing me to an appealing story and an incredibly talented storyteller and artist. Spotlighting this title and its remarkable creator for anyone else who may have missed her work is a privilege I'm happy to assume.

Here's a short and quick look at this latest from Sheckels. 

Flora is a hard-working scullery maid in a swanky hotel. It serves a classic clientele of varied animals whose demeanor and style choices are evocative of the jazz era. Music is Flora's life, especially jazz.  She sings and hums and lives the melodies throughout her work day. When her favorite band, the Jazzers,  is booked at her hotel, she longs to eavesdrop and manage to see a concert for the first time in her life. But her step-mother-like boss insists music its NOT for the likes of a lowly maid. Early on we learn that nothing can keep her from the music that fills her heart, and when a robin sings or a tune reaches her she hums or sings along. This irrepressible impulse leads to a surprising opportunity. The transformation is a delight, and the illustrations could absorb hours in noting the various animal characters and their dress, expressions, and postures. 

The idea of someone going about their daily life while humming, singing, and tuning into ambient music in the world reminded me of my mother, who was born with a song in her heart. Flora's story does not have her seeking a palace in which to perform, but only to attend a concert, to give herself over to the full experience of superb musicians. Just one time in her life.  But her nature and talent lead to a surprise that is life-changing and very satisfying.

I was utterly enthralled, and if ever a book had a happy ending, this one does. Take a look!

A COUPLE OF BOYS Have the BEST WEEK EVER!

HARCOURT, INC. 2008

The holidays reminded me of the limitless joy kids often have when relegated to the care of their grandparents. The timing must have been right, because I heard a podcast about this, read short humor pieces, and heard a few personal stories in conversations. That's why I felt compelled to feature a throwback favorite, a Caldecott honor book from 2008. MARLA FRAZEE is the author/illustrator of A COUPLE OF BOYS Have the BEST WEEK EVER. Frazee has produced some most memorable picture books in her celebrated career, some of which I've featured HERE, HERE, and HERE.

This delightful offering was nearly true according to  back jacket flap copy from Frazee. With that note, the humor is even more of a treat. Some of it, I would have guessed. Grandmas tend to overfeed, grandpas are less carful than parents about filtering certain vocabulary, and a couple of boys of a certain age can be extremely creative in each others' company.

It's also true that summer nature camp may not be everything the could imagine, but that didn't eliminate their imaginations from producing an unforgettable week. Excess sugar. eager-to-please-elders, and a seacoast nearby provide ample images that blend cartoonish kids' antics and eyeballs with swirls of gorgeous seascapes.The fun narration is supplemented with speech bubble humor and delightful details in illustrations that kids will giggle about on every re-reading. 

An approach like this invites imitation, with young storytellers encouraged to depict times spent with friends and without parental presence. It could even provide practice in partners authoring/illustrating, each taking on one or the other perspective (adult or kids). It opens up discussion of point of view and alternate perspectives for older writers, too. This is a great throwback option, since I'm betting that these kids (who we've been told are real boys) will be talking about that summer week for years to come. Try it out now, pull it out during summer camp weeks, and any time when grandparents are offering to host the young ones for extended stays!

Whenever you choose to read (or reread) this picture book, prepare to smile!

BLACK DIAMOND KINGS: Poetry on the Pitch

 It's only mid-January. Football season hasn't fully wrapped up yet, basketball is in early stages, and winter Olympics are in the spotlight. Even so, I'm calling out my own eagerness for days when SPRING TRAINING has begun. I don't think I'm alone. 

Baseball season allows fans to "get to know" their favorite players, day after day, month after month. Games last long. Some see that as a problem, but I like the time it allows to let both games and personalities unfold. That was even more true when baseball began, teams were locally claimed by their communities, and low payrolls meant players were part of those communities. That's the era in which not everything was rosy. In fact, it "normalized" many evils, including segregation, the Negro League, and countless injustices. 

That era did allow Black communities and players to know each other intimately, but it prevented the wider community from realizing the talent, the brilliance that was being denied a well-deserved stage. 

CANDLEWICK PRESS, 2025

BLACK DIAMONDS KINGS, written by Charles R Smith Jr. and illustrated by Adrian Brandon. Both creators are kings in their own realms: Smith for poems celebrating Black excellence in sports and Brandon in painting and printmaking to reveal a sprawling landscape of Black life not typically portrayed. Just as Black History Month (February) is not meant to limit the attention we give to the stories and individuals who contributed to our shared history, Poetry Month (April) isn't meant to exclude this important genre from the other eleven months of the year. 

That's why I'm excited to share this remarkable picture book now, as the year begins. It deserves a place on our shelves all year, and in many contexts. Each poem portrays a notable Black baseball "king", capturing in varied poetry forms the elements of each remarkably talented life on brilliantly-illustrated pages that saturate and signify key features of each man honored here.

It's notable that Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige begins the book with the title "INTRODUCING". The irony here is not to be taken lightly. Even non-baseball fans, even younger folks, are more likely to be aware of this icon of the NEGRO LEAGUES than any other. Even so, their awareness is superficial. His power, grace, strength, and finesse are captured in both the fireworks-action-packed pitching pose and the snapping, cracking, rhymed and rhythmic poem that stretches down the page. 

That re-introduction and expanding perspective sets up page turns that each reveal names lesser known but deserving of the titles of "KING". Many have nicknames that suggest their distinctive talents, personalities, and patterns on the field (Pop, Buck, Cool Papa, and more). Each had qualities that would, in modern baseball, earn seven-figure salaries, advertising contracts, and so much more. Back matter offers brief author notes as if on the the flip side of baseball cards, indicating where/how/why the players' lives and noted features inspired various approaches to each poem, as well as their years playing and a few stats. Following that, a two-page spread addresses facts about the Negro League. 

As poetry, this picture book could well be shelved in nonfiction, incorporating researched details about powerful American heroes and history. The work as a whole serves as a pattern for those doing research on lesser-known figures, suggesting ways to share both prose and poetic content that will open eyes and minds to remarkable leaders. Anyone who enjoys superheroes or has an interest in art would enjoy (and perhaps attempt to emulate?) the dramatic and expressive illustrations for each baseball hero. In total, this offers the excitement of a season to come combined with the thrilling lives of seasons past. Don't miss out!