Back to School Worries

Parents, are you a little anxious about back to school time? Are you worried about what your child will experience while out of your care all day? Do you have a child starting school for the first time? Check out Clayton Early Learning Center's blog for a great post about back to school parenting.

Looking for books about going back to school? Check out our booklist.

Summer Reading Program: Beyond Books

We're two weeks into the Summer Reading Program...are you getting in your 20 minutes a day? 

Here's a tip: you don't have to stick to books! You could also:

• pick up a magazine like Highlights High Five, Kiki, or Cousteau Kids,
• listen to an audiobook or try out a Playaway,
• read a cereal box, the menu at a restaurant, your grocery list, a recipe, or
• read a blog (hey - you're doing that right now!).

Remember... all kinds of reading counts when you're counting minutes for the Summer Reading Program!

Newbery Medal Winners - Ranked!

A group of interested and opinionated individuals just met to place Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me on the Newbery Medal Winners - Ranked! list. With our bellies full of good food, we discussed various titles and their merits (or lack thereof). Although many of us find the placing of some titles outrageous (The Witch of Blackbird Pond does NOT belong at #45), we easily settled on #10 for When You Reach Me. The newest addition to the Newbery canon stood out for each of us as a title that belongs near the top, in fact on the first page of the ranking list. Though really, so does Island of the Blue Dolphins - oops sorry did I actually type that?? If you have an opinion about the newest addition to the list, or any other title for that matter, share it here.

Keep your eyes peeled for the updated list. It will be here soon. To see the titles being discussed for Newbery 2011, check out our Mock Newbery blog.

Frogs, Mermaids, Geese, and Mount Everest

Question: What do frogs, mermaids, geese and Mount Everest have in common?

Answer: Books on these topics all appear on the ACPL Mock Sibert Blog.

If you enjoy non-fiction books, take some time to look at the titles on the ACPL Mock Sibert blog. These books are the best of the best of this year's non-fiction for children. Plan to attend the Mock Sibert program in January to help us pick the BEST non-fiction book of the year.

ACPL Mock Geisel!

Are you looking for the best early readers of the year? Check out the ACPL Mock Geisel blog for some ideas. The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author and illustrator of the best early reader book of the year.

At ACPL we hold a Mock Geisel Award program to decide the book that WE think should win. Join us!

The ACPL Kids blog has a new look!

After over two years and 760 posts, the ACPL Kids blog has a new look! What do you think?

Cybils 2009

It is almost time for nominations for the CYBILS (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Award)! The award is presented in several categories with new panelists & judges being announced now on the CYBILS blog. I am happy to serve as an Easy Reader judge for the second year with a wonderful group of bloggers. Nominate your favorite book in each category (easy readers & short chapter books, graphic novels, non-fiction picture books, non-fiction middle grade & young adult, fiction picture books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, fantasy & science fiction, and poetry) after October 1st!

I Love My New Toy! by Mo Willems was the winner of the 2008-09 CYBILS easy reader award.

If You Like Children's Picture Books...

...then you'll definitely want to check out the ACPL Mock Caldecott Blog. Here is where you can find many of the best American picture books published this year. And, if you like talking about books or book illustration, feel free to leave some comments and let us know what YOU think of the titles we've posted!

ACPL Mock Newbery Reading List

Do you enjoy reading new children's books? Do you have a favorite book of 2009 yet? It is just about time for the first Mock Newbery reading list and YOUR input is needed. Check out this post to find out how to submit your favorite book for consideration.

If you are still looking for something good to read, check out the ACPL Mock Newbery blog to learn about some of the best books of the year.

Mock Coretta Scott King Award

This year the Coretta Scott King Books Awards are celebrating their 40th anniversary. These awards are given annually by the American Library Association to recognize outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children.

Sound interesting?

Wanna know more about some of these books?

Check out the ACPL Mock Coretta Scott King Award discussion blog at http://acplmockcsk.blogspot.com/

You are invited to join the discussion as we explore books which might be considered for this year's award.

Mock Caldecott Blog

Adults, do you enjoy reading children's picture books? Do you LOVE great illustrations?

Consider participating in the ACPL Mock Caldecott program this year. Just look at the books listed on the ACPL Mock Caldecott blog and plan to attend the program in January to vote for your favorite. If you can't make it to the program in January 2010, you can still participate throughout the year by commenting on titles on the ACPL Mock Caldecott blog. There are already several titles on the blog for you to comment on, check it out today!

Blog Event!


Click the above picture to attend a blogging event this week and tour several Children's Literature Blogs. Topics covered each day are Raising Readers, Selecting Reading Material, Reading Aloud--It's Fun, It's Easy, A Visit to the Library, and Technology and Reading--What the Future Holds.


ACPL Kids' Mock Newbery 2009 Results!

ACPL Kids' Mock Newbery 2009 Winner:
Savvy by Indrid Law

To see the honor books visit the ACPL Mock Newbery blog.

ACPL Mock Caldecott & Mock Geisel 2009 Results!

2009 ACPL Mock Caldecott Winner:
Wabi Sabi, illustrated by Ed Young, written by Mark Reibstein

2009 ACPL Mock Caldecott Honor Books:
Jumpy Jack and Googily, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, written by Meg Rosoff
In a Blue Room, illustrated by Tricia Tusa, written by Jim Averbeck


2009 ACPL Mock Geisel Winner:
I Love My New Toy! written and illustrated by Mo Willems.

2009 ACPL Mock Geisel Honor Book:
Hooray for Fly Guy! written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold

For more information about these programs or to join in the discussion, visit our blogs: ACPL Mock Caldecott & ACPL Mock Geisel.

Cybils Shortlists

The finalists for the Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards) have been announced!

To see the shortlist titles, click on the genre links below:

Early Readers
Fantasy & Science Fiction
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels
Middle Grade Fiction
Non-Fiction MG/YA
Non-Fiction Picture Books
Poetry
Young Adult Fiction

Mary Voors was a member of the middle grade fiction panel, you can read more about her experience with this incredible project here. As a judge for the early reader category, I am looking forward to meeting with my fellow bloggers to discuss the five amazing shortlist titles. What fun!

ACPL Mock Award Reading Lists - Available Now!

If you love children's books, please join us in person in January or on the blogs right now to discuss the best of the best published in 2008.

• ACPL Mock Newbery Award - for the most distinguished work of children's literature. Find the final list here. Comment on your favorites here.

• ACPL Mock Caldecott Award - for the most distinguished American picture book for children. Find the final list here. Comment on your favorites here.

• ACPL Mock Sibert Award - for the best informational book for children. Find the final list here. Comment on your favorites here.

• ACPL Mock Geisel Award - for the best beginning reader. Find the final list here. Comment on your favorites here.