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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
January 23, 2004 |
Media Contact: Leanne Ingle, Communications Specialist, 360-704-4508, or outside Thurston County calling area: (877) 284-6237, ext. 2508; e-mail: lingle@trlib.org.
2004 Children’s Book Awards Announced
The two most prestigious awards in children's literature were selected at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in San Diego this January. Awarded annually, the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott medals honor outstanding writing and illustration respectively of works for youth published in the United States during the previous year. Judging committees of librarians and other experts select these and other children’s literature awards each January. The purposes of the awards are to encourage original and creative work and to help parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth.
More information on children’s book awards and a variety of booklists for kids, teens and parents are available on the Timberland Regional Library website at www.trlib.org - click on TimberKids and TeenZone.
2004 Children’s Literature Award Winners
Newbery Medal, honoring the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children:
Kate DiCamillo, "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread"
"DiCamillo masterfully weaves drama, mystery and intrigue with high humor and fun into a cohesive, captivating and distinguished tale," said Newbery Award Chair Eliza T. Dresang. "Time-honored themes of good versus evil, light versus dark, unrequited love, loyalty and search for identity have roots in many mythic and literary classics familiar to children. This story is sure to entice, challenge and delight readers of all ages."
Caldecott Medal, honoring the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children:
Mordicai Gerstein, "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers"
This true story recounts the daring feat of a spirited young Frenchman who walked a tightrope between the World Trade Center twin towers in 1974. "Gerstein's skillful compositions and dramatic use of perspective make this a book that literally takes your breath away," said Caldecott Award Chair Kathy East. "Two ingenious gatefolds and horizontal and vertical framing put the reader high in the air with this daredevil performer and emphasize the vast space between the towers and their astounding height."
Newbery Honor Books
Kevin Henkes, "Olive's Ocean"
Jim Murphy, "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793"
Caldecott Honor Books
Margaret Chodos-Irvine, "Ella Sarah Gets Dressed"
Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, "What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?"
Mo Willems, "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus"
Coretta Scott King Awards, honoring African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults:
Angela Johnson, "The First Part Last"
Ashley Bryan, illustrator and author, "Beautiful Blackbird"
Hope Anita Smith, "The Way a Door Closes"(Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award winner)
Elbrite Brown, illustrator, "My Family Plays Music," written by Judy Cox (Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award)
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book Winners
Patricia C. and Fredrick L. McKissack, "Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States"
Jacqueline Woodson, "Locomotion"
Sharon M. Draper, "The Battle of Jericho"
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book Winners
Colin Bootman, illustrator, "Almost to Freedom," written by Vaunda Micheaux.
Nelson Kadir Nelson, illustrator, "Thunder Rose," written by Jerdine Nolen.
Pura Belpré Awards, honoring Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in a children’s book:
Yuyi Morales, illustrator and author of "Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book."
Julia Alvarez, author of "Before We Were Free." The committee selected three
Pura Belpré Honor Books for Illustration
Robert Casilla, illustrator, "First Day in Grapes," written by L. King Pérez
David Diaz, illustrator, "The Pot That Juan Built," written by Nancy Andrews-Goebel.
Yuyi Morales, illustrator, "Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez," written by Kathleen Krull
Pura Belpré Author Honor Books:
Nancy Osa, "Cuba 15."
Amada Irma Pérez, "My Diary from Here to There/ Mi diario de aquí hasta allá."
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature:
Angela Johnson, "The First Part Last"
Michael L. Printz Honor Books:
Jennifer Donnelly, "A Northern Light"
Helen Frost, "Keesha's House"
K.L. Going, "Fat Kid Rules the World"
Carolyn Mackler, "The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things"
Robert F. Sibert Award for most distinguished informational book for children:
Jim Murphy, "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793"
Robert F. Sibert Honor Book:
Vicki Cobb, "I Face the Wind"
Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime contribution to young adult readers:
Ursula K. LeGuin
Andrew Carnegie Medal for outstanding American video production for children:
Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly of Weston Woods Studios, producers of "Giggle, Giggle, Quack," based on the picture book by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award for the most outstanding children's book originally published in a foreign language and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States:
Walter Lorraine Books, publisher of "Run, Boy, Run," by Uri Orlev, translated from Hebrew by Hillel Halkin
Batchelder Honor Book
Chronicle Books, publisher of "The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins" by Bea Uusma Schyffert; translated from Swedish by Emi Guner
Timberland Regional Library serves Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties at 27 community libraries and 6 school-based cooperative library centers. For information on any subject, the public can telephone Timberland’s Central Reference Service librarians at 704-INFO (704-4636) from Thurston County, Shelton and Oakville or 1-800-562-6022, toll-free, from all other areas in the district.
Revised 01/23/04
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Timberland Regional Library serves Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Western Washington State.