Here are some of the literary awards given out this year by the Association for Library Service
to Children (ALSC).
The Pura Belpre Award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best
portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature
for children and youth. The award is presented every two years, and in 2006 the winners were The
Tequila Worm by Viola Canales for narrative, and to Dona Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with
a Great Big Heart illustrated by Raul Colon and written by Pat Mora for illustration.
The Robert F. Sibert Medal is awarded annually to the best informational book for children. The
winner of the Sibert Medal for 2007 was Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the
Moon by Catherine Thimmesh.
Association for Library Services to Children puts out a list of notable books every year and here are
some of the notable reads from 2007 for middle readers:
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Jazz by Walter Dean Myers
Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow by Joyce Sidman
Crispin: At the Edge of the World by Avi
Gossamer by Lois Lowry
Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters and other Wily Characters by Patricia C. McKissack
Ask the LibrarianAsk Mrs. Farynowski questions by emailing her at
dfarynowski@grandviewschools.org then check
back here now and then to see if your questions have been answered.
Q: What is your favorite book this year?
A: This is such a tough question to answer as my answer changes the more I read! The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures by Brain Selznick is absolutely incredible. This book is told in black and white drawings and text. The story focuses on a young boy who lives in a shopping area and his dad is the time keeper. His adventures are fascinating and include some history from the turn of the 19th century.
