Neil Gaiman awarded Newbery

The 2008 Newbery Medal was awarded to Neil Gaiman for his book
The Graveyard Book.

I read this book and found it to be lyrical, deeply engaging, and a stunning picture created with words. Gaiman is very talented at putting your mind exactly where he wants it.
I recommend this book to children in Middle School and older. The reason is that the first chapter has a scene both necessary and terrible - of the suspenseful, scary, horrific sort. Without it, the story could not flow; with it, the story has greater meaning.

Newbery Honor Books

"The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small

"The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom"

by Margarita Engle

"After Tupac and D Foster" by Jacqueline Woodson

Caldecott Winners are in!

The American Library Association's children's services division, ALSC (Association for Library Services to Children) has announced the winners of the prestigious Caldecott Award.

The Caldecott Medal goes to The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson.

Caldecott Honor Books

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, by Marla Frazee

How I Learned Geography, by Uri Shulevitz

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant

39 Clues Series

This series looks like it will be a lot of fun to read. I have read both books, The Maze of Bones, and One False Note. I am curious how many books will round out the entire series.

These books, each written by a different author (Rick Riordan and Gordan Korman), keep the same flow and feel to them. I found them entertaining and fast-paced.

For readers interested in trying to solve the mysteries presented in the books, there is a contest going on. Information here.

Dog Lost by Ingrid Lee

I read this book and, I admit, it made me tear up a little. This is the story of Cash, a pit bull puppy, that is given a very mixed lot in life. She is given love and affection (and patience) by a very special boy, then turned out on her own by a very selfish and immature father.

Cash must learn to survive in a world set against pit bulls. There is cruelty and crime in this story, but there is love and justice, too.

I recommend this book for readers 9 or 10 and older. Beware that it contains some foul language - but I believe it is an important part of the story, in this case. If you love dogs, it may be hard to read a few parts, but it is worth it in the end.