James Patterson says READKIDDOREAD

One of the most prolific and popular authors, James Patterson, has created a website promoting reading: http://www.readkiddoread.com/ When Patterson's own son seemed indifferent to reading, Patterson not only began to write children's books, he created this website to help kids, parents and teachers find those books that will appeal to kids who just don't want to read. Much like Jon Scieszka's http://www.guysread.com/, Patterson has assembled a site that is easy to maneuver and appeals to kids. Not only does he highlight current fiction and nonfiction, he also lists these books by style (great illustrated books, great transitional books, great page turners and great advanced reads) and then breaks it down into age categories. Colorful book covers make the site appealing and by clicking on each, parents or kids can read a review of the book. Books listed there are current and popular here at the library so I know Patterson has really done his homework. Try it out!

It's awards time again!

An exciting podcast from the ALA midwinter conference announced the winners of the Newbery and Caldecott awards yesterday. This is the equivalent of the Oscars here in Libraryland! This podcast had Ms. Barnes and I glued to our monitors and gasping in surprise, as there were some unexpected winners. How many of them have you read? I just finished "The Graveyard Book" and it was spectacular! If you are a fifth through seventh grader, you should read this unusual horror book. Imagine, a child raised by ghosts in a graveyard and saved from death with the help of the Sleer. What's a Sleer? Imagine a huge snake with three corpses' heads....creepy!
Here are all the winners and honor books; why not check a few out and compare notes with your friends and teachers? Just a reminder, some of these books are found in the Youth Adult area of our library and could contain mature themes.

Newbery Medal

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Newbery Honor Books

"The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt

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

"Savvy" by Ingrid Law

"After Tupac and D Foster" by Jacqueline Woodson

Caldecott Medal

"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, Harcourt, Inc.

"How I Learned Geography" by Uri Shulevitz, Farrar Straus Giroux

"A River of Words: The

Story of William Carlos Williams", illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant

Batchelder Award

"Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit" by Nahoko Uehashi

Batchelder Honor Books

"Garmann's Summer" written and illustrated by Stian Hole, translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett

"Tiger Moon" written by Antonia Michaelis, translated from the German by Anthea Bell

Belpré Author Award

"The Surrender Tree: Poem

s of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom" by Margarita Engle

Belpré Author Honor Books

"Just in Case" by Yuyi Morales

"Reaching Out" by Francisco Jiménez

"The Storyteller's Candle/La velita de los cuentos" by Lucia Gonzalez

Belpré Illustrator Award

"Just in Case" by Yuyi Morales

Belpré Illustrator Honor Books

"Papa and Me" illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez, written by Arthur Dorros

"The Storyteller's Candle/La velita de los cuentos" illustrated by Lulu Delacre, written by Lucia Gonzalez

"What Can You Do with a Rebozo" illustrated by Amy Cordova, written by Carmen Tafolla,

Carnegie Medal

"March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World"

Coretta Scott King Award

"We Are the Ship: the Story of Negro Baseball League" by Kadir Nelson

Coretta Scott King Honor Books

"Keeping the Night Watch" by Hope Anita Smith

"The Blacker the Berry" by Joyce Carol Thomas

"Becoming Billie Ho liday" by Carole Boston Weatherford

Geisel Award

"Are You Ready to Play Outside?" written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Geisel Honor Books

"Chicken Said, 'Cluck!'" written by Judyann Ackerman Grant

"One Boy" written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

"Stinky" written and illustrated by Eleanor Davis

"Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator" written by Sarah C. Campbell

Odyssey Award

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," written and narrated by Sherman Alexie,

Odyssey Honor Audiobooks

"Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady," written by L.A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren,

"Elijah of Buxton" written by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrated by Mirron Willis

"I'm Dirty" written by Kate and Jim McMullan, narrated by Steve Buscemi

"Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale" written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy

"Nation" written by Terry Pratchett, narrated by Stephen Briggs

Sibert Medal

"We Are theShip: The Story of Negro League Baseball" written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Sibert Honor Books

"Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and Rediscovery of the Past" written by James M. Deem

"What to Do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!" written by Barbara Kerley

Wilder Medal

Ashley Bryan, author and illustrator of numerous books, including "Dancing Granny," "Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum" and "Beautiful Blackbird."