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November 2011
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Upcoming Events for Children's Librarians
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November 2011MARK YOUR CALENDAR Upcoming Events for Children's Librarians |
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National Book Awards Continuing Controversy:
When the National Book Awards announced the finalists in the Young People's Literature category last month, six titles instead of the customary five were announced due to a clerical error. Since then, the organization asked Lauren Myracle to withdraw the nomination of her book Shine, even though the book was included in the nominations due to the organization's lack of due diligence in confirming the titles on the list. Myracle agreed to withdraw her nomination, and suggested the National Book Awards donate $5000 to the Matthew Shepard Foundation, because Shine is a novel about homophobic bullying, which that charity addresses. Blog and Twitter posts have been unanimous in their revulsion of the National Book Organization's actions in compounding their own error by asking Myracle to withdraw her nomination. Check the website www.nationalbook.org/nba2011.html after Nov. 16, 2011 to find out the winners of the National Book Award, and to see if the organization can repair its reputation.
California Young Reader Medal and Beatty Award Winners Announced:
CLA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 CLA Awards, which will be presented at the Awards Gala during the CLA-CSLA Conference in Pasadena on November 11, 2011.
The John and Patricia Beatty Award:
California Young Reader Medal:
Author Florence Parry Heide Dies:
Author Florence Parry Heide died Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the age of 92. Among her classic works is The Shrinking of Treehorn (1971), illustrated by Edward Gorey, and two sequels. She collaborated with both of her daughters (when they were adults), on books. For more information, see: www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/arts/florence-parry-heide-childrens-writer-and-poet-dies-at-92.html?_r=1&emc=eta1 .
Cybil Nominees to be Announced:
The Cybil Awards: the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards have closed nominations. The short list will be announced in January 2012, and the winners will be posted on February 12, 2012, for books published in 2011. Two ACL members are on the selection committees, Mary Ann Scheuer and Hayley Beale. Congratulations to them, and look for more information here: www.cybils.com .
Sights & Sounds: Media Watch
Various. All About Bullies…Big and Small. Cool Beans Music/East Coast Recording, 2011. CD $15, download album $10. To purchase: allaboutbulliesbigandsmall.com/ .
Bullying is a big issue in most schools, and has yet to be addressed effectively in many. The 37 pieces on this compilation album can help a teacher introduce the subject to a wide age range, from Kindergarten to Middle School. All proceeds for the recording will be donated to www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org.
The talent on this compilation is extraordinary! The opening song Jump Rope, by Blue October, sets the tone that this is rock for kids, with strong instrumentation, soaring vocals, and lyrics that don't talk down to kids. Even middle schoolers could perform this and not feel like it is a "kid's song."
Other performers heard on the album include Barry Louis Polisar, Little Steven Van Zandt, Peter Alsop, and many others. Half of the cuts are not songs, but spoken word poetry such as Labels performed by Heidi Swedberg, Rolling with It by Cyndy Drue, and I Opened My Locker by Grover Silcox. A Cyber Tai is especially useful to help children understand about cyber-bullying.
Styles of the cuts vary but are all contemporary. Cooperate by Sugar Free Allstars & Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is solid hip-hop, with a zingy chorus and a strong rap that really flows. Walk Away has an 80's electronic feel. No Matter How Small, has a nice country folk vibe, sung by Dave Kinnoin featuring a great slide guitar. Get to Know Me by Helen Bruner & Terry Jones has a disco beat. One song, Leap of Faith, performed by Marla Lewis, was co-written by Lewis and Bay Area singer (and librarian) Nancy Schimmel. It has a great chorus, simple but catchy melody, and would be great for a school assembly or chorus number. Another memorable song is Two Wolves, a folk rock ballad set in the Native American community with a striking harmonica solo.
The production values are outstanding, with great background vocals, sound effects, and musical accompaniment. This is sure to be popular when librarians recommend it teachers, and parents and children can enjoy it together, and sing-along in the car. Highly recommended.
Tween Program Ideas
The "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series by Jeff Kinney is still popular with readers grades 3-6, and a program based on the books is sure to be well attended, especially by boys. Here are some ideas from Sarah Mae Harper, of the AC Bilbrew Library in Los Angeles County, which she posted to the PUBYAC listserv. These program ideas celebrate Kinney's latest, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, published by Amulet on Nov. 15, 2011. Set during a blizzard, this type of program would be great to hold during Winter/Christmas vacation, when the tweens are likely to come to the library for something to do.
Snowball fight with:
Cabin Fever games/activities:
Snow games:
Snow crafts:
Snow Decorations:
Food and Drinks:
BayNews needs you! BayNews welcomes any articles, news, ideas on storytime or programs, etc. Just send any articles as a Word attachment to email, to Penny Peck at baynews@bayviews.org. Thanks!
Submitted by : Penny Peck
Copyright © 1999-2011 Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California. All rights reserved.