February Picks

After predicting the Newberry and Caldecott winners for 2012, this edition of my blog will be to reveal who the winners are. The winners were announced at the American Library Association mid-winter conference on January 23rd. We have most of these books in the library, and the ones we do not currently have are on thier way! Please come in to the library and check them out!

Newberry Winner

Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos

Gantos sets his hero, Jack Gantos, in the town of 1962 Norvelt, PA, a planned community created in the 1930s and named for its biggest booster, Eleanor Roosevelt. After being grounded by his parents, Jack is loaned out to a local librarian who sets him to work typing obituaries of the town's residents. Soon, he's launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, voices from the past, Hells Angels, and even a possible murder. ~Laura Weiss, School Library Journal

Newberry Honors

Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai (I knew this one would do well!)

Based in Lai’s personal experience, this first novel captures a child–refugee’s struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short free–verse poems, Hà’s immediate narrative describes her mistakes—both humorous and heartbreaking; and readers will be moved by Hà’s sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast. ~Booklist

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin 

Sasha Zaichik has known the laws of the Soviet Young Pioneers since the age of six. But now that it is finally time to join the Young Pioneers, the day Sasha has awaited for so long, everything seems to go awry. He breaks a classmate's glasses with a snowball. He accidentally damages a bust of Stalin in the school hallway.  And worst of all, his father, the best Communist he knows, was arrested just last night. This moving story of a ten-year-old boy's world shattering is masterful in its simplicity, powerful in its message, and heartbreaking in its plausibility. ~Amazon

Caldecott Winner

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka (I predicted this would win an honor, but it did better than I expected!)

A gray-and-white pup and her red ball are constant companions until a poodle inadvertently deflates the toy, taking the air out of Daisy as well. Raschka’s nuanced illustrations brilliantly depict joy, shock, disbelief, sadness–and, with the gift of a blue ball–renewed contentment. ~School Library Journal

Caldecott Honors

Blackout by John Rocco

On a summer night in the city, the youngest member of a family finds that everyone is too busy to play with him. But when the lights go out, and everything shuts down, suddenly there’s time for games and impromptu street and rooftop parties. Luminous, fluid artwork, filled with visual gags that extend the charming story, glows with warmth and humor. ~School Library Journal

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

A boy tells the story of his great-grandfather’s life as he gives readers a grand tour of the man’s glorious topiary garden. Verdant shades predominate but graceful pen-and-ink drawings and colorful accents lend interest and whimsy to the towering constructions. ~School Library Journal

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

In his characteristic heartwarming style, Patrick McDonnell tells the story of the young Jane Goodall and her special childhood toy chimpanzee named Jubilee. As the young Jane observes the natural world around her with wonder, she dreams of "a life living with and helping all animals," until one day she finds that her dream has come true. ~Amazon