Pick of the Week

Punk Farm on Tour by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Random House, 2007)

In this sequel to Punk Farm, Farmer Joe is off to a Tractor Society Conference in Reno, Nevada. But back at the farm the animals are gearing up to go on tour across America! Along the way they find themselves in trouble when their tour van breaks down. Will they make it all the way to Colorado? Will the fans love them and their new songs? Get ready to sing and scream, "Peace out, Colorado!" along with Cow, Pig, Goat, Chicken, and Sheep.This is a rockin', hilarious book that will add any zing to storytime! Pair it with Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin and Paul O. Zelinsky's Wheels on the Bus for extra punch. Visit author Jarret Krosoczka's web site to listen to the animals play!

Pick of the Week

Punk Farm on Tour by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Random House, 2007)

In this sequel to Punk Farm, Farmer Joe is off to a Tractor Society Conference in Reno, Nevada. But back at the farm the animals are gearing up to go on tour across America! Along the way they find themselves in trouble when their tour van breaks down. Will they make it all the way to Colorado? Will the fans love them and their new songs? Get ready to sing and scream, "Peace out, Colorado!" along with Cow, Pig, Goat, Chicken, and Sheep.This is a rockin', hilarious book that will add any zing to storytime! Pair it with Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin and Paul O. Zelinsky's Wheels on the Bus for extra punch.

Children's Award Winners Announced

John Newbery Medal
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz (Candlewick)

Newbery Honor Books
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic/Scholastic Press)

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion)

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson (Putnam/GP Putnam's Sons)

Randolph Caldecott Medal
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Scholastic)

Caldecott Honor Books
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Ellen Levine (Scholastic/Scholastic Press)

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter)

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís (Farrar/Frances Foster)

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (Hyperion)

Mildred L. Batchelder Award
VIZ Media, publisher of Brave Story, by Miyuki Miyabe, translated from the Japanese by Alexander O. Smith

Batchelder Honor Books
Milkweed Editions, publisher of The Cat: Or, How I Lost Eternity, by Jutta Richter, illustrated by Rotraut Susanne Berner, and translated from the German by Anna Brailovsky

Phaidon Press, publisher of Nicholas and the Gang, written by René Goscinny, illustrated by Jacques Sempé, and translated from the French by Anthea Bell

Pura Belpré Author Award
The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Holt)

Belpré Author Honor Books
Frida: ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Marshall Cavendish)

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale, retold by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael Austin (Peachtree)

Los Gatos Black on Halloween, written by Marisa Montes, illustrated by Yuyi Morales (Holt)

Pura Belpré Illustrator Award
Los Gatos Black on Halloween, written by Marisa Montes, illustrated by Yuyi Morales (Holt)

Belpré Illustrator Honor Books
My Name Is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel García Márquez/Me llamo Gabito: la vida de Gabriel García Márquez, illustrated by Raúl Colón, written by Monica Brown (Luna Rising)

My Colors, My World/Mis colores, mi mundo, written and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez (Children's Book Press)

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
There Is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems (Hyperion)

Geisel Honor Books
First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter)

Hello, Bumblebee Bat, written by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne (Charlesbridge)Jazz Baby, written by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (Harcourt)

Vulture View, written by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Holt)

Odyssey Award
Jazz, Live Oak Media

Odyssey Honor Audiobooks
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy, Listen & Live Audio
Dooby Dooby Moo, Weston Woods/Scholastic
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Listening LibrarySkulduggery Pleasant, HarperCollins Audio
Treasure Island, Listening Library

Sibert Medal
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís (Farrar/Frances Foster)

Sibert Honor Books
Lightship by Brian Floca (Simon & Schuster/Richard Jackson)
Nic Bishop Spiders by Nic Bishop (Scholastic/Scholastic Nonfiction)

Americana Tales

While most likely to be appreciated by older children than in our Birth-to-Six age group targeted on this blog, I still couldn't resist sharing the latest title from beloved children's author and illustrator, Tomie DePaola. As we celebrate and spotlight storytelling at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library this month, this new title should delight fans young and old of tall tales, Americana and storytelling in general.

Tomie DePaola's Front Porch Tales & North Country Whoppers by Tomie DePaola (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2007)

In the spirit of wonderful storytelling and read-alouds, Tomie DePaola is back with a collection of hilarious read-aloud tales and whoppers from Vermont and "New Hampsha" where he has spent over 35 years of his life. Organized into sections by season, DePaola introduces us to his mostly sweet, funny, and quirky characters that make for enjoyable reading for the whole family. His signature folk-style art also includes comic-strips interspersed between tales. Recommended for sharing with your children - school-aged on up!

Pick of the Week

I Want a Hug by John A. Rowe (Penguin Young Reader's Group, 2007)

"The only thing in the world little Elvis wants is a hug. Everywhere he goes he sees hugs - in the city, in the park, in the train station. But poor Elvis is so prickly that no one wants to get close to him. "Please," he asks, "won't someone give me a hug?" Sadly, no one anywhere will give him one.

Just as he's about to give up, he hears a voice in the crowd crying out, "Won't someone give me a kiss?" Could this be Elvis' chance to make a lasting friend? From the wild imagination of John A. Rowe comes an adorable and hilarious book about what it means to reach out to someone." (from inside cover)

January Spotlight on Storytelling

You Have an Important Story to Share

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways we communicate, share experience and memory, and organize our world. While children are born without narrative skills, they quickly develop in the first years of life. What parents and caregivers do during these years is important in developing these early storytelling abilities.

By adding vocabulary and description to a child's experiences and world around them, you're helping build important language skills. Sharing bedtime stories, talking about the events you experience during the day, and telling stories about the past, the day your child was born, and your own experience or favorite stories as a child all help build narrative skills and a love of language.

Having narrative skills means being able to describe things and events and tell stories. This is an important pre-reading skill that all children need. As your child grows, sharing traditional stories that are a part of your family's heritage also gives them a sense of community and builds their sense of identity.

This month, stop by the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library's Birth to Six site for links to storytelling information, events, and suggested books for both children and the adults that care for them.

Keep the story alive!

Tcha Tee Man Wi Storytelling Festival 2008

Everyone is welcomed to the Tcha Tee Man Wi Storytelling Festival that will take place January 31-February 3, 2008 in Corvallis, Oregon. A full weekend of storytelling events and workshops is planned. To read more about the festival and to see a schedule of events please visit http://library.ci.corvallis.or.us/corvallis/storyfest/