rgz Newsflash: ALA Midwinter Hello

Hello from ALA Midwinter, rgz! I saw a lot of YALSA teens on the floor yesterday, and I was happy to share readergirlz buttons. So many cheerful faces, square glasses, and books bulging in bags. Thanks for dropping by the Blink booth for Firstborn. Such a great celebration. Super fun to see postergirl Jackie Parker Robinson, as well!

Okay, in anticipation of the awards tomorrow morning, check out this video of some of your childhood favorites. We'd like to see a similar video for the Printz!



Here's to the festivities and thanks to all the librarians for their work in selecting this year's winners!

The ALA's Youth Media Award Winners!

The American Library Association announced its Youth Media Award Winners today. Our congrats to all the Winners and Honors!

Here's a short list to whet your appetite. For a full list (including all of the awards plus the Honors books, which are also amazing!) go here.

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature
Moon over Manifest, written by Clare Vanderpool

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children
A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults
Ship Breaker, written by Paolo Bacigalupi

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author of outstanding books for children and young adults
One Crazy Summer, left, written by Rita Williams-Garcia

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience

The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is Five Flavors of Dumb, written by Antony John and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Pura Belpre (Author) Award honoring a Latino writer whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience

The Dreamer, written by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Peter Sís

Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature

Award, given annually to English-language children's and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered experience
Almost Perfect, right, written by Brian Katcher

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens
The Freak Observer, written by Blythe Woolston

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults during a November 1 – October 31 publishing year.

Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing, written by Ann Angel

Printz 2010: Congrats, Libba!!!

Celebrating Libba Bray in our rgz Circle of Stars this morning. She just won the 2010 Printz! *squeeee* Congrats to the honor winners as well!

Going Bovine
by Libba Bray

2010 Printz Honor Books

Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

The Monstrumologist, by Rick Yancey

Punkzilla, by Adam Rapp

Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973, by John Barnes

Coretta Scott King Author Honor

Mare’s War, by Tanita D. Davis

YAY, TANITA!

ALA 2009: Roundup

Rounding up ALA with just a few photos for the rgz peeps. The first is a bit of a blur from the Newbery, but how perfect for Neil Gaimen and The Graveyard Book? Right?

We had so much fun with over 90 tables of participants. An elegant evening for certain. I was especially thankful to be there to respect the talent and heart of Ashley Bryan.

Our very own diva Justina Chen Headley was busy on Monday, signing over 200 copies of North of Beautiful in 2 hours. Librarians were squealing and crying in excitement in her line. Seriously.


And then the Printz Ceremony! I have to give it up to our YALSA librarians who are so hip and passionate! It was a fantastic evening of speeches.


The dapper M.T. Anderson was one of the inspiring, honor award, key note speakers.

One of my favorite events of the weekend was the YALSA Coffee Klatch. Before we authors were whisked around the room in speed dating style, we all got to chat together over breakfast ourselves. I nearly dropped over meeting Margo Lanagan as I searched for words of appreciation for Tender Morsels. She was kind and patient with me.

I'll be posting a smattering of photos of new friends and old on my own blog and Facebook if you want to see more. But that's all for now. Thank you ALA for the Annual Conference of 2009!