Between the By-Road and the Main Road: January 2014

Monday, January 27, 2014

2014 Children and Young Adult Book Award Winners

** John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:

“Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,” written by Kate DiCamillo, is the 2014 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.

Four Newbery Honor Books also were named:

“Doll Bones,” written by Holly Black and published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division;
“The Year of Billy Miller,” written by Kevin Henkes and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;
“One Came Home,” written by Amy Timberlake and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.; and
"Paperboy,” written by Vince Vawter and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

** Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

“Locomotive,” illustrated by Brian Floca, is the 2014 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Brian Floca and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Note: Debbie Reese's blog post, About "diverse" books and inclusivity in Brian Floca's LOCOMOTIVE, offers a compelling insight into the text and challenge to the text. Well worth reading.

Three Caldecott Honor Books also were named:

“Journey,” written and illustrated by Aaron Becker and published by Candlewick Press;
“Flora and the Flamingo,” written and illustrated by Molly Idle and published by Chronicle Books LLC; and
“Mr. Wuffles!” written and illustrated by David Wiesner and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

** Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

“P.S. Be Eleven,” written by Rita Williams-Garcia, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Three King Author Honor Books were selected:

“March: Book One,” written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell, and published by Top Shelf Productions;
“Darius & Twig,” written by Walter Dean Myers and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and
“Words with Wings,” written by Nikki Grimes and published by WordSong, an imprint of Highlights.

** Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:

“Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Daniel Beaty and published by Little, Brown and Company, Hachette Book Group.

One King Illustrator Honor Book was selected: “Nelson Mandela,” illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson and published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

** Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award:

“When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop,” illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, is the Steptoe winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.

** Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement: Authors Patricia and Researcher Fredrick McKissack are the winners of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award is presented in even years to an African American author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of his or her published books for children and/or young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution

** Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

“Midwinterblood,” written by Marcus Sedgwick, is the 2014 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

Four Printz Honor Books also were named:

“Eleanor & Park,” written by Rainbow Rowell and published by St. Martin’s Griffin (Macmillan);
“The Kingdom of Little Wounds,” written by Susann Cokal and published by Candlewick Press;
“Maggot Moon,” written by Sally Gardner, illustrated by Julian Crouch and published by Candlewick Press; and
“Navigating Early,” written by Clare Vanderpool and published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House LLC, Penguin Random House Company.

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

“A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin,” written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. wins the award for children ages 0 to 10.

“Handbook for Dragon Slayers,” written by Merrie Haskell and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, is the winner of the middle-school (ages 11-13) award.

The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Rose under Fire,” written by Elizabeth Wein and published by Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

** Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

“Brewster,” written by Mark Slouka and published by W. W. Norton & Company

“The Death of Bees,” written by Lisa O’Donnell and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

“Golden Boy: A Novel,” written by Abigail Tarttelin and published by ATRIA Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

“Help for the Haunted,” written by John Searles and published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

“Lexicon: A Novel,” written by Max Barry and published by The Penguin Group, Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

“The Lives of Tao,” written by Wesley Chu and published by Angry Robot, a member of the Osprey Group

“Mother, Mother: A Novel,” written by Koren Zailckas and published by Crown Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

“Relish: My Life in the Kitchen,” written by Lucy Knisley and published by First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership

“The Sea of Tranquility: A Novel,” written by Katja Millay and published by ATRIA Paperback, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

“The Universe Versus Alex Woods,” written by Gavin Extence and published by Redhook Books, an imprint of Orbit, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

** Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults: Markus Zusak is the 2014 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “The Book Thief” and “I Am the Messenger,” published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, and “Getting the Girl” and “Fighting Ruben Wolfe,” published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Scholastic.

** Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States:

“Mister Orange” is the 2014 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Dutch in 2011 as “Mister Orange,” the book was written by Truus Matti, translated by Laura Watkinson, and published by Enchanted Lion Books.

Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected:

“The Bathing Costume or the Worst Vacation of My Life,” written by Charlotte Moundlic, illustrated by Olivier Tallec, translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick, and published by Enchanted Lion Books;
“My Father’s Arms Are a Boat,” written by Stein Erik Lunde, illustrated by Øyvind Torseter, translated by Kari Dickson, and published by Enchanted Lion Books; and
“The War Within These Walls,” written by Aline Sax, illustrated by Caryl Strzelecki, translated by Laura Watkinson, and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

** Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

“Niño Wrestles the World,” illustrated by Yuyi Morales, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Yuyi Morales and published by Roaring Brook Press.

Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were selected:
“Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía una Llamita,” illustrated and written by Angela Dominguez and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC;
Tito Puente: Mambo King / Rey del Mambo,” illustrated by Rafael López, written by Monica Brown and published by Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and

“Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

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

“Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass,” written by Meg Medina, is the Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.

Three Belpré Author Honor Books were named:

“The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist,” written by Margarita Engle and published by Harcourt, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company;
“The Living,” written by Matt de la Peña and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company; and
“Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale,” written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

** Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

Susan Roth's Parrots over Puerto Rico

“Parrots over Puerto Rico,” written by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, and illustrated by Susan L. Roth, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by LEE & LOW BOOKS, Inc.

Four Sibert Honor Books were named:

“A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin,” written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.;
“Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard,” written and illustrated by Annette LeBlanc Cate and published by Candlewick Press;
“Locomotive,” written and illustrated by Brian Floca and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; and
“The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius,” written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.

** Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

“Beautiful Music for Ugly Children,” written by Kirstin Cronn-Mills and published by Flux, an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd; and “Fat Angie,” written by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo and published by Candlewick Press, are the winners of the 2014 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award.

Three Honor Books were selected:

“Better Nate Than Ever,” written by Tim Federle and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division;
“Branded by the Pink Triangle,” written by Ken Setterington and published by Second Story Press; and
“Two Boys Kissing,” written by David Levithan and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

** Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers:

“The Watermelon Seed,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, is the Geisel Award winner. The book is published by Disney Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

Three Geisel Honor Books were named:

“Ball,” written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company;
“A Big Guy Took My Ball!” written and illustrated by Mo Willems and published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group; and
“Penny and Her Marble,” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

** William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:

“Charm & Strange,” written by Stephanie Kuehn, is the 2014 Morris Award winner. The book is published by St. Martin’s Griffin, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, a division of Macmillan.

Four other books were finalists for the award:

“Sex & Violence,” written by Carrie Mesrobian and published by Carolrhoda LAB, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group;
“Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets,” written by Evan Roskos and published by Houghton Mifflin, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company;
“Belle Epoque,” written by Elizabeth Ross and published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books; and
“In the Shadow of Blackbirds,” written by Cat Winters and published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS.

** YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:

“The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi,” written by Neal Bascomb, is the 2014 Excellence winner. The book is published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Four other books were finalists for the award:

“Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design,” written by Chip Kidd and published by Workman Publishing Company;
“Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II,” written by Martin W. Sandler and published by Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.;
“Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers,” written by Tanya Lee Stone and published by Candlewick Press; and
“The President Has Been Shot! The Assassination of John F. Kennedy,” written by James L. Swanson and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Monday, January 20, 2014

MLK

A Time to Break Silence (M.A. Reilly, 2009)

A homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On April 4, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered the speech, Beyond Vietnam—A Time to Break Silence, at Riverside Church in New York City. I believe that his speech, although delivered more than 30 years ago, is nonetheless quite timely given man of our Middle East and economic policies today.

In this extraordinary speech, Dr. King says,

“A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand, we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”

Reforming the Jericho Road is the critical work we must get right this time.

I have included a link to the speech below. Follow that link to hear Dr. King deliver the speech.

Image of Dr. King & Speech

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Vast Carelessness and School Reform

I. At School

This past week has been thought provoking. Earlier in the week I conducted a full day inservice with a principal and a dozen teachers, many of whom I have worked with during the last two years. I so believe in the work they are committed to doing on a daily basis at this southward school in Newark, NJ. I work with this staff on a monthly basis and this week we closed the session by viewing a brief film that portrayed learning at a public school in Brookline, Massachusetts. After the video ended, the principal paused and then spoke with the teachers about how she has to be mindful when she sees videos of other children learning to not minimize the potential of that learning because the children portrayed are living in such safer situations than the children who attend her school. She said,

I'm thinking that those children in that classroom all ate dinner the night before. That they did not have to walk past multiple murder sites from the last few weeks on their way to school. I have to remind myself that our kids can learn as well too.

To contextualize the principal's comments find below an image of a map that chronicles murders during the last year that happened where this school is located (map includes an adjacent city).

from here.

So I have been thinking about the kids at the school who arrive hungry, who arrive scared having travelled streets many adults would fear to tread, who arrive ill lacking the resources for medical care. I can recall sitting in an 8th grade classroom at this school last spring when one girl reading from her notebook told about a shooting that had taken place up the street from the school the day before. Another child read about being the only surviving male in his family having seen his brother and cousin each killed within the past year and the weight of those deaths on him and his mother. All of this weighs and I find myself thinking about the school solutions that are routinely offered (longer school days, longer school years, rigorous curricula, CCSS implementation, teacher education and evaluation) and I want to shout, Time Out!

This is not to say that those routinely offered solutions are good or bad, but rather that they often obfuscate the larger problem of racial income inequality that we don't seem to talk about very often and certainly do not entertain it as a viable solution to what ails us.

II. Carelessness

So all of this was on my mind when I sat down earlier today to read the Sunday NY Times and found Sam Polk's rather narcissistic essay, For the Love of Money, gracing the cover of the Sunday Review. Polk, a former hedge-fund trader, situates his rather obscene desire for money (laments the smallness of a $3.6 million bonus) as an addiction--as if such maneuvering might recast the capitalist society that in many ways is responsible for producing the crime-ridden and hungry-child neighborhood I first described at the start of this post as something akin to a personal addiction problem that has now been conquered. Sam Polk is all better. There's no ownership in what his actions wrought. There's no acknowledgement that the very bonuses he was given came on the back of the middle class and poor and have helped to create the abject poverty and hopelessness in a city where 111 murders have taken place this past year. Rather Sam Polk has authored an all about me essay that only the disillusioned wealthy could write and sadly the NY Times could print.

I was reminded while reading Polk of the end of The Great Gatsby where Nick Carraway muses:

I couldn't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made […]. (9.136-145)

It's this extreme carelessness of hedge-fund traders and market speculators who make money out of hunger that is most disturbing. They harm you and me, our kids, our neighborhoods, our country with little regard, if any, for their actions beyond how their actions influence their rather petty selves. The end of Polk's essay has an almost Jonathan Swift Modest Proposal feel to it--if only Polk was writing satire. Polk has traded his hedge funding which creates income inequality for now helping the poor he helped to make manage their obesity and food addictions. Yes, you have read that correctly. His new nonprofit, Groceryships, is designed "to help poor families struggling with obesity and food addictions."

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Seeing Differently with a Phone

I love how the camera on the phone I use shapes how I see--gives rise to new meanings of the ordinary. Technologies extend and constrain us and in doing so repeatedly often situate values as given truths.

Thoreau wrote, "The question is not what you look at but what you see." This is a central tenet to making images, as opposed to just taking photographs. I enjoy the tension that happens when the technologies I use to make images are so different from one another. There is vast world of difference that emerges when I shoot with a Nikon, a Leica, or my iPhone. Exploring these differences affords me the opportunity to see differently.

This points to the importance of agency. The decision as to what tools to use are better left in the hands of the maker.

Below is a collection of images made during the last year using an iPhone and most often the Hipstamatic app.