In library visits this week the students and I will continue our participation in the California Young Reader Medal contest (grades TK, K, and 1). Grades 2 and 3 will hear books related to the Chinese New Year (grades 2 and 3). The Chinese (or lunar) new year begins this year on Friday, January 31. This coming year is the Year of the Horse.

Grades 4 and 5 are continuing with their novels. We have not done a lot of discussion of the novels yet--I'm trying to cover some ground and allow the novels to "work their magic" without my intrusion. However, the time is coming for discussion with those grades, and you are certainly encouraged to ask your sons and daughters what they think of the books. Grade 4 is hearing When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead, winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal; grade 5 is hearing Schooled, by Gordon Korman.

The book club for grade 5 met yesterday to discuss Jinx, by Sage Blackwood. It was a very interesting discussion, with many detailed and perceptive comments from the participants. I cannot overstate how impressed I am with these students--the detail with which they read, their ability to make connections within and among books, and the respect they show each other (and me) during meetings. What a pleasure to meet with them! The club's next selection is Wonder, by R. J. Palacio, and the next meeting will be Monday, February 24. 

Also yesterday was the announcement of the American Library Association Youth Media Awards, including the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal. Congratulations to all the outstanding authors and publishers who create and deliver excellent books for young people! A selection of the winners follows, but a complete list as well as more information on the awards can be found on the website of the American Library Association (from which I created my partial list):

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,” written by Kate DiCamillo

John Newbery Honors: “Doll Bones,” written by Holly Black; “The Year of Billy Miller,” written by Kevin Henkes; “One Came Home,” written by Amy Timberlake; “Paperboy,” written by Vince Vawter

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: “Locomotive,” illustrated by Brian Floca

Randolph Caldecott Honors: “Journey,” written and illustrated by Aaron Becker; “Flora and the Flamingo,” written and illustrated by Molly Idle; “Mr. Wuffles!” written and illustrated by David Wiesner 

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

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award: “Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me,” illustrated by Bryan Collier

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor: “Nelson Mandela,” illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson

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

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement: Patricia McKissack and Fredrick McKissack

 Schneider Family Book Awards 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 (for children ages 0 to 10); “Handbook for Dragon Slayers,” written by Merrie Haskell (ages 11-13)

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults: Markus Zusak. His books include “The Book Thief” and “I Am the Messenger.”   

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,” originally published in Dutch in 2011 as “Mister Orange,” written by Truus Matti, translated by Laura Watkinson

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 and written by Yuyi Morales

Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor: “Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía una Llamita,” illustrated and written by Angela Dominguez; “Tito Puente: Mambo King / Rey del Mambo,” illustrated by Rafael López, written by Monica Brown; “Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh 

Pura Belpré Author Honor honoring a Latino writer whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: “Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale,” written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh 

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: “Parrots over Puerto Rico,” written by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, and illustrated by Susan L. Roth

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers: “The Watermelon Seed,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli

Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor: “Ball,” written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan; “A Big Guy Took My Ball!” written and illustrated by Mo Willems; “Penny and Her Marble,” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Saturday, February 2, 2013, was Groundhog Day, and in case you missed the results, Punxsatawny Phil did not see his shadow, which predicts an early spring!

The coming Sunday, February 10, 2013, marks the start of the new year in Chinese culture. The lunar new year is celebrated in many places with large Chinese populations, including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and "Chinatowns" in U.S. cities. Many activities are planned in Chinatown Los Angeles, including a spectacular parade on Saturday, February 16, starting at 1:00 p.m. The coming year is the Year of the Snake.

I will return to work this week after missing several days last week due to illness. I plan to pick up with the nominees for the California Young Reader Medal, and I hope to complete our voting before the February break week, starting February 18. Classes (including all DK/TK classes) that have completed the voting will hear stories in honor of Chinese new year. 

The book club for students in grade 5 will meet Tuesday in the library at lunch recess. We will finally have our discussion on Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and choose a new book, this time from the historical fiction genre. 

This is the last week that the library's books for adult readers will still be in the library. These books are available for "adoption" by Pennekamp parents, staff, and teachers; donation requested is 50 cents per book. After this week, the books will be moved to the staff lounge for a couple of weeks, for one last chance at local adoption; after that, they will be donated to a public library that can use them.

Don't forget the Access Books fundraiser featuring Jeff Kinney at Pages: A Bookstore. The event is Tuesday, February 5, at 5:30 p.m. This ticketed event will almost certainly sell out, so if your child is interested in attending, tickets should be obtained right away from the Access Books site. Click on this link:
Jeff Kinney at Pages for Access Books