Agent Query: the Internet’s Largest and Most Current Database of Literary Agents. Site also includes background about literary agents, submitting to agents, writing a query, scammers, publishing market information, and writer resources. Cyn Note: I’ve surfed this site and found quality information on respected agents. A handful of writers create books for adults and young readers, and they’ll need to look for agents who work well in both markets. If you’re a children’s-YA specialist, before signing with a broader-focus agent, make sure he or sure is really tapped into our world. Do your homework! Learn more about agents.

The Boston Globe-Hornbook Awards have been announced. I’d like to offer special congratulations to honor winners Julie Larios, author of Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Harcourt) and Deborah Hopkinson, author of Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building, illustrated by James E. Ransome (Schwartz & Wade/Random House). See Read Rodger.

Congratulations to 2007 Garden State Book Award Nominees (PDF file) from the New Jersey Library Association. Highlights include: Who’s Afraid of Granny Wolf? (Fitch & Chip) by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Frank Ansley (Simon & Schuster, 2006)(author interview) and Naming Maya by Uma Krishnaswami (FSG, 2004)(author interview).

Congratulations to Jacqueline Davies on the release of The Night Is Singing, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker (Dial, 2006). Kirkus calls it, “Gratifying and readable night after night.” SLJ calls it a “perfect bedtime read,” and Booklist says, “…kids who harbor bedtime anxieties will gain courage from the notion of a night filled with friendly, serenading presences.”

Extreme Makeover or Not: Deep[ish] Thoughts on a Writer’s Style and Substance (PDF file) by Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson from Voya. Kathleen is the author of The Parallel Universe of Liars (Roaring Brook, 2002), Target (Roaring Brook, 2003), A Fast and Brutal Wing (Roaring Brook, 2004), and Dumb Love (Roaring Brook, 2005). Read a recent Cynsations interview with Kathleen.

Eva Underground by Dandi Daley Mackall (Harcourt, 2006)(author interview): a recommendation by Greg Leitich Smith from GregLSBlog. See also funniest movies from GregLSBlog.

Got Books Authors from the Westlake Porter Public Library. Check out the “milk mustaches” on such authors as Dori Chaconas (author interview), Cinda Williams Chima, Lisa Harkrader (author interview), Cynthia Lord (author interview), Asma Mobin-Uddin, Rebecca Kraft Rector, Douglas Rees (author interview), Nicole Rubel, Linda Joy Singleton, Scott Westerfeld (author interview), Lisa Yee (author interview), and more!

Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (HarperCollins/Morrow, 2000)(feature illustration) is featured in “Learn How to Powwow at the Children’s Library” by Gabrielle Kaye in the summer 2006 (volume 9, issue two) “CrossPaths Museum News” of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. Thanks to Liza Ketchum (author interview) for the heads-up.