Cynsations Intern: Gayleen Rabakukk on Unique & Creative State Book Awards Programs

Cynsations Intern: Gayleen Rabakukk on Unique & Creative State Book Awards Programs

KS William Allen White Award winner Chris Grabenstein with 6-8 graders

By Gayleen Rabakukk

In updating the Awards for Children’s and YA Literature By State for Cynthia Leitich Smith’s author website, I discovered several programs and librarians taking unique or creative approaches to build interest in the books.

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Cynsational Summer Awards Roundup

Cynsational Summer Awards Roundup

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Boston Globe-Hornbook Awards for Excellence in Children’s Literature: “Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction. Two Honor Books may be named in each category.”

The National Book Awards Longlist: Young People’s Literature from The New Yorker. Peek: “…a novel in verse about a twelve-year-old soccer nut,

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In Memory: Larry Romans

In Memory: Larry Romans

By John L. Amundsen
Program Officer,
Outreach and Communications
ALA Office
for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) family, along with all of ALA, are saddened to learn of the death of Larry Romans, director at large of the GLBTRT on Thursday.

His service to the Library community was vast;

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Guest Post: Christopher Cheng on Australia’s 2015 Children’s Book of the Year Awards

Guest Post: Christopher Cheng on Australia’s 2015 Children’s Book of the Year Awards

By Christopher Cheng

The 2015 Children’s Book of the Year awards were announced Aug. 21. The theme this year was “Books Light Up Our World,” and there were many lights shining this year in schools, homes and bookshops all over Australia.

We have awards in five categories: Picture Book of the Year;

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The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award To Celebrate 20th Anniversary

The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award To Celebrate 20th Anniversary

Courtesy of Jesse Gainer
Director, Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award

The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award will be celebrating its 20th anniversary Sept. 25 and Sept. 26. In addition to showcasing exemplary Mexican American children’s and young adult literature, the program strives to share examples of powerful ways to engage young people in culturally responsive teaching and learning with the award winning literature.

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Hollins Launches Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature

Hollins Launches Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature

The annual award will showcase the best picture book manuscript as selected by a panel of judges and will be among the few children’s book honors with a cash prize.

Roanoke, Va. – Hollins University is paying tribute to one of its best-known alumnae and one of America’s most beloved children’s authors by establishing a literary award in her name.

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Author Interview: Ginger Wadsworth on Yosemite’s Songster: One Coyote’s Story

Author Interview: Ginger Wadsworth on Yosemite’s Songster: One Coyote’s Story

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Yosemite’s Songster: One Coyote’s Story, by Ginger Wadsworth, illustrated by Daniel San Souci (Yosemite Conservancy, 2013). From the promotional copy:

A sudden rockslide in Yosemite Valley in California’s Sierra Nevada separates Coyote from her mate. 

Readers journey throughout the valley observing its many famous landmarks on four paws with Coyote.

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