Author William Alexander received the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for his middle grade fantasy Goblin Secrets. The novel, which is full of adventure and intrigue, as well as elements of steampunk, is set in Zombay, a city populated with witches and goblins where stray children are at risk of being acquired by Graba the witch. The book's strong sense of place, characters and story make the 240-page novel one that will appeal to readers 9 to 13 who enjoy fantasy and adventure. Kids who enjoy the book will want to look for Alexander's second middle grade fantasy set in Zombay, Ghoulish Song. If you and/or your kids have already read Goblin Secrets, please click on "Comments" below and share your opinions of the book.

(Cover art courtesy of Simon and Schuster)

Goblin Secrets, An Award-Winning Fantasy originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, March 19th, 2014 at 00:01:03.

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Author Gordon Korman has a knack for writing about life in middle school as his book Schooled illustrates. Who knew that a fun read of just over 200 pages would also have some important things to say about bullying? Kids between the ages of 9 and 14 will enjoy finding out what happens when Cap Anderson, a 13-year-old boy who has been homeschooled by his hippie grandmother and has a philosophy of peace and harmony, is unexpectedly placed in a public middle school where bullying is a tradition. In addition to Schooled, another good book about bullying for middle grade readers is the nonfiction book The Skinny on Bullying. For more books about bullying, see Bullies and Bullying in Kids' Books.

(Cover art courtesy of Hyperion Books)

Middle Grades and Bullying originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, March 18th, 2014 at 00:01:02.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day! My husband always dresses up for the annual St. Patrick's Day Blarney Breakfast so I asked him to pose with one of the Irish tales I like, Finn McCool and the Great Fish. Other children's books of Irish tales on my Top 10 Children's Books of Irish Folktales and Fairy Tales list include Tales from Old Ireland and Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland.

(Photo of Dennis Kennedy ©Elizabeth Kennedy)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, March 17th, 2014 at 00:01:38.

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This week's news includes responses to a troubling statistic and the announcement of the finalists for a children's book award.

Lack of People of Color in Children's Books - Walter Dean Myers, award-winning author and former National Ambassador for Children's Literature, has a thought-provoking opinion piece in the 3/16/14 edition of The New York Times, Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books?. His son, author and illustrator Christopher Myers, also has an interesting opinion piece in the 3/16/14 edition, The Apartheid of Children's Literature. Both essays, published online on 3/15/14, were written in response to a study by the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin that revealed that only 93 of the 3,200 children's books published in 2013 were about black people.

Finalists Announced for Children's Book Award - The National Museum of Wildlife Art has announced five finalists for the 2014 Bull-Branson Award. This annual award honors excellence in children's book illustration that focuses on nature and wildlife. The five finalists are Cheer Up, Mouse! by Jed Henry, Frog Song, illustrated by Grennady Spirin and written by Brenda Guiberson; if you want to see a whale, illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by Julie Fogliano; Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, illustrated and written by Peter Brown; and I'm the Scariest Thing in the Jungle, Illustrated and written by David G. Derrick, Jr. (Source: 3/14/14 Museum press release)

Erin E. Stead received the Randolph Caldecott Medal for picture book illustration for her first children's book A Sick Day forAmos McGee. Stead and Fogliano's first partnered on the picture book And Then It's Spring. Frog Song is on my personal list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2013.

(Photo courtesy of Walter Dean Myers)

Children's Books News - 3/15/14 originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Saturday, March 15th, 2014 at 22:45:00.

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While Knowledge Encyclopedia is a book I recommend for ages 6 to adult, I particularly recommend it for reluctant readers and visual learners. Why? Because of its appealing format. Knowledge Encyclopedia makes use of visual information - photographs, maps, tables and charts, and, most importantly, spectacular computer generated images - to share information, accompanied by brief text. The book is large; it has 360 pages and is 10" X 12,″ with double-page spreads a whopping 20" X 12.″ Knowledge Encyclopedia, created by DK Publishing in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution, covers six categories of information: Space, Earth, Nature, Human Body, Science and History. It's a wonderful book to dip into to learn new things, as well as to search for specific information.

(Cover art courtesy of DK Publishing)

Great Book for Visual Learners originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, March 14th, 2014 at 00:01:29.

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Learn about five recommended books for middle grade readers from the About.com video 5 Dog Books for Middle Readers. The list includes such award-winning fiction as Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. What are some your favorite children's books featuring dogs? Click on "Comments" below and share your recommendations. For more videos from About.com, see my directories of Video Book Talks - Middle Grade Readers and Video Profiles of Authors and Illustrators of Children's Books.

(Cover art courtesy of Candlewick Press)

Dog Books and More for Middle Readers originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, March 13th, 2014 at 00:01:31.

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It never rains but it pours. I was surprised and delighted to find out about a picture book biography for kids as young as 6, The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos. Then, I found another one, one that is perfect for Women's History Month. It's Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?, which is about Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor in the United States, who graduated from medical school in 1849. Are there other picture book biographies for younger children that you recommend? If so, please click on "Comments" below and post your recommendations.

(Cover art courtesy of Henry Holt and Company)

Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? for Ages 6 and Up originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, March 12th, 2014 at 22:10:14.

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The talented Tomie dePaola is one of my favorite children's book illustrators and authors. He has written and/or illustrated more than 200 books for children. If you have children wanting to know more about St. Patrick because of St. Patrick's Day on March 17, I recommend Tomie dePaola's Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, which is the story of St. Patrick and the legends about him. While the book is geared toward fchildren 4 to 8, older children will find it intriguing also. See my annotated list of Children's Books of Irish Folktales and Fairy Tales to learn about some of my other favorite stories related to Ireland.

(Cover art courtesy of Holiday House)

Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, March 11th, 2014 at 00:01:38.

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Matt Phelan's Bluffton is historical fiction in graphic novel format. If you've read a lot about vaudeville or watched humorous movies from the era of silent films, you'll recognized one of the main characters: young Buster Keaton, who as a boy performed in vaudeville with his family and went on to star in silent movies. The story, beautifully illustrated in muted watercolors, tells of the friendship between Buster and a local boy during the family's summers in the Bluffton artists' colony in Michigan in the early 1900s. Ironically, as much as Buster yearns for the daily life of a boy like Henry Harrison, Henry longs to be a performer and lead a life like Buster's.

Another graphic novel I recommend is the entertaining Rapunzel's Revenge. Middle grade readers who enjoy both the graphic novel format and nonfiction may especially enjoy reading a graphic memoir like Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Na Liu, with illustrations by Andres Vera Martinez.

(Cover art courtesy of Candlewick Press)

Bluffton, A Graphic Novel for Ages 9-12 originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, March 10th, 2014 at 20:48:05.

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This week's news includes an interview with Brian Floca and some amazing statistics.
Brian Floca on Locomotive - Brian Floca won the 2014 Randolph Caldecott Medal for picture book illustration for Locomotive, which he also wrote. What was his process in creating the book? You'll find out when you read the March 3, 2014 School Library Journal interview with Brian Floca. It includes information on how he got started as a children's book illustrator and the challenges he faced in creating Locomotive. The book is also on my personal top 10 list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2013.

How Many Books? How Many Languages? - When I visited a local bookstore this week, I picked up a bookmark flyer about the current National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, award-winning author Kate DiCamillo, and was amazed at the statistics it included. I had no idea that her books have been translated into 39 languages and that there are "20.5 million copies combined in print worldwide." I did realize that two of her books, Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, had also been made into feature films. I also learned about Kate DiCamillo's new Stories Connect Us website. It takes its name from the theme she has chosen as the 2014-2015 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

(Cover art courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

Children's Books News - 3/8/14 originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Saturday, March 8th, 2014 at 22:46:04.

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If you are looking for an Irish tale to share, how about one about a legendary giant? Finn McCool and the Great Fish provides an affectionate and amusing look at the giant Finn McCool, known far and wide both for his kindness and for not being very wise. Since Finn is a giant who is anxious to do his best for Ireland, this tale is about his successful search for the wisdom he lacks. Finn McCool and the Great Fish is a picture book retelling by Eve Bunting of an Irish legend, with humorous illustrations by Zachary Pullen. See my annotated list of Children's Books of Irish Folktales and Fairy Tales for more children's books to enjoy on St. Patrick's Day and all year round. (Cover art courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press)

An Irish Tale to Share With Kids 4 to 8 originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, March 7th, 2014 at 00:01:17.

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While there are many picture book biographies written for kids in upper elementary and middle school, there are far fewer for younger children. That's why I was particularly pleased to learn about The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos. The book is for children 6 and older and details the life of gifted mathematician Paul Erdos. The author is Deborah Heiligman, who has written a number of award-winning nonfiction books for young people, and the illustrator is LeUyen Pham. The illustrations by Pham incorporate references to mathematics, including mathematical formulas.

(Cover art courtesy of Macmillan)

A Picture Book Biography for Ages 6 and Up originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, March 6th, 2014 at 23:39:30.

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If you're like me, you are sick of winter and ready for spring. As far as I'm concerned, it's time to think about spring and gardening weather. Who would have thought more than 65 years ago that a small picture book with simple illustrations and just over 100 words would become a classic? That's exactly what happened with The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, with illustrations by Crocket Johnson. Find out more about the book, the author and the illustrator by reading the review of The Carrot Seed by librarian Nancy Snyder. For more books related to seasonal activities, see my Top 10 Children's Picture Books About Gardens and Gardening.

(Cover art courtesy of HarperCollins)

The Carrot Seed A Classic originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 at 00:01:41.

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Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom by sports historian Sue Macy is a fascinating nonfiction book about the impact of the bicycle on the women's movement in the 1890s and later. The book will appeal to kids who like history and sports and an interesting true story. Tweens and teens will enjoy learning how women riding bicycles impacted fashion, recreation and social traditions. For more recommended books for Women's History Month and beyond, see my March 2014 Calendar of Children's Books.

(Cover art courtesy of National Geographic)

Women's History and Bicycles originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, March 4th, 2014 at 00:01:58.

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Check out my updated March 2014 Calendar of Children's Books. You'll find books by, and articles about, authors and illustrators with March birthdays, including: Ezra Jack Keats, Dr Seuss and Mem Fox, books for Women's History Month, books for St. Patrick's Day, books about spring, gardens and gardening, and much more. March is also the anniversary of the birth of Randolph Caldecott after whom the Caldecott Medal for picture book illustration is named. This year, we're also celebrating 75+ Years of Caldecott Medal winners.

(Cover art courtesy of PriceGrabber)

Children's Books Calendar for March originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, March 3rd, 2014 at 00:01:32.

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It's a special day at our house. Today is not only the birthday of Dr. Seuss, it is also the birthday of my husband, Dennis. If you're like me, you grew up with Dr. Seuss and his books, and now you are sharing his books with your children. The story of Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Geisel, is an interesting one. What is your favorite of the Dr. Seuss books? Let me know your favorite, and learn about other people's favorites, by going to Readers Respond.

(Cover art courtesy of Random House)

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss and Dennis! originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Sunday, March 2nd, 2014 at 00:01:31.

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The news of the week includes information about two special events:

Children's Book Week - The 2014 Children's Book Week poster is now online. It features artwork by Robin Preiss Glasser who is well-known for her illustrations for the Fancy Nancy picture books and chapter books by Jane O'Connor. If you're not familiar with them, read my review of the first picture book, Fancy Nancy.

Multicultural Literature Conference - Teachers, librarians, scholars, writers, illustrators, college students, and others will gather at Kent State University for the 30th Annual Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature on April 3 and 4, 2014. According to the press release, keynote speakers are Newbery Medal winner Christopher Paul Curtis, Caldecott Medal winner David Diaz and author Andrea Davis Pinkney whose numerous books include Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America and Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters.

(Poster artwork courtesy of Children's Book Week)

Children's Books News - 3/1/14 originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Saturday, March 1st, 2014 at 22:19:34.

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As you know if you come to this site often, I love libraries and feel my library experiences helped me become an enthusiastic reader. Library Lovers' Month may be ending, but I think every family should take advantage of all that libraries have to offer by getting library cards and using them year round. To give you an idea of the impact libraries can have, read my articles 10 Tips to Help You Raise Kids Who Love Reading and Save Money at Your Public Library.

One of my favorite books about the impact a public library can have on a child's life is Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack, with illustrations by award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney. The story is based on the author's experiences in the 1950s during the Jim Crow era when the library became her "Someplace Special." Another favorite, this one both amusing and also emphasizing the value of libraries and librarians is The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians, written by Carla Morris and illustrated by Brad Sneed. If you don't already have a library card, I hope all of these resources will convince to get one. If you still need convincing, see my annotated directory of the Best Children's Books about Libraries and Librarians.

(Cover art courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

Make Every Month Library Lovers' Month originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, February 28th, 2014 at 00:01:41.

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It's hard to believe that the middle grade novel Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh was first published 50 years ago and is still in print. It's particularly surprising when you consider that when it was first published in 1964, and other times since then, it's been controversial. Why? The novel features a title character whose attitude and behavior tend to make many parents nervous. However, the book remains very popular with children. Read librarian Jennifer Kendall's book review of Harriet the Spy to learn more. Did you read Harriet the Spy when you were growing up? Have any of your children read it? If so, please click on "Comments" below and share your opinions of the book.

(Cover art courtesy of Random House)

Harriet the Spy is 50! originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, February 26th, 2014 at 00:01:47.

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I was delighted to learn about a new - at least to me - Dr. Seuss book. If you're like me, you probably never heard of The King's Stilts by Dr. Seuss. This delightful picture book was originally published in 1939. The King's Stilts has just been re-released by Random House in honor of the book's 75th anniversary. It's nice to learn about a new book by Dr. Seuss just in time for Read Across America Day on Monday, March 3, when school children in the United States celebrate Dr. Seuss's March 2 birthday. Now I need to add the book to my All About Dr. Seuss and His Books directory.

(Cover art courtesy of Random House)

A New - to Me - Dr. Seuss Book! originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, February 25th, 2014 at 23:22:52.

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There are not a lot of informational books that you can characterize as both gruesome and fun but How They Croaked is one of them. As the subtitle, The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous, suggests the focus of the book by Georgia Bragg is on the gruesome deaths of 19 historical figures, including Henry VIII, George Washington and Marie Curie. Kevin O'Malley's irreverant black and white portraits add greatly to the fun. The information in the book is well-documented and will entertain and enlighten even reluctant readers. The book will appeal to kids 10 and older and has been very popular with kids in middle school.

(Cover art courtesy of Walker Childrens, an imprint of Bloomsbury)

Gruesome and Fun originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, February 24th, 2014 at 00:01:13.

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This week's news features:
Keats Award Announced - The winners of the annual Ezra Jack Keats Book Award were announced by the Ezra jack Keats Foundation in partnership with the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi. Author Ame Dyckman won the 2014 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award for her picture book Tea Party Rules while Christian Robinson won the 2014 Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award Winner for her picture book Rain! . (Source: Southern Miss Now, 2/19/14) Author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats won the 1963 Randolph Caldecott Medal in for his picture book The Snowy Day, which has become a classic, with a special 50th anniversary edition of The Snowy Day, with background material, published in 2011.

Read Across America Day - Get ready for a Seussical celebration on Monday, March 3, NEA's Read Across America Day, when schools across the country celebrate reading and Dr. Seuss's March 2 birthday. Download resources to get kids ready, including tips and booklists, from the National Education Association. Go to All About Dr. Seuss for a directory with summaries and links to all of my Dr. Seuss content. -

(Cover art courtesy of Penguin)

Children's Books News - 2/22/14 originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 at 23:28:55.

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Celebrate Dr Seuss's birthday on March 2 with Green Eggs and Ham. You'll find the recipe, as well as others inspired by Dr. Seuss's children's books, in the Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook. A Dr. Seuss illustration and quotation from one of his kids' books accompanies each recipe. Other recipes include Sneetch Treats and Daisy-Head Maysie Burger. Do you and your children enjoy books by Dr. Seuss? Share your favorite and the reason you like it and find out about other people's favorites at Readers Respond.

(Cover art courtesy of Random House)

Green Eggs and Ham for Dr. Seuss's Birthday originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, February 21st, 2014 at 00:01:13.

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If you are looking for excellent children's books by Latina and Latino authors and illustrators that reflect the Latino cultural experience, you'll find them in the Pura Belpré Award winners. This annual award is co-sponsored by Association for Library Service to Children ALSC, a division of the ALA, and Reforma, an ALA affiliate. There are some terrific children's books on the list of the 2014 Pura Belpré Award winners.

I have two favorites. The first is Niño Wrestles the World, for which Yuyi Morales, the illustrator (and author), won the 2014 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award. This boisterous picture book will delight 4 to 8 year olds. The second is Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. It is both a 2014 Pura Belpré Honor Book for Illustration and a 2014 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book. It is an allegory in picture book format that will have broad appeal and lends itself to classroom and family discussion.

(Cover art courtesy of Macmillan)

The Latino Cultural Experience in Children's Books originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, February 20th, 2014 at 22:41:54.

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When I was a child, I loved the story of Ferdinand the bull. In fact, for many years I thought Ferdinand the Bull was the name of the children's picture book by Munro Leaf. Now I know it's not. The correct title is The Story of Ferdinand, and after more than 75 years, the picture book is a classic. The story of Ferdinand, a gentle young bull who lives in Spain, is both full of wisdom and an amusing tale. Robert Lawson's pen and ink illustrations add wit and details to the story. Read librarian Nancy Snyder's book review of The Story of Ferdinand to find out why she thinks (I agree!) the book rates 5 stars. Are there favorite children's books from your childhood that you've shared with your kids? If so, please let me know about them by posting a comment on Readers Respond. Thanks.

(Cover art courtesy of Penguin)

The Story of Ferdinand - A Classic originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 at 00:01:43.

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