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WOOHOOOOOO!!!!
     The Georgia Center for the Book has selected the works of 24 prize-winning authors and illustrators with Georgia connections for the 2015 lists of the “Books All Georgians Should Read” and the “Books All Young Georgians Should Read.” The lists are compiled annually from nominations received throughout the year by the writers, educators, librarians, and media representatives who comprise the Georgia Center for the Book Advisory Council. The ceremony this year will mark the sixth edition of the “Books All Georgians Should Read” and the third of the “Books All Young Georgians Should Read.”
     “For the Georgia Center for the Book, the ‘Books All Georgians Should Read’ and the ‘Books All Young Georgians Should Read’ lists are a wonderful way to honor the extraordinary talent we have right here in Georgia. They give us the opportunity to inform readers across our state about the diverse body of work being produced that celebrates Georgia’s literary heritage so well,” said Joe Davich, GCB Director.
      “We are extremely proud of the 2015 lists,” he continued. “They are valuable assets for parents, teachers, librarians, and readers of all ages across the state. We believe these lists can help guide readers to some of the finest writing available.”
      The new list of “Books All Georgians Should Read” includes four works of fiction, four of non-fiction, and two collections of poetry. The list of “Books All Young Georgians Should Read” includes three picture books, 2 books for middle school readers; four books for young adults, and one graphic novel. Both 2015 lists are the result of months of discussions by the Advisory Council, which considered over 100 books by Georgians or about Georgia.

2015 Books All Young Georgians Should Read
• I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison
• Philip Reid Saves the Statue of Freedom, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
• Circle, Square, Moose by Kelly Bingham
• Missy’s Super Duper Royal Deluxe: Class Pets by Susan Nees
• Revolution: The Sixties Trilogy by Deborah Wiles
• Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder
• A Bird on Water Street by Elizabeth Dulemba
• Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy
• All Those Broken Angels by Peter Adam Salomon
• Marc: Book Two by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell

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Today the American Library Association will give out the top awards in children's books. This is where I will post them as soon as I knows 'em!

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Remember I told you about the Little Free Library I painted to help raise money for the Decatur Book Festival? Well, mine and several others are now available for bidding! My library is listed at $1,000 estimated value with opening bids beginning at $500. Woosie!
     CLICK HERE to see them all.

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Picture Book Month is an international initiative encouraging grown-ups to read picture books with children. Founder, Dianne de Las Casas (author/storyteller), and Co-Founders, Wendy Martin, Katie Davis (author/illustrator), Elizabeth O. Dulemba (Me! author/illustrator), Joyce Wan (illustrator and logo creator), and Tara Lazar (author) are putting together their worldwide connections to make this happen. Why? Because...

"Picture books celebrate childhood. They speak universal truths and help children better understand the world around them. They are often a child’s first exposure to fine art and poetic language. Some picture books are so magical, they define childhood. They become a marker or a milestone in a child’s life." - Dianne de las Casas

     They should be celebrated!! Hence, the creation of Picture Book Month. Here's how we're celebrating. There will be...
     • A Picture Book Hero featured every day
     • A themed calendar (Created by Yours Truly using Coloring Page Tuesday images!) great for teachers, parents, and librarians
     • Picture Book Links and Resources
     • Links to picture book publishers
     • Links to picture book authors/illustrators
     • Links to picture book blogs/review sites
     • and Picture Book Activities
     We are doing this because in this digital age where people are predicting the coming death of print books, picture books (the print kind) need love. And kids need picture books. There's nothing like the physical page turn of a beautifully crafted picture book!
     In fact it's such a big deal, Katie Davis featured Picture Book Month on her podcast Brain Burps About Books (click the logo):
     Go have a listen as I try to remember the word "performance art" (I kept saying "kinetic sculpture"!). And hear Dianne talk about the birth of Picture Book Month.
     When you're done, please help spread the word!!! Tell everyone you know about Picture Book Month. This is our first year but we will work to get as much publicity as possible.

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Yesterday, the Georgia Center for the Book announced their very first "25 Books All Young Georgians Should Read" list. All the books chosen have some connection with Georgia either by subject or creator (we have some amazing talent here).
     The GCB has been creating an adult list since 2002, but a children's list is a milestone. This was the first. Because, after all, you have to create a love for reading when people are young, if you want to have readers as adults.
     The list has something to offer for all ages, from two to eighteen, a board book to young adult fiction. Here are the covers with their titles listed below. (Click the image to see it larger in a new window.)

     It was a grand shindig at Parker's on Ponce in downtown Decatur, Georgia, with lots of press. Almost all the award winners were in attendance - including James Dashner whose publisher flew him out from Utah! Here's the whole gang after the awards were handed out.

And me with my award for SOAP, SOAP, SOAP ~ JABON, JABON, JABON.

Here's the entire list of titles:

Picture Books (Pre K+)
Liz Conrad (illustrator) – Little Duck
Carmen Deedy (author), Thomas Gonzalez (illustrator) – 14 Cows for America
Elizabeth O. Dulemba (author & illustrator) – Soap, Soap, Soap – Jabón, Jabón, Jabón
Nathaniel Lachenmeyer (author), Aki Sogabe (illustrator) – The Origami Master
Eric Litwin (author), James Dean (illustrator) – Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Danny Schnitzlein (author), Bill Mayer (illustrator) – The Monster Who Did My Math
Diane Z. Shore & Jessica Alexander (authors), James Ransome (illustrator) – This is the Dream

Early Readers (grades K – 3)
Lola Schaefer – Mittens

Graphic Novel (grades 4+)
Andy Runton – Owly

Middle Readers (grades 4-8)
Evelyn Coleman – Freedom Train
Ted Dunagan – A Yellow Watermelon
Gail Karwoski & Loretta Johnson Hammer – The Tree that Owns Itself and Other Adventure Tales from Out of the Past
Shelia Moses – Joseph
Mary Ann Rodman – Yankee Girl
Vicky Alvear Shecter – Alexander the Great Rocks the World
Kim L. Siegelson – Honey Bea
Doris Smith Buchanan – A Taste of Blackberries
Laurel Snyder – Any Which Wall
Deborah Wiles – Each Little Bird That Sings

Young Adults (grades 7+)
Jodi Lynn Anderson – Peaches
Lynn Cullen – I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter
James Dashner – The Maze Runner
S.A. Harazin – Blood Brothers
Terra McVoy – Pure
Walter Sorrells – First Shot

     Wow! I hope to interview some of these guys here on my blog over the next few months/years as the GCB promotes them and their books here in the state of Georgia - so check back.
     In the mean time, go read about these books and learn more about their creators at the Georgia Center for the Book website!