See how our library grows!

I came to school today to the fun news that there were five boxes of books for me to look through. One of our families had weeded out their boys' library at home and decided Seabury was a worthwhile beneficiary of that gift.

When that happens it always feels like Christmas to me. I sat on the floor of the library and sorted the books into piles: Some for classrooms, a lot of great titles to add to the library and the few that we can't use, for another worthwhile destination.

Check out the pictures of two of the excellent books that were in those boxes, both hardbacks in terrific condition. (Note the Caldecott Honor seal on one of them.)

Seabury has a first-class library, in part because of wonderful donations like this one. We have more than 11,000 books ... good ones. I know our library is better than many in public schools.

Another way families are helping us grow: Since I posted a wish list on Amazon and a link through this blog, we've gotten 11 great birthday/other book donations.

We also have several dedicated volunteers who are covering and otherwise helping get books ready so they're on the shelves faster.

I thank you. The teachers thank you. Most of all, the children thank you.

Keep thinking of us when you're cleaning out the bookshelves, or book shopping on Amazon or anywhere else.

Here's a link to my latest column in The News Tribune. It's about some books the Ladybugs happen to love. (Good gift idea, especially for your younger Ladybugs.)

Talk to you soon.

Gold medal books

On Monday, I got the rare chance to hear the announcements of the 2007 Newbery and Caldecott awards in person.

The American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting was in Seattle over the weekend and the announcement of all the big children's book awards is traditionally made the Monday morning toward the end of the conference.

Each of the committees - Newbery, Caldecott, Printz (for young adult books), Coretta Scott King (for African-American author/illustrators), and others - spent the three days before the announcements sequestered in a locked room at a nearby hotel discussing the books that qualified for their particular awards.

Unlike the Academy Awards, there aren't nominations made beforehand, so the committee members have the daunting task of reading hundreds of books before the meeting, then deciding in just three days which are the best.

Jeri Kladder, head of the Newbery committee, told me she read about 700 books.

The announcements were made to a crowd of at least 1,000 cheering, whistling librarians, publishers representatives and other children's book people.

A woman sitting next to me was alternately whooping loudly as the announcements were made, and excitedly sharing each bit of news with someone via cell phone.

There was some news of special interest to the Seabury community.

Laura McGee Kvasnosky, who visited the school last spring, won the Theodor Seuss Geisel award for "Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways."

"The Runaways," the fourth "Zelda and Ivy" adventure, had just come out when Laura visited. Those of you who bought it and got her to autograph it, now have a first-edition autographed copy of a nationally award-winning book. I bought a set of the shiny, gold Geisel award stickers and put them on our school copies today.

Here's what the Seuss award is for, according to the ALA: "The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, established in 2004, is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of a beginning reader book who demonstrate great creativity and imagination in
his/her/their literary and artistic achievements to engage children in reading. The award is named for the world-renowned children’s author Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss."

This is what the Geisel committee chair said about "The Runaways:" “Our Geisel winner connects with readers by featuring a dilemma many young children understand,” said Geisel Committee Chair Ginny Moore Kruse. “Zelda and Ivy’s backyard escapades spark the imagination and make the reader want more.”

The Caldecott Medal for illustration went to "Flotsam," by David Weisner.
"Flotsam" is an amazing, intelligent, beautifully illustrated book about a boy who finds an old camera washed up on the beach. Weisner has two other Caldecott Medals ("Tuesday" and "The Three Pigs") and two Caldecott Honors ("Sector 7" and "Free Fall").

The Newbery Medal for outstanding writing went to Susan Patron for "The Higher Power of Lucky."

Here's what committee chair Kladder said about the story of 10-year-old Lucky Trimble: “‘Lucky’ is a perfectly nuanced blend of adventure, survival (emotional and physical) and hilarious character study... as well as a blueprint for a self-examined life. Through Lucky’s experiences, we are reminded that children support
one another just as needy adults do.”

Here's a link to my News Tribune story on the awards. And you can find a complete list of the ALA's 2007 awards here.

(I've added some of the award books to Seabury's Wish List on Amazon.com. Check the link at right.)

Talk to you soon