Happy 100th Birthday Beverly Cleary!

Beloved children’s book author Beverly Cleary was born on April 12^th, 1916, in McMinnville and raised in Portland. As a librarian, Cleary learned that elementary school children were looking for and struggling to find books about kids like themselves. In 1950, Cleary published her first book, Henry Huggins, which is about a boy, his dog, and his friends who live in the Hollywood neighborhood in Portland.

Since then, Beverly Cleary has published over 40 children’s books, most of which are still in print and relevant to kids today. She has won many literary awards, including the John Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw and Newbery Honors for Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father. Her most recent book, Ramona’s World, was published in 1999. Beverly Cleary now lives in California so she can be near her family.

OPB is celebrating with an Oregon Art Beat special “Discovering Beverly Cleary”—the first-ever documentary about the author. It includes a rare, new interview with Beverly Cleary herself! Watch the special on Thursday, April 7th at 8:00  p.m. on OPB TV or online at: www.opb.org/beverlycleary.

Want to celebrate Beverly Cleary all month?  Check out this blog post from the Oregon Library Association Children's Services Division.  While it primarily is targeted towards libraries, it does contain a lot of ideas that will serve as story extensions.

There's also D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything and Read), which happens every year on April 12th.  So be sure to drop EVERYTHING and read that day!

Happy 100th Birthday Beverly Cleary!  We love you and we love your books!

ALA Youth Media Awards Announced!

You may have heard of the Newberry and the Caldecott awards, but there are quite a few awards given to literature for children and teens. The winners were announced this morning. For a complete list of all awards and winners, click here.

2014 State Children's Choice Awards Announced!

The 2014 Oregon Reader's Choice Award and Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Awards have been announced!!!

In it's 4th year, the Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) is sponsored by the Children's Services Division and Oregon Young Adult Network, both divisions of the Oregon Library Association, the Oregon Association for School Libraries, the Oregon Reading Association, and the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association.  2635 students from across the state participated in the award in their grade division and voted for their favorite.  The results are:

Upper Elementary (Junior) Division:
Pie by Sarah Weeks

Middle School (Intermediate) Division:
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

High school (Senior) Division:
Divergent by Veronica Roth


Now in it's 12th year, the 2014 Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award goes to 8 Class Pets = 1 Squirrel (Divided by) 1 Dog = Chaos by Vivian Vande Velde.  The award is sponsored by the Oregon Association for School Libraries and is named after long-time Oregon resident and beloved author, Beverly Cleary.  The award is geared towards books at a 2nd and 3rd grade reading level.

75 Years of the Caldecott

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Caldecott Award. (1938-2013). I have to admit, this is my FAVORITE children's book award!The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

Stop by the Children's Room at the library and check out a Caldecott Medal or Honor book from one of the many books we have on display. We've also got a quiz too! See if you can match an illustration to the title of a book from recent medal and honor books. Complete the quiz then turn it in to the children's desk to be entered into a darwing to win a fabulous prize. The last day to turn in completed quizes is October 29th. For a complete list of winners, click here.

So come celebrate 75 years of the Caldecott Award at the library!

Eisner Awards for Youth Announced

The 2013 Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly referred to as the Eisner Awards, were announced on Friday July 19th.  Since 1988,  the prize has been given for creative achievement in American comic books.  This major comic book award is sometimes referred to as the Comics Industry's equivalent of the Oscar Awards.  Out of 29 categories, three are specifically aimed at youth.  Here are the awards for youth:

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7): Babymouse for President, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random House)


Best Publication for Kids (ages 8–12): Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (kaboom!)

Best Publication for Teens (ages 13–17): A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel , by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted by Hope Larson (Farrar Straus Giroux).--However, in my opinion, this book is perfectly suited for upper elementary school students.

Congrats to the authors and illustrators of hese fine pieces of art and storytelling!

2013 Beverly Cleary Childen's Choice Award Announced

The 2013 Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award winner has been announced!  The winning book is Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst.  This is the story about Lulu and how her parents refuse to give in when she demands a brontosaurus for her birthday.  So she sets out into the woods to find her own dinosaur.  But when Lulu finds a  brontosaurus, she learns that her potential pet has other intentions.

School children all over Oregon voted for their favorite book from a list of six suggested books.  The books nomiated for the award are targeted to the interests and reading level of second and third graders.  The award was created by and sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries and is named after local children's author, Beverly Cleary. 

2013 Youth Book & Media Awards Announced!

The 2013 American Library Association Awards have been announced.  (A.K.A. the Academy Awards for Librarians!)  Click here to go the the Youth Media Awards Facebook Page for the winners.  Congratulations to the winners!!!

It's Award Time!!!

Every year, on the Monday morning of the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, the 2013 youth media awards are announced.  This includes the Newbery and Caldecott Awards and Honor books, which will be quite celebratory this year, as the Caldecott Award is celebrating its 75th Anniversary.  For librarians, this is a very exciting time to learn what books and media are announced to the world. These announcements are often referred to as the "Academy Awards for Librarians", and I attest, that that is very true!

You can watch the awards LIVE by following this link (and scrolling down to the video) on Monday, January 28th at 8:00 a.m.  (The award announcements usually run 40-50 minutes.)

Charlotte's Web turns 60!

The beloved Newbery Honor Book, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White turns 60 this year!

Here's an article about the anniversary from The New York Times along with the centerpiece of E.B. White's barn on his 40 acre farm. 

PLUS, Kate DiCamillo has made a 2.5 minute video tribute on YouTube in honor of the book.

ORCA & BCCCA Winners Announced!

Many children and teens participated in reader's choice awards here at the library.  The results are in and here are the winners:

Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award:
Winner: Nubs, the True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle by Brian Dennis



Oregon Reader's Choice Award:
Junior Division--11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Intermediate Division--When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Senior Division--The Maze Runner by James Dashner