THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman wins the Newbery Award and The House in the Night illustrated by Beth Krommes wins the Caldecott Award for 2009

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CALDECOTT WINNER OF THE AWARD 
FOR ARTIST OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED PICTURE BOOK FOR CHILDREN

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson: Book Cover

The House in the Night 
illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson



CALDECOTT HONOR WINNERS


A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee: Book Cover

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee. Marla Frazee is definitely one of my all-time favorite illustrators.  You can read me gush about her in a couple of places in my blog.  But, besides this wonderful book, I HIGHLY recommend you read two other books she illustrated.  Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman is a great story about families and food and Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers is a wonderful poem about all the things babies do and love accompanied by Frazee's illustrations that honor all kinds of families and all kinds of love.  This one should be given along with Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon to every newborn everywhere.  And, finally, Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild, by the incomparable Mem Fox is the meticulously illustrated story of a mother trying to keep her cool as her child goes about her day making mess after mess...


How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz: Book Cover
How I learned Geography written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz

A River of Words by Jennifer Bryant: Book Cover

A River of Words:  The Story of William Carlos Williams illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jennifer Bryant




NEWBERY AWARD 
FOR THE MOST DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTION  TO AMERICAN LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN

Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: Book Cover 

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.  I can't believe that I have read a Newbery pick BEFORE it won an award!  And, I loved this book so, so much. As I said in my review, Gaiman created an amazing character in the person of Nobody Owens and I hope we see him on the page again sometime soon.  Gaiman has already posted an amusing account of the phone call he received this morning and what was going through his head (trying not to swear at a group of children's librarians...) in his online journal.



NEWBERY HONOR BOOKS


The Underneath by Kathi Appelt: Book Cover

 The Underneath by Kathi Appelt with drawings by David Small


Savvy by Ingrid Law: Book Cover

Savvy by Ingrid Law.  This is Law's first book and it I loved it.  She brought together a brilliant plot device and wonderful characters who feel a little like your neighbors or friends.  It is one of those books that, if you read it as a child at just the right age, you squeeze it to your heart and take it through your life with you.



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The Surrender Tree:  Poems of Cuba's Struggle For Freedom by Margarita Engle


After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson: Book Cover

After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson.

Woodson has won many, many awards for her work, among them Newbery Honors for feathers and Show Way.  She has won a Caldecott Honor Award for her picture book Coming on Home Soon, illustrated by EB Lewis.  She has also been a National Book Award nominee and finalist for her young adult books Locomotion and Hush.






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