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Bookmobiles on Parade

Phil Morehart on April 6, 2022

It’s National Library Outreach Day, when we celebrate library outreach and dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are. Whether it’s a bookmobile stop at the local elementary school, services provided to community homes, or library pop-ups at community gatherings, these services are essential to the community.

This National Library Outreach Day, the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS) is holding a virtual parade on their social media channels, where libraries from around the world are showcasing their bookmobile services. Let’s take a look!

Visit ABOS on Facebook all week for more of the Virtual Bookmobile Parade and for information on library outreach services in your community!

Bookmobile photos courtesy of ABOS. St. Paul (Minn.) Public Library Photo: © 2018 Tony Webster, tony@tonywebster.com.

Celebrate National Library Week with Us

Phil Morehart on April 3, 2022

April 3-9 is National Library Week—a time for library lovers across the country to celebrate literacy, intellectual freedom, and equitable access to information.

As the COVID-19 pandemic moves into its third year, libraries are proving to be more essential than ever, providing services and programs that have kept communities strong even while socially distancing. The past year saw an unprecedented increase in book challenges and book banning in school and public libraries across the U.S. Librarians have been on the frontlines of these battles, ensuring that everyone has the freedom to read. National Library Week is an opportunity to remind the world that this work matters.

Actress and comedian Molly Shannon will serve as this year’s National Library Week Honorary Chair, helping promote the 2022 theme “Connect with Your Library.” Shannon says she has a deep connection to the library world.

“My mom was a librarian,” Shannon says. “She encouraged kids to read. So, the work of librarians and libraries has such a special place in my heart. Libraries are places where communities connect—to things like broadband, computers, programs and classes, books, movies, video games and more. But most importantly, libraries connect us to each other.”

There are countless ways to join the National Library Week celebration, from attending events at your local library to contacting legislators about library funding. Here are a few of our favorite ways to get involved:

Speak Out for Library Funding

Funding libraries is an investment in our communities: Libraries perform essential social services like promoting literacy, supporting job seekers, and providing access to information for all. National Library Week is the perfect time to contact your legislators to let them know why library funding is so important—and the American Library Association has made it easy to get involved with resources on local, state, and national policy positions; best practices for working with traditional and social media; simple methods to discover exactly who represents you in Washington and locally; advocacy assistance for everything from equity, diversity, and inclusion issues to disaster aid to book challenges; and more.

Read a Banned Book

ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2021, resulting in more than 1,597 individual book challenges or removals. Most targeted books were by or about Black or LGBTQIA+ people. Show your support for these books—and the librarians and library workers defending your freedom to read—by reading a banned book. The Top 10 Banned Books List for 2021 will be released on April 5 in ALA’s State of America’s Library Report or you can select a book from past lists, including titles like Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Join the Conversation on Social Media

All week long, we’re asking library users to talk about the connections you’ve made because of their library. Did you find a great book? Get access to computers? Attend a great program or storytime? Did you make new friends at your library’s book club? Post to Instagram, Twitter, or on the I Love Libraries Facebook page using the hashtag #MyLibrary. We’ll gather all the entries, and one randomly selected winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card. The promotion starts Sunday, April 3 at noon CT and ends on Saturday, April 9 at noon CT.

Visit Your Library’s Website

One of the easiest ways to support your library is just to visit their website and use their resources! With countless free ebooks, audiobooks, movies, magazines, databases, and more, your library has something entertaining and informative for everyone. Don’t have a library card? Many libraries allow you to register online-visit your local library’s website or contact a librarian to find out more.

Treat Yourself to Library Merch

Show off your library love with t-shirts from our friends at Out of Print emblazoned with beloved ALA READ posters featuring actor, author, and literacy advocate LeVar Burton and 90s heartthrob Fabio! The best part? Proceeds from these products support the American Library Association’s efforts to promote digital access, combat censorship, and champion much-needed funding for libraries.

Visit the National Library Week website to learn more! And don’t forget to sign up for the I Love Libraries newsletter!

Show the World Your Love for LeVar

Phil Morehart on March 28, 2022

LeVar Burton is a national treasure. The actor, director, and author has engaged and entertained audiences for decades in movies like The Hunter and Ali and on television in Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation. And as the longtime host and executive producer of PBS’s Reading Rainbow, he taught a generation of kids the power of literacy and education. He’s also an outspoken advocate for the freedom to read.

Show the world your love for both LeVar Burton and reading with the new shirt from our friends at Out of Print, featuring the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2002 READ poster of Burton holding a copy of Helen Ward’s magical children’s book, The Tin Forest. It’s available in both unisex and women’s sizes. Each purchase supports ALA and our work keeping libraries strong across the country.

Reading Ukraine

Phil Morehart on March 18, 2022

This is a guest post by Donna Seaman, adult books editor at Booklist.

As we watch Russia’s massive war crimes against the people of Ukraine with horror and helplessness, many questions continue to arise. Reading in a quest for understanding is one way to cope with the terror, outrage, and sorrow. These titles have been reviewed in Booklist and include several catalyzed by Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. We hope that these books of investigation and analysis-along with three insightful works of fiction-prove enlightening.

Nonfiction

Book cover: ALl the Kremlin's MenAll the Kremlin’s Men: Inside the Court of Vladimir Putin, by Mikhail Zygar (PublicAffairs, 2016)

Russian journalist Zygar portrays four Putins-“Putin I the Lionheart,” “Putin II the Magnificent,” “Prince Dmitry,” and “Putin the Terrible”-while presenting a thorough accounting of his many crimes against humanity. What Zygar discovered is that Putin’s inner circle has been and likely continues to be “duped by its own propaganda.” Chillingly, one chapter is titled “World War III.”

 

Book cover: Midnight in ChernobylMidnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster, by Adam Higginbotham (Simon & Schuster, 2019)

Russia’s violent takeover of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant during its current assault on Ukraine has alarmed the world. Higginbotham’s Carnegie Medal-winning account of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster reminds readers of what exactly is at stake.

 

Book cver: I WIll Die in a Foreign LandI Will Die in a Foreign Land, by Kalani Pickhart (Two Dollar Radio, 2021)

Pickhart takes readers inside the 2013-2014 Ukrainian battle to maintain independence under pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. The story follows four individuals in Kyiv and their intertwining lives as peaceful protests escalate to violence. Their love stories and grief breathe life into Pickhart’s meticulously researched depictions of Ukraine’s struggle.

Book cover: Good Citizens Need Fear NotGood Citizens Need Not Fear, by Maria Reva (Doubleday, 2020)

Ukrainian-born Reva presents a witty debut short story collection that follows various characters living in and around a deteriorating Ukraine apartment building during the years prior to and following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, with well-honed portraits of her characters’ realities, sensibilities, and urgencies.

Book cover: Independence SquareIndependence Square, by A. D. Miller (Pegasus, 2020)

Miller transports readers to the Orange Revolution in Kiev in 2004, when protesters took to Independence Square to demand a new presidential election after the opposition candidate survived a suspicious poisoning and the Russian-backed candidate sailed to an improbable victory. Readers with a keen interest in political fiction will find much to savor in the complex machinations Miller expertly creates.

Book cover: Ukraine Over the EdgeUkraine over the Edge: Russia, the West, and the “New Cold War,” by Gordon M. Hahn (McFarland, 2018)

Hahn presciently argues for the long-term significance of Ukraine’s 2013-2014 revolution, its civil war, and Russia’s annexation of Crimea in this detailed work of reportage and analysis of the forces that have turned the “new Cold War” into the heat of Russia’s 2022 attacks on Ukrainian civilians.

 

Book cover: Red FamineRed Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine, by Anne Applebaum (Doubleday, 2017)

This Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s richly researched account of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933 under Stalin provides an essential perspective on Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Book cover: Lessons from the EdgeLessons from the Edge, by Marie Yovanovitch (Houghton/Mariner, 2022)

A career public servant posted to danger zones in lands ruled by corrupt regimes and devoted to representing democratic ideals and policies with dignity and integrity, Yovanovitch was ambassador to Ukraine during the Trump administration and gave resounding testimony against President Trump at his first impeachment trial. Her perspective is invaluable.

 

Book cover: Between Two FiresBetween Two Fires: Truth, Ambition, and Compromise in Putin’s Russia, by Joshua Yaffa (Crown/Tim Duggan, 2020)

Yaffa presents a series of finely drawn and moving portraits, including one of a Crimean zoo owner who finds it difficult to adapt to Russian annexation and one of a doctor whose laser focus on relieving suffering entangles her with Russia’s wars in Syria and Ukraine.

Book cover: In Wartime: Stories from UkraineIn Wartime: Stories from Ukraine, by Tim Judah (Crown/Tim Duggan, 2016)

Judah captures the stark Soviet-era economic and social engineering projects that wildly changed the local economies and ethnic makeup of many Ukrainian towns. The inclusion of deep historical background, area maps, and statistical data makes this a great resource for understanding Ukraine as Russia began the first phase in the invasion that has now become a catastrophe.

Fiction

The Top 10 LGBTQIA+ Books of the Year

Phil Morehart on February 17, 2022

The American Library Association’s Rainbow Round Table has announced its latest Over the Rainbow Book List. Compiled from a selection of 332 books across all genres released in 2021, the 10 books on the list showcase a wide range of queer stories and experiences.

The Over the Rainbow Book List Committee, which compiles the list each year, selects titles for adults over age 18 that exhibit commendable literary quality and significant, authentic LGBTQIA+ content. The committee noted: “In a year which saw more book challenges than any other, largely concerning books with queer content, it was heartening to also see publishers continue to feature, promote, and elevate queer narratives across all genres. Queer stories can be heartbreaking, exciting, romantic, incredible, challenging, unbearable, exquisite, silly, and anything else you can think of. These selections prove it.”

The Top 10 selections in fiction and non-fiction were:

Black Boy Out of Time: A Memoir by Hari Ziyad (Little A)

The Natural Mother of the Child by Krys Malcolm Belc (Counterpoint)

Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness and Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun Harrison (North Atlantic Books)

With Teeth by Kristen Arnett (Riverhead Books)

Milk Fed by Melissa Broder (Scribner)

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (St. Martin’s Griffin, and imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group)

Detransition Baby: A Novel by Torrey Peters (One World, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House)

Stone Fruit by Lee Lai (Fantagraphics)

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon (MCD)

Patience & Esther by SW Searle (Iron Circus Comics)

The Rainbow Round Table is the oldest professional association for LGBTQIA+ people in the United States. It is committed to serving the information needs of the LGBTQIA+ professional library community and information and access needs of individuals at large. It is home to Rainbow Book Month, a nationwide celebration every June, and the Stonewall Book Award, the first award honoring LGBTQIA+ books. For more information, visit the Rainbow Round Table online.

Want to Choose Your Next Great Read Like a Librarian?

I Love Libraries Staff on September 9, 2021

For more than a century Booklist has published thousands of reviews each year to help library and education workers decide what to buy for their shelves and what to recommend to patrons and students.

Now you can access the same great reviews that librarians read in the Booklist Reader, a new digital library patron-facing magazine featuring dozens of reviews and recommendations for readers of all ages.

Each month, Booklist Reader showcases top 10 lists, must reads, interviews with (and articles by) top authors and illustrators, and adult, youth, and audio recommendations for everyone who loves to read.

In addition to great recommendations, Booklist Reader seeks to highlight authors and books that library patrons may not otherwise discover and to encourage all to explore these offerings in their local libraries.

The first issue is now online. Check it out and find your next favorite book – just like a librarian!

Fresh Librarian-approved Kids’ Reads for Summer 2021

Lindsey Simon on August 2, 2021

Looking for great summer reads for the young readers (and pre-readers) in your life? This list of librarian-recommended books for babies through fifth graders is a great place to start. Compiled annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, this list is meant for parents and caregivers and can be used to explore titles that may match or spark their child’s interest. Check these out at your local library!

Babies – Preschoolers

Antiracist Baby
by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
Racial consciousness develops younger than many people realize, and this picture book will give parents and caregivers a launchpad for having these important conversations with their little ones.

Families Belong
by Dan Saks, illustrated by Brooke Smart
A celebration of families loving, singing, and belonging together.

Future Doctor
by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Allison Black
A board book teaching the basics of being a doctor and encouraging Baby that they can be anything.

The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish
by Lil Miss Hot Mess, illustrated by Olga de Dios
Written by one of the first Drag Queen Story Hour performers, this picture book will get kids moving and proudly flaunting their most glamorous selves.

Hurry Up! A Book about Slowing Down
by Kate Dopirak, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
With repeating refrains, this picture book follows a busy morning and afternoon of a young girl. After school, she learns to slow things down and enjoy what is around her.

I Love My Tutu Too!
by Ross Burach
Every animal loves their tutu and wants to find more animal friends who love their tutus as well. Clever rhymes and a vibrant color palette make this a highly re-readable board book.

I Love You, Baby Burrito
by Angela Dominguez
With a mix of both English and Spanish languages, this book takes you through the act of swaddling a newborn.

Me & Mama
by Cozbi A. Cabrera
A young child enjoys a day with her mama, splashing in the rain and being cozy at home.

A New Green Day
by Antoinette Portis
Poetic riddles create a guessing game as readers explore nature during a summer day.

Raven Squawk, Orca Squeak
by Roy Henry Vickers and Robert Budd, illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers
The sounds of the Pacific Coast are shared in this board book with simple text accompanied by colorful illustrations from an Indigenous artist.

Sing with Me / Canta conmigo
by José-Luis Orozco, illustrated by Sara Palacios
Enjoy six classic children’s songs in both English and Spanish, with charming illustrations.

The Solar System with Ellen / El sistema solar con Ellen
by Patty Rodríguez and Ariana Stein, illustrated by Citlali Reyes
Text in English and Spanish brings our youngest bookworms on a trip through outer space with Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina astronaut.

This Is a Book of Shapes
by Kenneth Kraegel
This board book begins as a simple introduction to shapes and gets sillier and more complex as other shapes that might not be so simple get added!

Two Many Birds
by Cindy Derby
A monitor shouts rules as birds line up to sit in a tree, but when the tree reaches capacity and two more birds hatch, things start to get a little wild.

We All Play
by Julie Flett
With a simple text in English and Cree and soft, beautiful illustrations, this book explores how both animals and humans play.

We Are Little Feminists: On-the-Go
by Brook Sitgraves and Archaa Shrivastav
A board book celebration of how we move, featuring colorful photographs of a variety of people moving in many different ways, highlighting the diversity of people and abilities in our community.

What Sound Is Morning?
by Grant Snider
This simple and beautiful book encourages its readers to consider their morning routines, paying special attention to the sounds and silences that accompany them.

Whose Bones? An Animal Guessing Game
by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sam Brewster
An informative board book about animal bones and anatomy in the form of a fun guessing game.

You Matter
by Christian Robinson
An uplifting and inspiring book encourages readers to explore the many different people we encounter in our world and our connection to them, highlighting the important mantra of the title, “You matter.”

Kindergarteners – Second Graders

Baloney and Friends
by Greg Pizzoli
This funny graphic novel for beginning readers stars Baloney the pig alongside his friends Bizz (a bee), Peanut (a horse), and Krabbit (a very cranky rabbit).

Black Is a Rainbow Color
by Angela Joy, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
There’s no black in rainbows, but Black is more than a color. It’s a culture. This picture book celebrates African American history and identity.

Carpenter’s Helper
by Sybil Rosen, illustrated by Camille Garoche
A sweet story about a girl and her family bonding while building a birdhouse in their home.

The Electric Slide and Kai
by Kelly J. Baptist, illustrated by Darnell Johnson
Kai’s family is excited for his aunt’s upcoming wedding, but since every family celebration means dancing, Kai’s worried he will make a fool of himself on the dance floor again. A picture-book celebration of family, love, and overcoming one’s fears.

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho
A picture book filled with wonderful illustrations that encourage children to be proud of who they are and how they look.

A Hatful of Dragons: And More than 13.8 Billion Other Funny Poems
by Vikram Madan
A silly collection of interactive poems and rhymes in a variety of formats with fun illustrations about mummies, dragons, and more!

I Am a Bird
by Hope Lim, illustrated by Hyewon Yum
A little girl, riding on the back of her father’s bike, is wary of the mysterious woman with a bag they pass. One day, she finds out what the bag is for, and her wariness grows into kinship.

Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend
by Dawn Quigley, illustrated by Tara Audibert
This early chapter book follows Jo Jo, a young Ojibwe girl, as she navigates the troubles and tribulations of being in elementary school. This story also includes snippets of the Ojibwe language with more information in the back matter.

Lift
by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
Frustrated with her little brother taking over her job of pushing the elevator button, a girl takes a discarded button to transform her closet door into a magical elevator. In the process, she discovers that adventures are more fun when you share them.

Milo Imagines the World
by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
While on the subway, Milo imagines different stories for the people he sees, but he soon realizes you can’t tell who people really are just by their appearance.

A Place inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart
by Zetta Elliott, illustrated by Noa Denmon
A Black boy, shown all over his neighborhood, experiences a range of emotions: fear, pride, sorrow, and joy.

Sadiq and the Green Thumbs
by Siman Nuurali, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar
Sadiq, a Somali American third-grader, starts a gardening club focused on helping neighbors. Part of a series.

Sharuko: El arqueólogo peruano Julio C. Tello / Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello
by Monica Brown, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
In this Spanish-English picture-book biography, readers find out about this Indigenous scientist who found skulls and artifacts in the mountains of Peru as a child and went on to become the founder of modern Peruvian archaeology.

Story Boat
by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Join a little girl and her younger brother as they leave behind the place they know as home and, along the way, make the best of times with what they find. A wonderful refugee story.

We Laugh Alike / Juntos nos reímos: A Story That’s Part Spanish, Part English, and a Whole Lot of Fun
by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez
Two groups of friends meet in the park, but one group only speaks English, and the other only speaks Spanish. Watch how they play together and discover all sorts of similarities!

What about Worms!?
by Ryan T. Higgins
Tiger is big and brave-except when it comes to worms! When faced with a worm-themed book and then a big group of worms, he must try to overcome his fear.

Your Mama
by NoNieqa Ramos, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara
This super fun book is a spin on the “yo mama” jokes. The twist with this book is that everything included here is pleasant, comforting, and warm, with more than just a hint of humor.

Your Place in the Universe
by Jason Chin
An introduction to size, scale, and distance that goes from comparing an eight-year-old’s height with a stack of books to examining the vastness of the universe.

Zonia’s Rain Forest
by Juana Martinez-Neal
Explore Zonia’s home, the Amazon rain forest, and learn as Zonia respects and protects the Peruvian wildlife and her heritage.

Third Graders – Fifth Graders

Any Day with You
by Mae Respicio
Kaia enters a filmmaking contest, drawing inspiration from the many Filipino tales her great-grandfather tells. When Tatang decides to return to the Philippines, Kaia will do whatever it takes to keep him in California.

Bear
by Ben Queen, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton
This graphic novel follows a seeing-eye dog, Bear, as he loses his vision and embarks on an exciting adventure to return home after getting lost.

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch
by Julie Abe
Eva has only a pinch of magic, which makes passing the test to become a novice witch difficult. When she lands in a small coastal town, she sets up a magical repair shop to prove her worth.

The How and Wow of the Human Body: From Your Tongue to Your Toes and All the Guts in Between
by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, illustrated by Jack Teagle
A fully illustrated comical tour of the human body focusing on disgusting, incredible, and hilarious facts about our very own, ever-oozing piece of machinery.

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero
by Kelly J. Baptist
Now the man of the house, a boy finds passion in poetry after discovering his late father’s journal while struggling to hold his house together.

The Last Bear
by Hannah Gold
April’s father has always told her that there are no more polar bears left on Bear Island. When April sees something that looks like a polar bear across the horizon, she is determined to save it.

Pepper Page Saves the Universe!
by Landry Q. Walker, illustrated by Eric Jones
Twenty-fifth-century Pepper Page is obsessed with old comics, but when a high-school science experiment goes wrong and Pepper lands in the middle of a cosmic adventure of her own, Pepper’s reading may not be enough to save her.

Shaking Up the House
by Yamile Saied Méndez
Two sets of First Daughters shake up the White House with hysterical pranks on each other that escalate into an international affair!

Skunk and Badger
by Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Jon Klassen
No one wants a skunk as a roommate, but Badger doesn’t have a choice. His quiet, solitary life is turned upside down by cheery Skunk in this odd-couple tale of friendship.

A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games
by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Allan Drummond
Jewish neurologist Ludwig Guttmann, who escaped Hitler’s Germany, had a revolutionary idea-sports might help patients labeled as “incurables.” Discover how his work evolved into the international Paralympic Games in this biography that includes photos and other illustrations.

Stella Díaz Dreams Big
by Angela Dominguez
Stella learns how to navigate fourth grade, participate in several clubs, and have fun with her family and friends. Third book in a series.

Super Detectives: Simon and Chester Book #1
by Cale Atkinson
A hilarious first volume in a new graphic novel series centered around ghost Simon and human Chester solving the case of a mysterious dog who shows up in their house one day.

Three Keys: A Front Desk Novel
by Kelly Yang
The sequel to Front Desk finds Mia, now part owner of a motel, working to keep the motel afloat while facing anti-immigration sentiment and helping her best friend Lupe when her father is detained as an illegal immigrant.

The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez
by Adrianna Cuevas
Nestor wants to keep his ability to talk to animals a secret, but that’s a challenge when animals go missing in Nestor’s new town and rumors fly about a creature who lives in the forest.

Truman the Dog
by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Melanie Demmer
First in the My Furry Foster Family series of illustrated chapter books about eight-year-old Kaita, whose family fosters pets until they can find new homes for the animals.

We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frané Lessac
A creatively organized picture book gives both Native and non-Native readers an overview of important topics including forced assimilation, sovereignty, and language.

We Got Game! 35 Female Athletes Who Changed the World
by Aileen Weintraub, illustrated by Sarah Green
With amazing facts and detailed information, this nonfiction book shines a spotlight on amazing female athletes at the top of their game. New players and retired competitors alike are showcased for the mark they have made on the world.

When You Trap a Tiger
by Tae Keller
Lily makes a deal with a magical tiger in an attempt to heal her sick halmoni in this tale celebrating Korean folklore, strong women, and the power of the imagination.

The Year I Flew Away
by Marie Arnold
When 10-year-old Gabrielle moves from Haiti to Brooklyn, she finds that America isn’t quite what she expected. With the help of a magical friend, Marie transforms into the perfect American girl but makes sacrifices in the process.

For more top resources, visit the ALSC Book and Media Awards Shelf.Photo by Marta Wave from Pexels

Looking for great LGBTQIA+ books to read this summer?

I Love Libraries Staff on June 21, 2021

June is Pride Month, and it is also Rainbow Book Month™, a nationwide celebration of the authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, pansexual, genderqueer, queer, intersex, agender, and asexual community.

If you are looking for some LGBTQIA+ literature to celebrate, look no further than the Stonewall Book Awards, sponsored by the American Library Association’s Rainbow Round Table. These awards include the Barbara Gittings Literature Award, the Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award, and the Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award. Collectively, they honor books of exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.

Check these out at your local library this summer!

Barbara Gittings Literature Award

The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar (Atria Books)

Israel Fishman Nonfiction Award

Queer Games Avant-Garde: How LGBTQ Game Makers are Reimagining the Medium of Video Games by Bonnie Ruberg (they/them) (Duke University Press)

Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award

We Are Little Feminists: Families designed by Lindsey Blakely, written by Archaa Shrivastav  (Little Feminist)

Stonewall Honor Books in Literature

  • The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi, (Riverhead Books)
  • Memorial by Bryan Washington, (Riverhead Books)
  • More Than Organs by Kay Ulanday Barrett, (Sibling Rivalry Press)
  • Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz, (Graywolf Press)

Stonewall Honor Books in Literature Shortlist

  • Boys of Alabama by Genevieve Hudson, (Liveright Publishing Corporation)
  • Plain Bad Heroines: A Novel by Emily M. Danforth & Sara Lautman, ( William Morrow and Company)
  • The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue, (Little, Brown and Company)
  • The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya, ( ECW Press)
  • Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko, (HarperVia)

Stonewall Honor Books in Non-Fiction

  • My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shapland, (Tin House Books)
  • The Fixed Stars: A Memoir by Molly Wizenberg, (Abrams Press, an imprint of ABRAMS)
  • Paper Bullets by Jeffrey H. Jackson, (Algonquin Books, a division of Workman Publishing)
  • XOXY: A Memoir by Kimberly M. Zieselman, (Jessica Kingsley Publishers)

Stonewall Honor Books in Children’s and Young Adult Literature

  • Beetle & The Hollowbones, illustrated and written by Aliza Layne (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division)
  • Darius the Great Deserves Better, written by Adib Khorram (Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC)
  • Felix Ever After written by Kacen Callender (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
  • You Should See Me in a Crown, written by Leah Johnson (Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.)

Book Award Season Is in Full Swing for Librarians: Find Out How to WFH (Watch from Home)

I Love Libraries Staff on June 16, 2021

For those who don’t already know, many of the nation’s most prestigious honors for literature are administered by librarians-including the Newbery and Caldecott medals, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, and many others.

The winners of these coveted awards are announced in January, but it’s June when the real celebration happens. That’s when librarians get together, don their finest attire and attend gala ceremonies, many of them replete with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, or even a full banquet, to celebrate great literature and hear from the winning authors. The formal attire pictured in this 1974 Newbery-Caldecott banquet photo may no longer be the standard, but these important book award ceremonies are still the highlight of the year for many librarians.

Alas, due to the pandemic, gathering in person to celebrate the winning authors isn’t an option this year.  And while librarians, like everyone else, are excited to get back to meeting in person, virtual award ceremonies have the added benefit of allowing everyone, including you, to participate.

So, book nerds take note. Here’s a list of upcoming book award ceremonies you can watch from home. Formal attire not required.

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Literature Award

The Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature honors and recognizes individual works about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit.

Date and time: Friday, June 18, 2021, 1:00 PM CT
Following the ceremony at 2:00 PM CT, there will be a live chat session with several authors and they will answer questions from the audience.  During the live chat, you can submit questions via APALA’s Youtube Channel. More information is available on the APALA website.

How to watch: APALA YouTube Channel

Who’s accepting:

  • Adult Fiction Award: C Pam Zhang for How Much of These Hills is Gold: A Novel
  • Adult Non-Fiction: Erika Lee for America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States
  • Youth Literature: Andrew Fukuda for This Light Between Us
  • Children’s Literature: Tae Keller for When You Trap a Tiger
  • Picture Book: Julie Leung (writer) and Chris Sasaki (illustrator) for Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

 

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, established in 2012, recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the previous year and serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the American Library Association and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals who work closely with adult readers. The winners (one for fiction, one for nonfiction) receive a $5,000 cash award. The awards are sponsored by Booklist and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York.

 

Date and time: Thursday, June 24, 3:00 PM CT

How to watch: Register for the free Zoom session
This free, one-hour celebration is sponsored by NoveList and hosted by Booklist and RUSA.

Who’s speaking: At the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence virtual gala, you’ll hear acceptance speeches from Carnegie Fiction winner James McBride, for Deacon King Kong, and Carnegie Nonfiction winner Rebecca Giggs, for Fathoms: The World in the Whale.

The keynote speaker will be novelist and journalist Thrity Umrigar, the best-selling author of, among others, The Weight of Heaven, The World We Found, The Story Hour, Everybody’s Son, and The Secrets Between Us.

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards

 

csk-2021.jpg

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood. The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are sponsored by the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange (EMIERT), a round table of the American Library Association.

 

Date and time: Sunday June 27, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM CT

How to watch: American Library Association YouTube Channel

Who’s speaking: Jacqueline Woodson will accept the 2021 Coretta Scott King Author Award for Before the Ever After, and Frank Morrison will accept the 2021 CSK Illustrator Award for R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul.

You’ll also hear from Tracy Deonn, winner of the 2021 John Steptoe Award for New Talent, Dorothy Guthrie, winner of the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, and many others.

Join the conversation on Twitter by using #CSK52 and #BookAwardsCelebration.

Pura Belpré Award 25th Anniversary Celebración

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. The award is co-sponsored by REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, the Association for Library Service to Children, the Young Adult Library Services Association.

Date and time: June 27, from 1:00 – 2:30 PM CT

How to watch: American Library Association YouTube Channel

Who’s speaking:  Hear from recipients of the 2021 Pura Belpré Award, past recipients, and the award’s founders at this ceremony:

  • Raúl Gonzalez, winner of the 2021 Youth Illustrator Medal for “¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat”
  • Ernesto Cisneros, winner of the Children’s Narrative Medal for “Efrén Divided”
  • Yamile Saied Méndez, winner of the Young Adult Narrative Medal for “Furia”

Schneider Family Book Awards Celebration

The Schneider Family Book Awards serve as a guide for librarians, parents, and educators searching for the very best titles that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

Date and Time: Sunday, June 27, 1:30 p.m. CT

How to watch: Free Zoom event but registration is required before June 26, 2021.

Who’s accepting: Younger Children winners author Jordan Scott and illustrator Sydney Smith for I Talk Like a River, Middle Grades winner author Ann Clare LeZotte for Show Me a Sign, and Teen Award winner I.W. Gregorio,  for This is My Brain in Love. Honorees will also provide remarks.

Newbery/Caldecott – Legacy Banquet

The Newbery and the Caldecott Medals are considered the two most prestigious awards for children’s literature in the United States. The Newbery Medal, awarded annually since 1922, honors the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The Caldecott Medal, awarded annually since 1938, is presented to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The Children’s Literature Legacy Award (formerly the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award) honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to children’s literature through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences. The Newbery, Caldecott, and Children’s Literacy Legacy Awards are sponsored and administered by the Association for Library Service to Children.

Date and time: Sunday, June 27, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM CT

How to watch: American Library Association YouTube Channel

Who’s speaking: Tae Keller will accept the Newbery Medal for When You Trap a Tiger, and Michaela Goade will accept the 2021 Caldecott Medal for her illustrations in the book We Are Water Protectors written by Carole Lindstrom. You’ll also hear from Mildred D. Taylor, winner of the 2021 Children’s Literature Legacy Award. Her numerous works include Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and All the Days Past, All the Days to Come. Newbery and Caldecott Honorees will also deliver brief messages.

ALSC Awards Ceremony

Often called the “Monday Morning Awards,” this ceremony highlights four of the Association for Library Service to Children’s awards which recognize four distinct types of children’s media. The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is presented to a publisher of an outstanding children’s book translated into English for U.S. publication. The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award is presented to a producer that has created distinguished digital media for an early learning audience. The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is for beginning readers, and the Robert F. Sibert Medal is for informational books.

Date and time: Monday, June 28th from 10:00-11:00 AM CT

How to watch: American Library Association YouTube Channel

Who’s speaking: Over a dozen of notable children’s media creators; publishers, producers, editors, authors, and illustrators will appear in recognition of their work. David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka will deliver a joint acceptance speech for their Geisel Award for See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog. Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann will do the same for their Sibert Medal for Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera.

 

Photo from ALA Archive: A group at the 1974 Newbery-Caldecott banquet. From left to right: Priscilla Moulton (Newbery-Caldecott Selection Committee), Harve Zemach (Caldecott winner), Margot Zemach (Caldecott winner), Daniel Melcher, Paula Fox (Newbery winner), Richard Jackson (publisher), Bob Verrone, Barbara Rollock (Newbery-Caldecott Selection Committee, chair).

This New Website Helps You Find the Best Kids’ Books

Lindsey Simon on March 31, 2021

Looking for great books for the little ones in your life? The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has just launched their Book & Media Awards Shelf, a one-stop shop for finding world-class content for youth.

The website lists almost 2,000 titles that have won ALSC awards over the past century. Each year, the organization’s expert librarians select the very best of children’s literature and media to win honors like the Newbery and Caldecott Medals.

Selections include content for kids aged 0 to 14, reflecting a diverse array of authors, styles, and themes. Book & Media Awards Shelf database lets you filter by genre, format, release date, and more, so that families and educators can find exactly what they’re looking for.

Families have so many children’s books to choose from, and the Book & Media Awards Shelf is a great tool for finding the best options. When you click on a title, the database suggests other award-winning selections in similar genres, helping you find new recommendations based on your old favorites.

Plus, the site doesn’t just have books: it also lists award-winning websites, apps, and more. With kids spending so much time on screens during the pandemic, librarians are an amazing resource for identifying high-quality digital content that educates as well as entertains.

Visit the Book & Media Awards Shelf now to start exploring.

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