Look, listen - and read

After a busy day at work or at home, do you have the energy to hold a book and keep your eyes open at the same time? If we tend to regard reading with our eyes as the more serious and highbrow way to take in information (see second link below), what do we do if we are thirsting for some intellectual stimulation, but are just too tired to do anything about it?

Fortunately, a number of cultural critics are throwing the exhausted multitudes a lifeline: they insist that intellectual engagement is not entirely dependent on the perusal of literary tomes these days.

To wit:

The shows in our present "Golden Age" of TV may actually be our new novels

Audiobooks allow us to appreciate the role of story in contemporary fiction

Series fiction deserves some respect

So visit the library, grab a "new novel" on DVD, a compelling story in audio, even a print page-turner or two, and feel free to enjoy: it's brain food!

mhd

The medals have been awarded!

No, all you Olympics fans, not for flips, twirls, or crossing the finish line first, but for the most distinguished children's literature of 2013.

The Caldecott Medal, for the year's best picture book, was given to Brian Floca for LOCOMOTIVE. This was an unusual, but obvious, choice.  Unusual, in that it was only the 7th time in 76 years that a nonfiction book won the prize, but obvious, since LOCOMOTIVE has been showered with acclaim since it was published. (Even I predicted it would win.) Children and their parents will find this beautiful book to be an enthralling introduction to the history of the American railroad.

The Newbery Award committee's selection for best children's novel was unexpected, but nevertheless a very popular decision.  Kate DiCamillo received her second Newbery, for FLORA AND ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES. Flora and her two new friends - Ulysses, a squirrel (with superpowers) and the "blind" William Spiver - race around town getting in and out of trouble, and delighting readers with their wacky antics at all times. Most adults thought this book was just too much fun to win a "most distinguished" prize, but I'm glad to say we were wrong!

The Michael L. Printz Award for the best book written for young adults was a surprise as well, but this one not as welcome. It was won by Marcus Sedgwick, the author of many well-received young adult novels, for his book MIDWINTERBLOOD. Set on a vaguely Scandinavian island, MIDWINTERBLOOD is a collection of seven stories, loosely connected by the two characters Eric and Merle, whose identities in each tale are different in everything but name.  The stories go back in time, concluding with the religious sacrifice of one of the two protagonists.  The successive characters and plots were, in my opinion, so diffuse that it was hard to do more than admire the style of the book. But whether I liked it or loved it, I wonder - as have many other readers - why this is considered a young adult novel, as it has almost no characters or themes related to teens.  A literary conundrum, or just a publisher's business decision? Read it and let me know what you think.

This year’s awards made it clearer than ever that the decisions of literary prize committees are difficult to predict. But lucky us, we now have a staff member who can provide some insight into the decision-making process. My colleague Allison Murphy is in her second year of service on the Connecticut Nutmeg Awards intermediate-level committee. For the second year in a row, she will read 150+ books appropriate for 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders, and meet regularly with 14 other committee members to produce a list of ten titles; young Connecticut readers can then read them and vote for their favorite. Lots of work but very satisfying, Allison says. (And I reply, when do you find time to sleep??)

Last but not least, here is Allison’s and my 2013 favorites list.

mhd

Just a few days....

......until the prestigious 2014 American Library Association book awards for young people are announced.

With justifiable trepidation (we are usually wrong!), Allison and I offer our predictions for the winners.

For the Caldecott "most distinguished" picture book award, Allison thinks that the wordless JOURNEY by Aaron Becker will get the nod; I lean more toward the nonfiction LOCOMOTIVE by Brian Floca. We both would be delighted (but stunned) if the popular favorite THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, won. I smile every time SOPHIE'S SQUASH, written by Pat Miller and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf, comes to mind (and I giggle at the sight of NINO WRESTLES THE WORLD by Yuyi Morales!). And of course, there's my annual shout-out to Steve Jenkins; this year it's for his spectacular compilation THE ANIMAL BOOK.

Allison and I diverge on the most likely Newbery "most distinguished" children's literature prize. She's rooting for the poetry collection WHAT THE HEART KNOWS by Joyce Sidman, and the novels COUNTING BY 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan, THE REAL BOY by Anne Ursu, and P.S. BE ELEVEN by Rita Garcia-Williams. While I loved P.S. BE ELEVEN as well, I am a major fan of DOLL BONES by Holly Black, and would be happy if the sweet THE YEAR OF BILLY MILLER by Kevin Henkes gets some recognition; JINX by Sage Blackwood was a delightful read.

The Printz award for the best teen/young adult book often comes as a surprise. But maybe the popular FAR FAR AWAY by Tom McNeal will win; Allison and I both think it should. (McNeal's book is also being touted for the Newbery.) Allison also likes the chances of FORGIVE ME, LEONARD PEACOCK by adult author Matthew Quick in his debut novel for teens; I would add THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN by the double-threat author Holly Black. And speaking of double threats....Rainbow Rowell has two teen novels strongly in the running for the Printz: ELEANOR AND PARK and FANGIRL. Last but certainly not least, I would love to see Melina Marchetta's QUINTANA OF CHARYN, the third in her fabulous fantasy trilogy, THE LUMATERE CHRONICLES, win.

Have we called them right? We'll see, in just a few days.....

mhd

A New Year's resolution you'll enjoy (We promise.)

You know, New Year's seems to be one of our more burdensome holidays. First, there's a good chance you woke up this morning with a headache.  Then the focus of the day is getting started on those annoying self-improvement pledges - more exercise! less snacking! What's there to celebrate?

Well, we've got a resolution for you that has a high probability of success - and satisfaction, too. Why don't you aim to read a book a month? Keep yourself entertained or informed with the latest in good reading.  To start you off, we've got plenty of  "best" and "notable" books for you to choose from.

NEW YORK TIMES 10 Best Books  and 100 Notable Books of 2013

WASHINGTON POST Best Books of 2013 , plus Notable fiction and Notable nonfiction

LIBRARY JOURNAL Best Books 2013: Top Ten as well as Best Books in 10 different nonfiction categories  

BOOKLIST  Top of the List 2013 and  Editors' Choice 2013

KIRKUS REVIEWS  Best Fiction Books of 2013 and Best Nonfiction Books of 2013

NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2013 winners 

So put your feet up, your reading glasses on and start the new year right!