......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
