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