Before beginning on the award portion of this column, mention needs to be made of an addition to the children's collection at Memorial Library. A number of books have been added to our collection that are in Braille. A few of the titles include Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, Barrett's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and several Mercer Mayer titles. If you know anyone who would benefit from Braille titles, do let them know about those we now have at the library.

This is an exciting time of year because lots of book awards are made. Recently those awards included the Caldecott, which goes to the best illustrated picture book, the Newbery, which goes to the author of the best chapter book, the Theodor Geisel, awarded to an easy reader book, the Michael Printz, which is the young adult book award, and finally the Coretta Scott King award which goes annually to a black illustrator, a black author, and recognizes an upcoming black talent. And the winners are.

Caldecott Medal - Flotsam illustrated by David Wiesner. The inside of the book jacket defines flotsam as something that floats. It goes on to say, 'If it floats in the ocean, it may wash up on the beach, where someone may find it and be astonished, and share the discovery with someone else-as David Wiesner shares it with you.' This is an interesting and beautifully illustrated wordless book.

Sharing the Honor category is Gone Wild illustrated by David McLimans and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

Newbery Medal - Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. Lucky is a ten-year-old child who eavesdrops through a fence at local meetings of the twelve-step anonymous program where she hears reference to a higher power which she seeks in her life as she fears the abandonment of her guardian Brigitte.

Sharing the Honor spot is Penny from Heaven by Jennifer Holm, Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, and Rules by Cynthia Lord.

Theodor Geisel Award - Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways by Laura Kvasnosky The famous Zelda and Ivy are back with another adventure in this easy reader chapter book.

In the Honor bracket are Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo;

Move Over, Rover by Karen Beaumont; and Not a Box by Antoinette Portis.

Michael Printz Award - American Born Chinese by Gene LuenYang

Ingram Book Company offers this on American Born Chinese-'A tour-de-force by rising indy comics star Gene Yang, "American Born Chinese" tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he's the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny's life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. "American Born Chinese" is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax.'

Honor books are Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson, Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Surrender by Sonya Hartnett, and Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Coretta Scott King Award for Best Author - Sharon Draper's Copper Sun

'When slave traders invade Armari's village, she is dragged to a slave ship bound for the Carolinas . Bought by a plantation owner, Amari befriends a white indentured servant named Polly and struggles to hold on to her memories in the face of hopeless and despair.' from Ingram Book Company

Honor goes to Road to Paris written by Nikki Grimes.

Coretta Scott King Best Illustrator Award - Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

This book is currently on back order. Ingram Book offers this review: "Lyrical text describes Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her North to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of slavery. This is a moving portrait of one of the most inspiring figures of the Underground Railroad--a woman who would take 19 subsequent trips back South without being caught."

Honor award went to illustrator Chris Myers for Jazz; and illustrator Benny Andrews for Poetry for Young People - Langston Hughes.

Coretta Scott King Most Promising New Author - Traci L. Jones author of Standing Against the Wind

Ingram Book states, 'In her debut novel, Traci L. Jones presents a girl with grit she never knew she had, and a boy so inspired by her that he begins to take pride in his own abilities.'

Those are the major national awards. The state of Kansas William Allen White award is yet to be decided in April. Watch this space for a word about those winners.

Until then, why not check out one of these great titles? See you at Memorial Library!