The exhibit will feature more than 160 pieces from 33 popular children’ book illustrators. Many of the artworks are being supplied directly by the artists. Featured artists include David Wiesner, Ed Young, Chris Raschka, Jerry Pinkney, Mo Willems, and David Macaulay.

We hope you’ll take some time to enjoy this exhibit which runs from June 1st through August 16th. You might also want to invite your students to attend a fun-filled afternoon celebrating the art of children’s picture books. On Saturday, June 1st beginning at 1:30 p.m. there will be a “look and find” game with the artwork, a chance to get your picture taken with your favorite picture book and visit from authors/illustrators of Caldecott Medal and honor books. No registrtation required.

The author of such favorites as Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3,  Blue will be appearing at the Library on Thursday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. Copies of Blue’s novels will be available for sale starting at 6:30 p.m. and autographing will be available at the conclusion of the author’s presentation. A portion of the proceeds from these book sales will go to Chicago Hopes, a volunteer-based, after-school homework help program for students living in Chicago homeless shelters. This event is made possible through a partnership with The Book Stall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka.

Registration is required. The program is recommended for children in grades 3–8 as well as adults.

I hope you’ll share what you’re reading, too.  Just click on Add Comments.

A hands–on workshop with Andrew Arnold and Alexis Frederick-Frost will also be offered at Skokie Public Library on Thursday afternoon, October 18th from 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Artists in grades 4–8 are invited to learn about cartooning. Please encourage interested students to register beginning October 1st for this fun event. 

It’s official! The voting for your favorite Voice of Youth Award 2011–2012 (VOYA) author is complete. Nine Skokie schools participated in the voting this year. To be eligible to vote students had to read 3 titles from the VOYA list of recommended titles. We delivered voting boxes to participating schools during the week of April16th–20th. Librarians encouraged students to vote with creative displays and lots of reminders!

The ballots have been counted and with a drum roll we are pleased to announce the winners.

1st place – Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm

2nd place – The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

3rd place (tied) – Masterpiece by Elise Broach and Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Now we get busy trying to arrange a visit to the Skokie Public Library by the winning author. We’re also finalizing our list of recommended VOYA titles for 2012–2013. Keep tuned to LibraryLinks for the announcement.

During her visit Weeks will conduct an evening session at the Skokie Public Library from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please encourage your students to attend this session to meet Weeks, learn more about how she writes her books, and get copies of her books autographed. In addition to this session the author will make presentations at the two schools with the highest number of students participating in the VOYA elections – Edison School and Middleton School.

Registration for the evening presentation begins October 1st and will be taken on a first–come, first–served basis. To register, please call the Youth Services Department at 847–324–3149. For more information contact Linda Sawyer at 847–324–3195 or lsawyer@skokielibrary.info.

Send your name and the name of your school to me at scarlton@skokielibrary.info and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win one of the prizes. Emails must be received no later than Sunday, February 20. Winners will be notified by email and prizes will be delivered to their schools.

The American Library Association (ALA) announced on Monday the top books, audiobooks, and videos for kids and young adults. The announcement was made at the close of the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego. Stop by and check out these Newbery and Caldecott Medal and Honor winners! The full list of winners is available on the ALA website.

The Newbery Medal for children’s literature was awarded to Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. Four Newbery Honor books were also announced:

• Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm
• Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus
• Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen
• One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

The Caldecott Medal for an American picture book for children was awarded to A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by Philip C. Stead. Two Caldecott Honor books were also announced:

• Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier and written by Laban Carrick Hill
• Interrupting Chicken, written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein

It was a great opportunity for students to meet, up close and personal, someone who writes and illustrates the very books that they read in the classroom and at home. The kids were able to see where ideas for books come from and how a story evolves. A word of caution. Be careful how you act when sitting next to a stranger on an airplane! Tom’s idea for his book, What Are You So Grumpy About? came from an experience with a grouchy passenger seated next to him during a plane flight.

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