Kids books news

Have you ever stopped and really considered the importance that children’s books have on our lives, from childhood to adulthood? Who doesn’t remember the daunting tales of Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, and Magic Tree House? These time honored stories provide an action plot filled with drama, popularity, and conflict while keeping a gentle undergrowth of awareness suited for the minds of these young readers. Whether you are reading to your children or they are reading for themselves, it is a great way to start off their scholastic adventure with a few memorable classics.

Randolph Caldecott Medal The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the most illustrious children’s picture book in America. These can include 3d “popup” books or regular story books with delicate images, usually filled with lots of colors and scenery. The 2008 winner of the Caldecott Medal is Brian Selznick with the release of his book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a story about a boy living in a French train station who strives to complete a mysterious invention left to him by his father. This story consists of over 500 pages of both text and images, neither of which can tell this story alone. Black and white pencil sketches show the silent films to which this book pays homage. It is a masterpiece and must be honored with such a fabulous award as the Caldecott Medal.

Teen Read Week, an annual event, is designed to encourage teenagers to read books for the fun of it on a regular basis. Teen Read Week is a literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association.

Ever since the title of J.K. Rowling's sixth Harry Potter book was announced, rumors have circulated about "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Here's a look at the rumors and truth about Harry Potter 6.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney is a very funny book for middle school age kids. Greg Haffley is in his second year of middle school and again is keeping an illustrated journal about life at home and in middle school, with an emphasis on his old brother Rodrick, in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, which was both writte and illustrated by Jeff Kinney.

One of several Mary Engelbreit children's Christmas picture books, Queen of Christmas is one of my favorite children's Christmas picture books because of the creative illustrations by Mary Engelbreit and because of the subject. In Queen of Christmas, Mary Engelbreit takes a humorous look at a little girl, Ann Estelle, with a huge list of things she wants for Christmas and a bad case of the Christmas "gimmees."

Everyone is excited about Harry Potter book five, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," by J.K. Rowling. Find out about the book that is popular with both children and adults, and surprise your child with information about the story, the artwork, and the audio versions.

The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature recognizes excellence in Young Adult (YA) literature. The Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award that honors young adult (YA) books published in the previous calendar year.

Learn about what you should look for in a parents' guides to children's books and what makes The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children such an excellent reference book on children's literature.

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy is a beautiful picture book featuring full page color photography by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick, who are professional wildlife photographers. Stranger in the Woods is the story of the reaction of the animals in the woods to a stranger, a snowman.

If you are looking for a special Mother's Day gift for the mother or grandmother, here are some children’s picture books and one book of quotations from children’s books that should appeal to them. The first book is a tribute to mothers and the second celebrates mothers and grandmothers.