Singing to the Sun Wins Moonbeam Children's Award

The Moonbeam Children's Awards were announced last week and Singing to the Sun by Vivian French and illustrated by Jackie Morris, tied for the Gold position in the Picture Books category for all ages.

Presented by Jenkins Group and Independent Publisher Online, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Awards are given in 30 categories covering the full range of subjects, styles and age groups that children’s books are written and published in today.

As our society has become more complex and growing up more complicated, children’s book authors and publishers have risen to the occasion, creating books that not only celebrate the joys of childhood, but also help kids and families deal with its challenges. The Moonbeam Awards recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians – and to children themselves.

Literacy Evangalist

Cybils nominations open tomorrow, October 1st. How can you participate?

Jen Robinson, Literacy Evangalist for the 2008 Cybils award, has several ideas.

This year, awards will be given in nine categories (Easy Readers, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Fiction Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade Novels, Non-Fiction Middle Grade/Young Adult Books, Non-Fiction Picture Books, Poetry, Young Adult Novels). Anyone can nominate books in these categories (one nomination per person per category). Nominated titles must be published between January 1st and October 15th of this year, and the books must be in English (or bilingual, where one of the languages is English). To nominate titles, visit the Cybils blog between October 1st and 15th. A separate post will be available for each category - simply nominate by commenting on those individual posts. If you are not sure which category to choose for a particular book, a questions thread will also be available.

The Cybils were founded by Anne Boles Levy and Kelly Herold. This year's winners will be announced on February 14th, 2009.

Best of La Jolla Award

WASHINGTON D.C., September 22, 2008 -- Kane/Miller Book Publishers has been selected for the 2008 Best of La Jolla Award in the Publishers category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA):

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

Brillante Weblog Premio Award

Anastasia Suen nominated the Kane/Miller Kidlit blog for the Brillante Weblog Premio Award so I'm doing my part by adhering to the rules:

1. The award may be displayed on a winner’s blog.

2. Add a link to the person you received the award from.

3. Nominate up to seven other blogs.
   

4. Add their links to your blog.
   

5. Add a message to each person that you have passed the award on in the comments section of their blog.

Because I already have a blogroll which is included in the sidebar, I thought I'd use this as an opportunity to introduce blogs which I have discovered from our common membership in the Book Blogs social network, created over at NING.

Here are my nominations:

1. Aloi Reads
2. Reading, Writing, and Ranting
3. Out of the Blue
4. booklit: a literary handout
5. Reading Room

If you've guessed method of selecting the blogs (and bloggers) in this list, you'll be pleased to know that this is where a contest comes into play.

In the comments field, provide me with a list of the countries represented from the above bloggers and you'll be entered to win a set of our Fall 2008 titles (Ironically, winners must provide us with a U.S. address for which we will use to send the books to). Email must be included (it won't appear on line) in order to be eligible.

And, in case you're not already aware of the upcoming blogger events, check out the following links for details about Blog Day and Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

Happy Birthday Julie!

Julie Vivas, of Australia, celebrates her birthday today. She came to Kane/Miller back in the early days of our company with the gorgeous art inside Mem Fox's Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge.

Illustration from Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

We've had the pleasure of working with Julie on other titles over the years - Samsara Dog being her latest.

We wish her another year of happiness and health.

Literary Tattoos

Those who know me, or have met me in person, know that I am a fan of tattoos, both temporary and otherwise!

Contrariwise is a blog dedicated to photos of literary tattoos, both from lyrics of literature, poetry and music to images found inside children's books.

Betsy Bird from SLJ's A Fuse #8 Production created temporary tattoos for the Newbery/Caldecott awards dinner at ALA last month.

For me, I think I'd prefer a quote - my favorite lines from Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear and written with the same scratchy font found inside the book.

"...sometimes bad things happen so that good things can happen. You just have to make the best of it."

If you were to sport a literary tattoo - even for one night - what would you choose?

Guji Guji Honored

The International Latino Book Awards awarded our Spanish edition of Guji Guji second place in the Best Children's Picture Book category.

Chih-Yuan Chen wrote Guji Guji as well as On My Way to Buy Eggs. Both titles are available in Spanish as part of our Libros del mundo series in paperback editions.

New Zealand Book Award

Our first book from New Zealand, published originally by Gecko Press, has recently been honored with the New Zealand Post Best Children's Book of the Year award!

Congratulations to author Joy Cowley and illustrator Gavin Bishop for this great recognition. A collection of short stories about an unlikely pair, Snake and Lizard is a laugh-out-loud, sophisticated edition of tales (and tails) of friendship and life in the desert.

Snake and Lizard have much different tastes - especially when it comes to mealtime. In the story entitled, "Surprise," Lizard finds an egg "in the dust, smooth, white, and round as the moon," an egg which he feels is just perfect for Snake. He "carefully fitted his jaws around the egg and carried it back across the desert" to surprise his dear friend.

Hours later, when Snake finally arrives, Lizard is delighted to share his discovery with her and sends Snake down into the tunnel, where her surprise awaits.

Moments later, Snake shoots out of the hole, "hissing and shaking."

"The egg had hatched. No chicken had come out of it! There in Snake's bed, making a noise like a firecracker, was a very angry young rattlesnake."

After angry words between the two friends, Snake asks Lizard how he plans to get the rattlesnake out...it's nearly bedtime.

" 'Don't look at me in that tone of voice!' snaps Lizard. 'You know all about snakes. It's your cousin. Go and talk to it!' "

Humorous, delightful and simply charming, these two characters are highly developed, spectacularly entertaining and completely memorable.

Mom's Choice Awards

The 2008 Mom's Choice Awards were officially announced yesterday. Two Kane/Miller titles were included among the great list of finalists.

Congratulations to both Satoru Onishi and Tina Burke!

From Australia
It’s Christmas
by Tina Burke

2008 Silver Recipient: Seasonal, Holidays & Festivals


From Japan
Who’s Hiding?
by Satoru Onishi
2008 Gold Recipient: Basic Concepts

Award Finalists Announced

As if this week wasn't exciting enough already, we heard - just yesterday - the news that Colin Thompson's The Short & Incredibly Happy Life of Riley has been chosen as a finalist for this year's Children's Choice Book Awards.

I'm meeting with Colin Thompson (and some folks from Fox Studios) so if there are any questions I can ask him from his fans, pass them my way. He's thrilled to publish his picture book, The Little Book of Happy Sadness (coming in September, 2008) and even more from him in seasons following, including Norman and Brenda, a sequel to The Short & Incredibly Happy Life of Riley.

Norman and Brenda

(coming soon from Kane/Miller Book Publishers, Inc.)

Award-Winning Announcement

I'm always pleased to share good news and just today, we learned that Ziba Came on a Boat, by Australian team Liz Lofthouse and Robert Ingpen, has been selected as a National Council for Social Studies Notable Trade Book for Young People.

We want to extend our gratitude to those who have been already spreading the word about this phenomenally moving story about a young girl who braves the unpredictable sea as she crosses to an new home, a new land and explores both her memories and her expectations of her great journey.

Cybils 2007: Picture Book Nominations

The final list of the nominated titles for the 2007 Cybils awards was announced a few weeks back. Kane/Miller has three titles in the picture book category this year and I'm quite proud of the fact that these books are listed along side a wonderful group of authors and illustrators.

From Taiwan

My Cat Copies Me
by Yoon-duck Kwon

From Australia

Samsara Dog
Written by Helen Manos
Illustrated by Julie Vivas

From Japan

The Story of Cherry the Pig
by Utako Yamada

There were over 100 titles nominated in this category and - as I think I may have mentioned before - this is not going to be an easy task for the committee to select just one. I'm looking forward to the results.

Chi-Town

Driving along Lake Shore Drive, seeing Navy Pier lit up at night and witnessing the construction of the new Trump Tower reminds me of what it is I love about Chicago. It is beautiful, clean and always full of energy.

People here have a Midwestern charm and although my Midwest accent has of course come out since spending the last few days with my big sis, I've enjoyed the reminder of my youth and spending time in the city during winter, as the holiday season approaches.

Last night we had dinner at the Green Zebra on Chicago Avenue. It is a swank little place with a vegetarian menu. The food was amazing, the wine was fantastic and sharing a dinner out with my sister was priceless.

This evening, my sister and I are meeting Anne Levy from Book Buds for dinner. We're going to head over to McCormick and Schmick's Fresh Seafood Restaurant on Wacker Drive.

Anne is also the co-founder of the Cybils (Children's & YA Bloggers' Literary Awards). This year is the second year of this annual independent book award which we're pleased to have three books nominated for (so far):

From South Korea

My Cat Copies Me
by Yoon-duck Kwon


From Japan
The Story of Cherry the Pig
by Utako Yamada

From Australia
Samsara Dog
by Helen Manos
Illustrated by Julie Vivas

What's so great about this award is that it's reader-nominated. Readers, whether they're parents, educators, book reviewers, librarians or professionals (in any industry), can nominate titles for this award. You'll find the growing list of nominated titles on the Cybils blog under each category:

• Fantasy and Science Fiction
  
• Fiction Picture Books
  
• Graphic Novels
  
• Middle Grade Fiction
  
• Nonfiction: Middle Grade and Young Adult
  
• Nonfiction Picture Books
  
• Poetry
  
• Young Adult Fiction

Nominate your favorite titles today, but make sure you read the rules first!

Selznick, Frazee & A Big Box of Books

The SCIBA Trade Show and Authors Feast was last night. It took us nearly three hours to get to the Biltmore with an accident, road construction and typical Saturday evening traffic holding us back but we finally arrived!

We had enough time to walk the floor of the Trade Show, visit with many wonderful Sales Representatives and page through several fall books which I had not had a chance to see prior, and we still had time to mingle, enjoy a cocktail and wander through the beautiful hotel to see what other events were taking place that evening.

I was joined by two of my colleagues for dinner: Lynn, who most SCIBA members recall from her previous position as manager of The White Rabbit; and Christina, from The Book Works in Del Mar.

Also at our table was a member of the Harcourt children's division (also located in San Diego), along with four booksellers representing Russo's Books and Newsboy Books & Video.

The highlight of my night was meeting two of the award nominees (the two that I would've asked to meet if I was able to choose). Marla Frazee, whose work I absolutely adore, sat down at Table #12 just before dessert was served (what was that, by the way?). I nearly leaped across the table to shake her hand and gush over her work. She took me by surprise when she mentioned that some of her favorite picture books were Kane/Miller titles and I couldn't even begin to think of what to say to her after that, especially since we had to practically yell at one another to be heard.

Lynn was able to introduce me to Brian Selznick after the event and I was able to congratulate him after he received his much-anticipated award for his children's novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Other award-winners were: Lisa See (Peony in Love), Wendy Werris (An Alphabetical Life), Denise Hamilton (Los Angeles Noir), and Robin Preiss Glasser (Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy), who admitted on-stage that she had a little too much to drink.

It was a wonderful event and I was so pleased to be able to attend and very grateful for the big box of books that I opened early this morning with my son, who insisted that I read him Bossy Bear and Merry Christmas, Mouse! immediately. (This of course, after he asked me why his babysitter had to leave.) Welcome home, Mom!