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Children's Literature Announces Top Choice List for 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Children's Literature Choice List for 1997, is a national book awards list that recognizes 150 children's books of excellence chosen from among the 3000 children's books that the newsletter's reviewers received last year. Children's Literature, a national monthly newsletter of children's book reviews helps teachers, librarians, childcare providers and parents choose quality books for kids of all ages. In addition to exceptional writing, creative story lines (for fiction) and factual accuracy (for nonfiction and historical fiction), the criteria for selection were age-appropriate subject matter, fresh themes, new approaches to known stories and relevance to the lives of today's kids. Says Children's Literature founder Marilyn Courtot, "This year's selections again represent some of the outstanding books children, parents, teachers, and librarians will want to add to their collections." In the category of books for children three and under, nine books were named, among them a new board book version of Freight Train by Donald Crews, a Caldecott honor artist (Tupelo/Morrow), and Animal Crackers: A Delectable Collection of Pictures Poems and Lullabies for the Very Young by Jane Dyer (Little Brown). Thirty-three books were named in the picture book category for children ages four to eight, including the humorous Saving Sweetness by Diane Stanley (Putnam), The Wise Washerman: A Folktale from Burma by Deborah Froese with illustrations by Wang Kui (Hyperion), and The Bunyans by Audrey Wood, delightfully illustrated by David Shannon (Blue Sky). In the early reader category of short books or picture books with more text than usual for children ages five to ten, 39 books were selected including a fascinating account of the building of the Panama Canal in Locks, Crocs, & Skeeters by Nancy Winslow Parker (Greenwillow), the long awaited sequel Shilo Season from Newbery Award winner Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Atheneum), Minty by Alan Schroeder which tells the story of young Harriet Tubman accompanied by the wonderful illustrations of Jerry Pinkney, another Caldecott Honor artist (Dial), Into the Sea by Brenda Z. Guiberson with illustrations by Alix Berenzy (Holt), Shock Waves Through Los Angeles by Carole G. Vogel (Little, Brown), and Starry Messenger by Peter Sis (Farrar Straus Giroux), a current Caldecott Honor book. The group of longer books with more sophisticated themes for middle readers ages eight to twelve garnered 35 titles, among them The Greek News and The Roman News representing tabloids that might have beenófilled with facts about these ancient cultures (Candlewick), Jip: His Story in which Newberry medal author Katherine Paterson explores the subjects of racism, slavery, and life on a New England poor farm (Lodestar) and The Ballad of Lucy Whipple from another Newbery winner, Karen Cushman, about life in the California gold fields (Clarion). Twenty-seven books were named in the young adult category for ages 12 and up, including a tour de force of characterization and suspense, Zel by Donna Jo Napoli (Dutton), The Maestro by Tim Wynn-Jones (Orchard), and Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez, also a winner of the National Book Award. Seven books were honored in the poetry category, among them Falling Up by Shel Silverstein (HarperCollins) and Monday's Troll by Jack Prelutsky with illustrations by Caldecott honor artist Peter Sis (Greenwillow), and Sun Through the Window by Marci Ridlon (Boyds Mills).
To reach Children's Literature, send a self addressed stamped envelope to the address below. Children's Literature is currently offering a special one-year newsletter subscription rate of $18 for 12 issues (which is 25% off its $24 annual rate) on all orders placed by September 30, 1997. To order by credit card or to inquire about the other products and services the business offers, call 1-800-469-2070. Otherwise, mail orders or inquiries to Subscription Department, Children's Literature, 7513 Shadywood Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817.
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