2013 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence –Nonfiction

On June 30 the 2nd Annual ALA Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction will be announced. Below are the books that are being considered for the Nonfiction prize. Check them out and see if you agree with the final choice.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers : Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo

James Joyce: A New Biography by Gordon Bowker

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A Caro

Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America by Tanner Colby 

Turing’s Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe by George Dyson

Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis by Timothy Egan

Why Does the World Exist? An Existential Detective Story by Jim Holt

Engines of Change : A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars by Paul Ingrassia

Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats by Kristen Iversen

Leonardo and the Last Supper by Ross King

Fire in the Ashes : Twenty-Five Years among the Poorest Children in America by Jonathan Kozol

The Mansion of Happiness : A History of Life and Death by Jill Lepore

Barack Obama : The Story by David Maraniss

Thomas Jefferson :  The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

Shooting Victoria : Madness, Mayhem and the Rebirth of the British Monarchy by Paul Thomas Murphy

The Patriarch : The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy by David Nasaw

Spillover : Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen

Oceans of Life : The Fate of Man and the Sea by Callum Roberts

Joseph Anton : A Memoir by Salman Rushdie

The Oath : The Obama White House and the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobin

The Social Conquest of Earth by Edward O. Wilson

Why Be Happy When You Could be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson

~Kimberly

Library Larry Wins Award

Library Larry’s Big Day, a television show produced by the Denton Public Library and Denton Television in association with the Denton Independent School District, has won the prestigious Margaret Irby Nichols Award from the North Texas Regional Library System (NTRLS). This special award is “given to an NTRLS library, which has created and promoted successful partnerships involving more than one type of library or community organization (non‐profit). This partnership…demonstrate[s] collaborative planning and resource sharing to provide improved library services to the people of Texas.”

The show’s creator, Kerol Harrod, also won a Branding Iron Award from the Texas Library Association (TLA) last month for a speech delivered to the Denton Rotary Club promoting Library Larry’s Big Day.

“We’re very proud of this important outreach program and the impact it has on the children in our community,” says Eva Poole, Director of Libraries for the City of Denton.

A Printz of a Book

Award season is upon us, and no, not the Golden Globes. Every year the American Library Association and its various divisions give awards to the best of the best of the previous year. This year’s winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature is Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.

It’s a futuristic book set on a devastated Gulf Coast – maybe not that far in the future – near New Orleans, which has been demolished by hurricanes the locals call “city-killers.” These storms have caused a lot of ships to become nothing more than salvage. Stripping tankers and cargo strips of their copper and iron is the main source of income for the impoverished citizens, and our hero Nailer is on the light crew, going into the most dangerous parts to salvage strands of copper wire. After a particularly bad city-killer, he and his friend Pima find their own salvage, but it comes with an injured swank, a rich girl from up north. Nailer has to decide if the girl is his ticket out, and if that means holding her for ransom or trying to escape with her.

Ship Breaker is no light read, and at times, downright depressing. These characters have hard lives and have to make hard choices. The only thing they have is each other, and sometimes not even that. Still, it’s an excellent book that tugs at your heartstrings, and you can’t help but root for Nailer to make it to a better life.

- Heather Botelho, South Branch Library

Texas Bluebonnet Award 2010-2011

Last week, the Texas Library Association announced the nominees for the 2010-2011 Texas Bluebonnet Award.  We don’t have them all yet, but we should by the January!

Home of the Brave  by Katherine Applegate

All Stations! Distress!: April 15, 1912: The Day the Titanic Sank by Don Brown

The Uglified Ducky: A Maynard Moose Tale by Willy Claflin

Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku by Ellie Crowe

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

Pirates by David L. Harrison

That Book Woman by Heather Henson

Down Down Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins

Dying to Meet You: 43 Cemetary Road, Book 1 by Kate Klise

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

The Hinky Pink: An Old Tale by Megan McDonald

Squirrel’s World by Lisa Moser

Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo by Linda Sue Park

Mudshark by Gary Paulsen

Sparrow Girl by Sara Pennypacker

Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow by James Rollins

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski

Calvin Coconut Trouble Magnet by Graham Salisbury

The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino

RITA Award Winners Announced!

The RITA Awards, which celebrate the best Romance fiction of the year, have been announced!

Check them out and let us know if you agree.

 2009 Winner for Best New Novel:  

 

 

 

Oh My Gods by Terri Lynn Childs

 

2009 Winner for Best Contemporary Romance Title:

 

 

 

Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson

 

2009 RITA Winner for Best Historical Romance

 

 

 

Edge of Impropriety by Pam Rosenthal

 

2009 RITA Winner for Best Inspirational Romance

 

 

 

 

Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren

 

2009 RITA Winner for Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements 

 

 

Tribute by Nora Roberts

 

 

2009 RITA Winner for Best Paranormal Romance

 

 

 

Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready

 

2009 RITA Winner for Best Historical Romance

 

 

 

My Lord and Spymaster by Joanne Bourne

 

2009 RITA Winner for Best Romance Novella

  

  

“The Fall of Rogue Gerard” by Stephanie Laurens in It Happened One Night.

 

 

2009 RITA Winner for Best Romantic Suspense

 

 

 

Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard

 

2009 RITA Winner for Best Young Adult Romance

 

 

 

Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore

 

Are you a fan of romance novels? Join the Romance in the Stacks book group at the Denton Public Library to talk about your favorite author or find something new to read. For more information please contact Kimberly Wells at kimberly.wells@cityofdenton.com

~Kimberly

We Won! We Won! We Won!

The Texas Municipal Library Directors Association announced in its Spring Newsletter that the Denton Public Library was a recipient of the “Achievement of Excellence in Libraries” award for 2008.

Given annually, this award is given to libraries that demonstrate their service excellence through the attainment of certain criteria. After gathering copious representations of the library’s programs, services, and statistics, Emily Fowler Central Library manager Terri Sharp compiled an extensive portfolio to represent the library’s achievements in 2008. Included were examples of marketing materials, collaborative efforts, literacy support, services to underserved populations, and technological enhancements made by the library.

“I am so proud of my staff,” said Eva Poole, Director of Libraries, “and thankful that Terri did such a wonderful job on this huge task! They really do work hard to make all of these programs come to light.”

Official recognition from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association will come later this year at the Texas Library Association annual conference in April in Houston.

2009-2010 Bluebonnet Nominees

Last month, the 2009-2010 of Bluebonnet nominees were announced.  Get an early start and check them out of the DPL!

The Penderwicks on Gardham Street by Jeanne Birdsall

 

 

Surprises According to Humphrey by Betty Birney

 

 

Frogs by Nic Bishop

 

 

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale by Carmen Agra Deedy

 

 

The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman

 

 

The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating by AW Flaherty

 

 

Piper Reed: Navy Brat by Kimberly Willis Holt

 

 

What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World and Drove her Father Teddy Crazy! by Barbara Kerley

 

Savvy by Ingrid Law

 

 

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, Schools, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

 

 

Two-Minute Drill by Mike Lupica

 

 

Yum! MmMm! Que Rico!: America’s Sproutings by Pat Mora

The Hound of Rowan by Henry H. Neff

 

 

We are the Ship: The Story of the Negro Baseball League by Kadir Nelson

 

 

Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman

 

 

Maybelle in the Soup by Katie Speck

 

 

Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli

 

 

Help Me, Mr. Mutt by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

 

 

Someone Named Eva by Joan Wolf

Sian’s favorite book so far this year

Yup…it’s The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  It came out in 2006, but I didn’t read it until this year.  Loved it.  Fans of 1984, Brave New World, and other apocalyptic/future-questioning books will love it too.  –Sian

Texas Bluebonnet Awards

Every year, the Texas Bluebonnet Award committee chooses a “master list” of children’s books from the suggestions of students, teachers, librarians, parents and anyone interested in children’s literature.  After they choose the master list, school-age children vote on their picks (they must have read at least six nominated titles) at either their school or library.  The voting takes place in January, so if your kids want to vote, it’s time to start reading!

Here is this year’s master list, from which this year’s winner will be picked.  For more details on selection and voting visit the Texas Bluebonnet Award’s official website:

 Firegirl. by Tony Abbott

When Jessica, horribly disfigured by a car fire, enters Tom Bender’s seventh grade classroom at St. Catherine’s school, she triggers a connection with Tom that changes his perception of himself and his friends.

The Blue Ghost. By Marion Dane Bauer, Illustrated by Suling Wang.

While visiting her grandmother, Liz learns about her family’s history when she encounters a blue ghost and steps back in time to answer a call for help.

 The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands. By Louise Borden Illustrated by Niki Daly.

In the winter of 1941, a ten-year old Dutch boy, Piet Janssen, tests his courage and ice skating skills by outsmarting German soldiers when he leads two children over the icy canals to Belgium.

 The Misadventures of Maude March. By Audrey Couloumbis

Orphans Maude and Sallie head across the frontier to search for their uncle, and their rip-roaring exploits — including horse theft, bank robbery, and murder — begin to resemble the plots of the dime novels Sallie loves to read.

Chicken Boy. By Frances O’ Roark Dowell

Tobin, usually a loner, becomes friends with Henry and gets involved helping Henry raise chickens, which allows Tobin an escape from his disconnected father, delinquent siblings, and a troublesome grandmother.

Who Stole Halloween? By Martha Freeman

While trying to solve a mystery involving missing cats, Alex reluctantly lets his friend Yasmeen talk him into allowing his cat Luau become a decoy to catch the culprit.

Double Identity. By Margaret Peterson Haddix

Twelve-year-old Bethany’s parents suddenly leave her with an unknown aunt; then Bethany learns of a dead sister who looked exactly like Bethany. Now Bethany must discover the truth about herself.

Weedflower. Cynthia Kadohata

When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, the American government forces twelve-year-old Sumiko and her family to leave their California flower farm and live in a Japanese internment camp in Poston, Arizona.

The Ghost’s Grave. By Peg Kehret

Josh is spending the summer at his Aunt Ethel’s house. He encounters a peacock that may be his Aunt Florence and a ghost whose body is buried with a mysterious box of cash.

The Year of the Dog. By Grace Lin

Grace is the only Taiwanese-American girl in her class until Melody arrives. She and Grace become friends throughout the “Year of the Dog,” as Grace grows into her cultural identity.

Outside and Inside Mummies. By Sandra Markle

Using new scientific methods, researchers are learning about mummies from the inside out.  X-rays, CT scans, and computers help scientists solve the mysteries about people who lived and died in ancient times.

Hubert Invents the Wheel. Claire and Monte Montgomery Illustrated by Jeff Shelly.

Go back five thousand years and meet Hubert, a boy with big dreams and a wild imagination. He’s constantly experimenting and inventing, while his father, Gorp, wants him to join the family hauling business.

Roxie and the Hooligans. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

“Don’t panic” is Roxie’s golden rule of survival. But, it’s not an easy task as she confronts playground bullies, is dumped with the garbage, and encounters a duo of murderous thieves.

Down Girl and Sit: On the Road. Lucy Nolan Illustrated by Mike Reed.

Down Girl gives a dog’s-eye account of several outings – from generously providing her owner with a smelly fish to savoring the discomfort of her nemesis, Here Kitty Kitty, at the Vet’s office.

Pompeii: Lost and Found. By Mary Pope Osborne Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen.

Osborne and Christensen ask readers to become archaeologists, imagining the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79 CE and interpreting the daily life of this very “modern” ancient Roman town.

Ballet of the Elephants. By Leda Schubert Illustrated by Robert Parker.

In the early 1940s, John Ringling North, Igor Stravinsky, and George Balanchine collaborated to create an unusual circus act — elephants in pink tutus partnering with beautiful ballerinas to perform the Circus Polka.

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. By Obert Skye 

 Leven Thumps, a boy with a power to change the future, begins a mission to save the dreams of humankind and the land of Foo from the evil Sabine.

Bella at Midnight. By Diane Stanley.

Written in multiple voices, this Cinderella tale chronicles Bella’s magical quest to save her kingdom from war and warn her childhood friend, Prince Julian, of the threat against his life.

George Crum and the Saratoga Chip. By Gaylia Taylor.

 Teased as a child, George Crum could turn feisty. When he became a chef, a fussy customer insisted her French fries weren’t crisp, so feisty George whipped up a new creation: the potato chip.

The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. By Laurence Yep. 

Henry, the son of a wealthy banker, and Chin, the son of the Chinese houseboy, describe the 1906 earthquake in alternating chapters. When a firestorm breaks out, both boys discover the true meaning of heroism.