ALA Award for Kami and the Yaks

The American Library Association awards were announced yesterday and today I'm posting winning titles by small or independent publishers.

The debut book by Bay Otter Press, Kami and the Yaks by Andrea Stenn Stryer and illustrated by Bert Dodson, won the Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. (ages 0-10)

A beautifully designed and illustrated book, Kami and the Yaks tells the story of a young Sherpa boy who braves a storm and communicates (because he is deaf) with his father that little "White Spot" is injured on the mountain. A rescue ensues and, "Kami proudly led the yaks, his father, and his brother down the mountain." A timely win with the death of Sir Edmond Hillary bringing recent attention to the region.

What is so great about Andrea Stenn Stryer's book is her dedication to the project evidenced by the curriculum she designed for teachers and parents. A lovely book!


The Cat: Or, How I Lost Eternity by Jutta Richter, Rotraut Susanne Berner, and Anna Brailovsky, published by Milkweed Editions, originally published in German as Die Katze, won a Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Award for the most outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States. No luck getting this book from the library here. It is available in some Midwest libraries. I plan to find a copy soon, and if anyone has reviewed this book please post the link in the comments or email a review to nancy@beeskneesbooks.com.

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award for, The Secret Olivia Told Me, by N. Joy, illustrated by Nancy Devard, published by Just Us Books. CSU Fresno has this title in their library but that's too far to drive. I see I'll have to make a little investment in some new books.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers Honor Book, Hello, Bumblebee Bat, written by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne and published by Charlesbridge. I believe Becky has this book about the endangered bumblebee bat of Thailand- maybe I'll get her opinion. Is it great?

The Pura Belpré Award honoring Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children's books Honor Book for Illustration My Colors, My World/Mis Colores, Mi Mundo, written and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez and published by Children's Book Press. I should have this in my hands from the library in a couple of days.

The Pura Belpré Award Author Honor Book, Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale, retold by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael Austin and published by Peachtree. Ah ha! a new rendition of this story- I can't wait!