Recently in Awards Category

Selvakumar Knew Better has been chosen as a 2007 Notable Book for a Global Society by the International Reading Association. What a great honor, considering it is among such notable choices as The Book Thief, Freedom Walkers, and Moses.

Here's the complete list of winners:

Historical Fiction

Boyne, J.  (2006). The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. New York:  David Fickling.

Draper, S. (2006).  Copper Sun. New York:  Atheneum

Holm, J. L.  (2006). Penny From Heaven. New York:  Random House.

Lee-Tai, A. (2006). A Place where Sunflowers Grow.  Illustrated by Felicia Hoshino. San Francisco, CA:  Children's Book Press. (pb)

McCutcheon, J. (2006).  Christmas in the Trenches. Illustrated by Henri Sorensen. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree. (pb)

Raven, M. T. (2006). Night Boat to Freedom. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York:  Melanie Kroupa. (pb)

Tingle, T. (2006). Crossing Bok Chitto:  A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom. Illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridges. El Paso, TX:  Cinco Puntos Press.  (pb)

Winthrop, E.  (2006). Counting on Grace. New York:  Wendy Lamb.

Weatherford, C. (2006). Dear Mr. Rosenwald. Illustrated by Gregory R. Christie. New York: Scholastic. (pb)

Weatherford, C. B. (2006). Moses:  When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom.  Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York:  Jump at the Sun. (pb)

Zusak, M. (2006).  The Book Thief. New York:  Alfred A. Knopf.

 
Nonfiction

Freedman, R. (2006). Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. New York: Holiday House.

Goldman, S. R. with Ela Weissberger. (2006).  Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin. New York: Holiday House.

Hopkinson, D. (2006). Up Before Daybreak:  Cotton and People in America.  New York: Scholastic.

Shoveller, H.  (2006). Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press.  (pb)

Zalben, J. B. (2006). Paths to Peace. New York: Dutton. (pb)

 
Poetry

Greenfield, E.  (2006). When the Horses Ride By. Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. New York: Lee & Low (pb)

Myers, W. D.  (2006). Jazz. Illustrated by Christopher Myers.  New York:  Holiday House. (pb)

 
Realistic Fiction

Diakite, P.  (2006). I Lost My Tooth in Africa. Illustrated by Bab Wague Diakite. New York: Scholastic.(pb)

Hobb, W. (2006). Crossing the Wire. New York:  HarperCollins.

Kessler, C.  (2006). Best Beekeeper of Lalibela:  A Tale from Africa. Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins. New York: Holiday House. (pb)

Kroll, V.  (2006). Selvakumar Knew Better.  Illustrated by Xiaojun.  Fremont, CA: Shen's. (pb)

McCormick, P.  (2006). Sold. New York: Hyperion.  

 
Traditional Literature

Campoy, F. I., & Ada, A. F. (2006). Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection.  Illustrated by Felipe Davalos, Viva Escriva, Susan Guevara, Leyla Torres. New York:  Atheneum. 

McKissack, P.  (2006). Porch Lies:  Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters. Illustrated by Andre Carrilho. New York:  Schwartz & Wade.

Wowee! Selvakumar Knew Better by Virginia Kroll and illustrated by Xiaojun Li has been chosen as a Best Children's Book of the Year by the Children's Book Committee of the Bank Street College of Education. Every year, they select a list of the best books and print a wonderful little booklet that is organized by age group and subject, indexed and cross-referenced. A wonderful resource, and a wonderful honor for Selvakumar.