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I look forward to summer all year because it is the time when I can really attack that towering TBR (To Be Read) pile that accumulates next to my bed and threatens to topple and squash my cat. I know many of you feel the same, so here are some top notch places to find solid book recommendations for reading at the beach, camp or ANYWHERE.

LREI Lower School Summer Reading Lists
LREI Middle School Summer Reading Lists
Brooklyn Public Library Summer Reading Program
NYC Summer Reading Program 2013
Scholastic Summer Challenge 2013
Summer Reading Recommendations 2013 from The Horn Book
The Fourth Annual New York Times Summer Reading Contest
Page to Screen Summer Reading Blockbusters from School Library Journal

Happy summer reading! I’ll see you in the library.

Jen Hubert Swan, Middle School Librarian

This week ALA (American Library Association) announced their award winners for the 2012 publishing year in youth media. Here’s a partial list of the literary line-up from the ALA press release:

SEATTLE — The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.

A list of all the 2013 award winners follows:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

“The One and Only Ivan,” written by Katherine Applegate, is the 2013 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.

Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Splendors and Glooms” by Laura Amy Schlitz and published by Candlewick Press; “Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon” by Steve Sheinkin and published by Flash Point, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press; and “Three Times Lucky” by Sheila Turnage and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

“This Is Not My Hat,” illustrated and written by Jon Klassen, is the 2013 Caldecott Medal winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.

Five Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Creepy Carrots!” illustrated by Peter Brown, written by Aaron Reynolds and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; “Extra Yarn,” illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of

HarperCollins Publishers; “Green,” illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger and published by Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press; “One Cool Friend,” illustrated by David Small, written by Toni Buzzeo and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group; “Sleep Like a Tiger,” illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

“Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America,” written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Disney/Jump at the Sun Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

Two King Author Honor Books were selected: “Each Kindness” by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group; and “No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller” by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie and published by Carolrhoda Lab, an imprint of Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:

“I, Too, Am America,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Langston Hughes and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Three King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: “H. O. R. S. E.,” illustrated and written by Christopher Myers, and published by Egmont USA; “Ellen’s Broom,” illustrated by Daniel Minter, written by Kelly Starling Lyons and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group; and “I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr.” illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Martin Luther King, Jr. and published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

“In Darkness,” written by Nick Lake, is the 2013 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Bloomsbury Books for Young Readers.

Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; “Code Name Verity” by Elizabeth Wein, published by Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group; “Dodger” by Terry Pratchett, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; “The White Bicycle” by Beverley Brenna, published by Red Deer Press.

For the full list of winners, click here.

Book Week is coming to LREI again, and that means visiting authors in every classroom in the school during the week of December 10-14.  The middle school is no exception, we have some amazing authors visiting us this year, among them National Book Award honorees and New York Times bestsellers!

Here’s the awesome line-up:

• 5th Grade: Muriel Weinstein (PLAY LOUIS PLAY, WHEN LOUIS ARMSTRONG TAUGHT ME TO SCAT) Thursday, December 13 12:45-1:30.
• 6th Grade: Adam Gidwitz (A TALE DARK AND GRIMM, IN A GLASS GRIMMLY) Wednesday, December 12, 2-3 pm
• 7th Grade: Melissa Kantor (THE DARLINGS IN LOVE, THE DARLINGS ARE FOREVER, THE BREAKUP BIBLE, CONFESSIONS OF A NOT IT GIRL) Friday, December 14, 2:15-3
• 8th Grade: Patricia McCormick (NEVER FALL DOWN, SOLD, PURPLE HEART, CUT, MY BROTHER’S KEEPER) Thursday, December 13, 12-12:45

(Amalia & Justine show off their signed copies of NEVER FALL DOWN by Patricia McCormick.)

On November 13th, the LREI Middle School class reps were invited to attend the National Book Award Teen Press Conference at the Central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. At the press conference, students are treated to a reading by each of the five finalists and allowed to ask questions of the authors. After the presentation, every student is given a free book and may have it signed by the author. This year, we were lucky enough to each be given TWO books, and couldn’t wait to get home to start reading them. The five 2012 finalists and their books are:

William Alexander, Goblin Secrets.
Carrie Arcos, Out of Reach.
Patricia McCormick, Never Fall Down.
Eliot Schrefer, Endangered.
Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon.

(Waiting to hear the authors speak.)

(Getting a book signed by Eliot Schrefer.)

(Getting a book signed by Steve Sheinkin.)

(Happy reading reps!)