Every year, the American Library Association (ALA) honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. The ALA selection committees are composed of librarians and other literature and media experts.  It’s an exciting time for librarians, as we suddenly have a treasure trove of award-winning titles to reread, review, and order for your library.  Over 60 youth awards were announced at the ALA conference on February 12, and without further ado, I’ll highlight the winners in two of the most prestigious award categories in children’s literature.
 
The Randolph J. Caldecott Medal has been given, since 1938, to the artist who creates the most distinguished picture book of the year. The award is named in honor of a 19th-century English illustrator known for the action, vitality, and humor of his picture books. The 2018 Caldecott Medal was awarded to “Wolf in the Snow,” illustrated and written by Matthew Cordell.  Four Caldecott Honor Books were also named, including “Big Cat, Little Cat,” illustrated and written by Elisha Cooper; “Grand Canyon,” illustrated and written by Jason Chin; “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut,” illustrated by Gordon C. James and written by Derrick Barnes; and “A Different Pond,” illustrated by Thi Bui and written by Bao Phi.
 
The John Newbery Medal was named for an 18th-century British bookseller.  Since 1922 it has been awarded annually to the author of the year’s most outstanding contribution to American literature for children. The 2018 Newbery Medal went to “Hello, Universe,” written by Erin Entrada Kelly.  Newbery Honor Books include “Long Way Down,” by Jason Reynolds; “Piecing Me Together,” by Renée Watson; and again, “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut.”
 
A couple of titles that I recently purchased for my 14-year-old and 3-year-old granddaughters came up as winners in other categories.  “The Hate U Give,” written by Angie Thomas, received the William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens. “Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos,” illustrated by John Parra and written by Monica Brown, won a Pura Belpré Honour Award for illustration.  The Pura Belpré Awards, established in 1996, are presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.  Congratulations to Monica Brown, who is a professor of English at Northern Arizona University, specializing in U.S. Latino literature and multicultural literature. Brown is the author of many award-winning books for children, as well as scholarly works, and she lives just up the canyon in Flagstaff, Arizona.
 
All of the Youth Media Award and Honor titles are available through Sedona Public Library’s county-wide borrowing network. With the recent award announcements, popularity has skyrocketed, and you may have to go to www.sedonalibrary.org and place a hold to borrow the award-winning titles that you want.  If you just can’t wait, go ahead and buy a copy!  We love donations of excellent used books in the youth department.

Sedona Public Library
Column for February 23, 2018
Written by Karen Mack, Youth Services Librarian

Black History Month is observed during the month of February. Carter G. Woodson, one of the first African Americans to receive a doctorate from Harvard, is known as the “Father of Black History Month.” He started Negro History Week in 1926, choosing a week in February to honor the birth months of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Over time, support for the celebration grew, and in 1976 President Gerald Ford declared February as Black History Month.
 
The Yavapai Library Network has many wonderful resources to honor the achievements of African Americans and their contributions to the nation’s history and culture, including the titles listed below.  Please contact the Library if you need assistance placing a hold.
 
Nonfiction book:  “Hidden Figures:  The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation into Space” by Margot Lee Shetterly. This true story set in Virginia in the 1960s is about the important contributions of African American women to NASA.  If you don’t have time to read the book, the DVD is outstanding.
 
Children’s book:  “Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Doreen Rappaport. This children’s book won several prestigious awards including Caldecott Honor Book for illustrations and the Coretta Scott King Honor Book.
 
Poetry:  “Selected Poems” by Gwendolyn Brooks. Brooks wrote more than twenty books of poetry. In 1949 she was the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize.  Brooks also served as poet laureate for the state of Illinois and was the first black woman appointed as a poetry consultant to the Library of Congress.
 
DVD:  “The Great Debaters.” This DVD is based on a true story. In 1935 Professor Melvin B. Tolson, played by Denzel Washington, formed a debate team at Wiley College in Texas.  This elite debate team eventually faced Harvard in the national championship.
 
Music on CD:  “At Last” by Etta James. Despite facing many personal obstacles in her lifetime, James was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.  This music CD contains many great hits by James including “At Last” and “A Sunday Kind of Love.”
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. We are grateful for the support of the City of Sedona, Yavapai and Coconino Counties, businesses and foundations, and individuals like you. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336.

Sedona Public Library
Column for February 16, 2018
Written by Cheryl L. Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village

It’s no coincidence that American Heart Month is in February, the month when we celebrate Valentine’s Day. This February, give yourself the gift of heart health by taking steps to reduce the risk of heart disease, such as eating healthy, exercising, and, of course, quitting smoking.
 
Sedona Public Library offers many resources to help you commit to a healthy lifestyle. In February, the Library, in partnership with Northern Arizona Healthcare, will host a health screening and two health lectures:
 
Health Screening: A free health screening will be held at the Library on Wednesday, February 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the community room. The screening is designed to assess the risk of diabetes and heart disease by measuring cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Fasting is not required, and no appointment is necessary.
 
Women and Heart Disease Lecture: Steven Heilbrunn, MD, a cardiologist from the Heart and Vascular Center of Northern Arizona (HVCNA), will give a free lecture on women’s hearth health on Thursday, February 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the community room.
 
Prior to joining HVCNA, Dr. Heilbrunn worked as an interventional cardiologist at several prestigious hospitals in Pennsylvania. He served as the director and assistant professor of interventional cardiology at Temple University in Philadelphia. He has authored numerous articles related to cardiovascular interventions, procedures, and the use of medications to treat patients. Additionally, he has led multiple research projects in the area of pharmaceutical treatment options.
 
Proactive Medicine Lecture: On Wednesday, February 21, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the community room, attend a free lecture about staying well through developing positive lifestyle, eating, and exercise habits.  Northern Arizona Healthcare is committed to helping our communities not only get better when they have medical challenges but also maintain their health and wellness.
 
According to the most recent U.S. News and World Report rankings, the top three heart-healthy diets are the DASH diet, the Mediterranean diet, and the Ornish diet. A selection of books about each of these dietary approaches is available through Sedona Library and other libraries in the Yavapai Library Network. We also have the newest edition of the American Heart Association’s cookbook, which contains hundreds of recipes and updated guidelines for maintaining heart health.
 
As the American Heart Association states, “Even modest changes to your diet and lifestyle can improve your heart health and lower your risk by as much as 80 percent.” Get started on your journey to improve your heart health by attending the special events at the Library during February—which is both American Heart Month and Love Your Library Month.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are grateful for the support of the City of Sedona, Yavapai and Coconino Counties, businesses and foundations, and individuals like you. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336 or can be made online at www.sedonalibrary.org.

​Sedona Public Library
Column for February 9, 2018
Written by Elizabeth Cate, Collection Development Librarian