This year, a new award was created by the Illinois School Library Media Association.  The Bluestem Award, named for the Illinois state prairie grass Big Bluestem, is designed for children in Grades 3-5. Here is the list of books that have been nominated for this year. The books are located on our School Assignments shelf.  Check one out today!

Tired of the snow?  Warm up with a look back at all the fun we had at the Monster Truck Birthday Bash in August!! Various trucks filled our parking lot, including tractors, emergency vehicles, construction rigs and even a souped up Monster truck called Mechanical Mischief!

The Triple Threat Band entertained us with a mix of songs from the 70s to today.  We even had a visit from Bob the Builder! Thanks for participating in this fun event. We hope you had as much fun as we did!  

Here's the Flickr set for all the pictures.

From February 14 through February 28 we will be collecting gently–used, formal dresses for the Glass Slipper Project. This charity has helped over 10,000 young women attend proms.  Please bring dresses on a hanger to the lobby of the library.  Dresses need to be less than five years old, tea length or longer, clean and in good condition.  You can learn more about this organization by visiting http://www.glassslipperproject.org/ . 

Every January at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, the top books, audiobooks and videos for children and young adults are chosen.  The two awards that you may be familiar with are the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature, and the Randolph Caldecott Medal, for the most distinguished picture book for children. 

Here are the recently announced winners:

 John Newbery Medal  

"When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

Randolph Caldecott Medal

"The Lion and the Mouse" by Jerry Pinkney

 
For the Coretta Scott King Award winner and the other prize winners, please visit the American Library Association website.
Congratulations to all the winners!