California Young Reader Medal
The California Young Reader Medal is a set of five annual literary awards conferred upon picture books and fiction books selected by vote of California schoolchildren from a ballot prepared by committee. The program was established in 1974 with Intermediate, Primary, and Young Adult Medals that were inaugurated in 1975, 1976, and 1977 and were conferred biennially, and annually beginning in 1983. The program is intended to encourage recreational reading and is sponsored by four organizations that promote reading and literacy: the California Association of Teachers of English, the California Library Association, the California Reading Association, and the California School Library Association. There are five medals, last modified for 2002: Primary (grades K-3), Intermediate (grades 3–6), Middle School/Junior High (grades 6–9), Young Adult (grades 9–12), and Picture Books for Older Readers (grades 4 and up)—that is, roughly age 10 and up. Both writer and illustrator receive t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Picture Books
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The images in picture books can be produced in a range of media, such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor, and pencil. Picture books often serve as pedagogical resources, aiding with children's language development or understanding of the world. Three of the earliest works in the format of modern picture books are Heinrich Hoffmann's ''Struwwelpeter'' from 1845, Benjamin Rabier's ''Tintin-Lutin'' from 1898 and Beatrix Potter's ''The Tale of Peter Rabbit'' from 1902. Some of the best-known picture books are Robert McCloskey's ''Make Way for Ducklings'', Dr. Seuss's ''The Cat In The Hat'', and Maurice Sendak's ''Where the Wild Things Are''. The Caldecott Medal (established 1938) is awarded annually for the best American picture book. Since the mid ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Wilson Rawls
Woodrow Wilson Rawls (September 24, 1913 – December 16, 1984) was an American writer best known for his books '' Where the Red Fern Grows'' and ''Summer of the Monkeys''. Early years Woodrow Wilson Rawls was born in Oklahoma in 1913. When Rawls was 16, the United States economy entered the Great Depression, prompting his family to leave their Oklahoma home for California; however, the family's convertible broke down near Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Rawls's father found a job at the nearby toothpaste factory. In the 1930s and 1940s, Rawls became a carpenter and traveled to South America, Canada, and Alaska. He wrote five manuscripts during this period, including ''Where the Red Fern Grows''. Rawls's scripts contained many spelling and grammatical errors and no punctuation. Because of this, he kept the manuscripts hidden in a trunk in his father's workshop. Rawls served time in prison twice while in Oklahoma. In 1940, in New Mexico, he again served time for breaking and ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Paula Danziger
Paula Danziger (August 18, 1944 – July 8, 2004) was an American children's author. She wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut ''The Cat Ate My Gymsuit'', for children's and young adult audiences. At the time of her death, all her books were still in print; they had been published in 53 countries and translated into 14 languages. Life Birth and family Paula Danziger was born August 14, 1944, to Samuel and Carolyn Danziger. A younger brother, Barry, was born in 1947. Education and early career The Danziger family lived in Nutley, New Jersey, and Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, before settling in Metuchen, New Jersey, when Paula was in sixth grade. In an interview with ''BookPage'', she said: "At age 12, I was put on tranquilizers when I should have gotten help. There was nothing major and awful. I just didn't feel y familywas supportive and emotionally generous. My father was a very unhappy person, very sarcastic, and my mother asvery nervous and worried abou ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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There's A Bat In Bunk Five
''There’s a Bat in Bunk Five'' (1980) is a young adult novel written by Paula Danziger. Plot summary In this sequel to ''The Cat Ate My Gymsuit'', Marcy Lewis finds herself as a counselor in training at the summer camp near Woodstock, New York run by her former English teacher, Ms. Finney, whom Marcy has missed after Ms. Finney had been fired from her job. Marcy not only has to deal with the sudden attentions of Ted, her new boyfriend, but when she has to go to Woodstock he starts hanging out with Betty, who has a crush on Ted. Marcy has lost a lot of weight, and is now being noticed by boys. At the camp, she is put in charge of a group of young girls, whom she is expected to shepherd through the beginnings of adolescence. When she finds a bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight tha ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Theodore Taylor (author)
Theodore Langhans Taylor (June 23, 1921 – October 26, 2006) was an American author of more than 50 fiction and non-fiction books for young adult readers, including '' The Cay'', '' The Weirdo'' (winner of the 1992 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery), ''Timothy of the Cay'', and ''The Bomb''. Taylor died on October 26, 2006, in Laguna Beach, California, from complications of a heart attack. Early life Taylor was born in Stateville, North Carolina where he lived until he was 10. He then resided in Craddock, North Carolina. He dropped out of high school at age 17 and began writing for a living. Career During World War II Taylor served in the United States Merchant Marines. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. Taylor worked as a press agent connected with the American film industry and wrote on the side. Early in his career he wrote fiction and non-fiction works aimed at adults. It was not until The Cay he started writing works aimed at youths. Not ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lois Duncan
Lois Duncan Steinmetz (April 28, 1934 – June 15, 2016), known as Lois Duncan, was an American writer, novelist, poet, and journalist. She is best known for her young-adult novels, and has been credited by historians as a pioneering figure in the development of young-adult fiction, particularly in the genres of horror, thriller, and suspense. The daughter of professional photographers Lois and Joseph Janney Steinmetz, Duncan began writing at a young age, publishing two early novels under the pen name Lois Kerry. Several of her novels, including ''Hotel for Dogs'' (1971), ''I Know What You Did Last Summer'' (1973), '' Summer of Fear'' (1976), and the controversial ''Killing Mr. Griffin'' (1978), have been adapted into films. In addition to her novels and children's books, Duncan published several collections of poetry and nonfiction, including ''Who Killed My Daughter?'' (1992), which detailed the 1989 unsolved murder of Duncan's teenaged daughter, Kaitlyn. She received the 199 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Tiger Eyes
''Tiger Eyes'' is a young adult novel written by Judy Blume in 1981 about a 15-year-old girl attempting to cope with the unexpected death of her father. In 2012, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Judy's son, Lawrence Blume, and starring Willa Holland as Davey Wexler. Davey is often sad, depressed and defensive on everything. She has a short breakdown at her brother, Jason. Her mom becomes incapable of doing things about the house, making Davey more depressed. Plot summary Davis “Davey” Wexler, along with her mother, Gwen, and her little brother, Jason, have just attended the funeral of her father, Adam, who was shot to death in a holdup at their 7-Eleven convenience store in Atlantic City. After lying in bed for days on end and not eating, Davey starts her tenth year of school, but faints on her first day from anxiety. She goes for a checkup, and the doctor explains Davey is having panic attacks. Davey's mother, Gwen, decides they need t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Judy Blume
Judith Blume ( née Sussman; born February 12, 1938) is an American writer of children's, young adult and adult fiction. Blume began writing in 1959 and has published more than 25 novels. Among her best-known works are '' Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret'' (1970), ''Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing'' (1972), '' Deenie'' (1973), and '' Blubber'' (1974). Blume's books have significantly contributed to children's and young adult literature. Blume was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and graduated from New York University in 1961. As an attempt to entertain herself in her role as a homemaker, Blume began writing stories."Judy Blume (1938–)." The American Women's Almanac: 500 Years of Making History', Deborah G. Felder, Visible Ink Press, 1st edition, 2020. Accessed 10 December 2020. Blume has been married three times. As of 2020, she had three children and one grandson. Blume was one of the first young adult authors to write some of her novels focused on teenagers abou ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Superfudge
''Superfudge'' is a children's novel by Judy Blume, published in 1980. It is the sequel to ''Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing'' and ''Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great'' and is the third in the Fudge series. Plot The Hatcher family has a new baby daughter in the beginning. Several months before they temporarily move from New York City to Princeton, New Jersey, she is born, named Tamara Roxanne, and called "The Baby" for weeks. Peter's 4-year-old brother, Fudge, is extremely jealous of her, who earns the nickname "Tootsie" from their mother Ann's cute speak and their grandmother Muriel's favorite old song. Peter deals with the fallout from Fudge's various problems, which include a spat with his teacher who refuses to use the name "Fudge". When she refuses to do so, he kicks her in the shin. He also attempts to get rid of Tootsie and is famous for his constant desire to involve himself in Peter's activities, especially with Peter's new friend, Alex Santo. In the end, the Hatche ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Mercer Mayer
Mercer Mayer (born December 30, 1943) is an American children's author and illustrator. He has published over 300 books, using a wide range of illustrative styles. Mayer is best known for his ''Little Critter'' and ''Little Monster'' series of books. Life and career Mayer was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. His father was in the United States Navy, so the family moved many times during his childhood before settling in Honolulu, Hawaii. There, Mayer graduated from high school in 1961. While attending school at the Honolulu Museum of Art, Mayer decided to enter the field of children's book illustration. To that end, he created a portfolio of sketches and peddled them wherever he could. Though his professors feared the young artist would never be good enough to make a living as an illustrator, Mayer was not dissuaded. Mayer moved from Hawaii to New York City in 1964, pursuing further instruction at the Art Students League of New York, where he met an artist named Marianna who beca ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ellen Conford
Ellen Conford (March 20, 1942 – March 20, 2015) was an author for children and young adults. Among her writings are the ''Annabel the Actress'' and ''Jenny Archer'' series. Her books have won the Best Book of the Year Citation, Best Book of the International Interest Citation, Best Book of the Year for Children, Parents' Choice Award, and more. Several of her stories have been adapted for television, sometimes by Conford herself. Her children's book ''And This is Laura'' and the story ''Revenge of the Incredible Dr. Rancid and His Youthful Assistant, Jeffrey'' became ABC Weekend Specials, while her young adult novels ''Dear Lovey Hart, I Am Desperate'' became an ABC Afterschool Special and ''The Alfred G. Graebner Memorial High School Handbook of Rules and Regulations'' was a CBS Schoolbreak Special. Born in New York City, New York, Conford attended Hofstra College from 1959 to 1962. She died on March 20, 2015, her 73rd birthday. Bibliography Novels *''Dreams of Victor ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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James Marshall (author)
James Edward Marshall (October 10, 1942 – ) was an American illustrator and writer of children's books, probably best known for the '' George and Martha'' series of picture books (1972–1988). He illustrated books exclusively as James Marshall; when he created both text and illustrations he sometimes wrote as Edward Marshall. In 2007, the U.S. professional librarians posthumously awarded him the bi-ennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for "substantial and lasting contribution" to American children's literature. Life and death James Marshall was born in 1942, in San Antonio, Texas, where he grew up on his family's 85-acre farm. His father worked on the railroad and had a band. His mother sang in the local church choir. The family later moved to Beaumont, Texas. Marshall said: "Beaumont is deep south and swampy and I hated it. I knew I would die if I stayed there so I diligently studied the viola, and eventually won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory in Boston." H ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |