ANNOUNCEMENT: 2018 Golden Kite Award and Sid Fleishman Humor Award

SOCIETY OF CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS TO PRESENT 2018 GOLDEN KITE AWARDS AND SID FLEISCHMAN HUMOR AWARD AT 17th ANNUAL NEW YORK WINTER CONFERENCE New Talents and Internationally Recognized Names Claim Top Spots LOS ANGELES, January 2018 – The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) announced the winners and honor recipients of the annual Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Awards. The Golden Kites are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers. The Awards recognize excellence in children’s literatures in six categories: Young Reader and Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Picture Book Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction for Older Readers, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration. The Sid Fleischman Award is for exemplary writing for children in the genre of humor. The awards will be presented at a star-studded gala during the New York Winter Conference on Friday, February 2 at 7pm at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Featured guest Chelsea Clinton, humanitarian advocate and children’s author, will make a special presentation at the event at 7pm. SCBWI Executive Director, Lin Oliver, said about this year’s winners. “The 2017 Golden Kite winning books were chosen from a field of over 1,000 entries, and show the diversity of creative views, topics and approaches that are re-defining our industry. We send congratulations to the creators of these outstanding books and thanks to the judges who selected them.” GOLDEN KITE AWARD WINNERS Middle Grade Fiction: Jack Cheng - SEE YOU IN THE COSMOS (Dial Books/Penguin Random House) Non-Fiction for Older Readers: Debora Heiligman - VINCENT AND THEO (Godwin Books/Henry Holt and Company)   Non-Fiction for Younger Readers: Carole Boston Weatherford - SCHOMBURG: THE MAN WHO BUILT A LIBRARY (Candlewick Press)   Picture Book Illustration: Kenard Pak - GOODBYE AUTUMN, HELLO WINTER (Henry Holt and Company) GOLDEN KITE AWARD FOR BEST PICTURE BOOK TEXT Picture Book Text: Carolyn Crimi - THERE MIGHT BE LOBSTERS                                                                                           (Candlewick Press) Young Adult Fiction: Elana K. Arnold – WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF (Carolrhoda Lab/Lerner Publishing) 🙂Sid Fleischman Award Winner:   CRYSTAL ALLEN , THE  Crystal Allen - THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS: THE WALL OF FAME GAME (Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins) GOLDEN KITE HONOR BOOKS Middle Grade Fiction: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - THE WAR I FINALLY WON (Dial Books/Penguin Random House) Ruth Freeman - ONE GOOD THING ABOUT AMERICA (Holiday House)   Picture Book Text: Carmen Agra Deedy- THE ROOSTER WHO WOULD NOT BE QUIET (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, Inc.) Picture Book Illustration: LeUyen Pham - FALLINGWATER (Roaring Brook)   Young Adult Fiction: Courtney Stevens - DRESS CODES FOR SMALL TOWNS (Harper Teen/HarperCollins) Liara Tamani - CALLING MY NAME (Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins) ### About SCBWI The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization which is one of the largest existing organizations for writers and illustrators. It is the only professional organization specifically for those individuals writing and illustrating for children and young adults in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television and multimedia.

Critique with Agent Jen Rofe of Andrea Brown Literary Agency #KidLitForHaiti

 

KID LIT FOR HAITI: Jen is offering a critique of the first five pages of a manuscript (PB, MG or YA).

Jennifer Rofé is my agent (I love saying that!), and I can tell you first hand—her editorial suggestions will make your story sparkle! I attended SCBWI conferences for years and years. After attending Jen’s workshops, having a handful of face-to-face meetings and spending a lot of time stalking researching Jen’s style and sales, my BIG goal was to score Jen as my agent—Dreams come true! It took five years of learning, trying and honing my craft until I finally got “the phone call” and landed on team-Jen (well worth the wait!) I suspect the glasses Jen wears aren’t just any old specs—they have magic—Jen can see right into your story and help guide you with what works and what doesn’t. I remember when I was researching Jen, I landed on a post by Crystal Allen (author of one of my favorite books HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA SIZED TROPHY.)  In Crystal’s post she talks about how Jen is an editorial agent and her editorial notes urged Crystal to dig deeper, go bigger, write stronger. In the end, Jen got Crystal a six figure deal because Crystal wrote a story that is laugh-out-loud funny, full of heart and drama and jampacked with VOICE. Another one of Jen’s big-time clients is Meg Medina, and if you haven’t yet read her 2014 Pura Belpré Award Winning book YAQUI DELGADO WANTS TO KICK YOUR ASS (Candlewick), then you need to stop reading this blog, race your bookstore and buy this book. 

Jen represents projects ranging from picture books to YA. Middle grade is her soft spot and she’s open to all genres in this category, especially the tender, hilarious, or zany. She is always looking for fresh and distinct voices; stories that simultaneously tug at her heartstrings and make her laugh out loud; and “adorkable” heroes. As for YA, Jen is drawn to contemporary works; dramatic, funny, or cringe-worthy romance; and urban fantasy/light sci-fi. She’s especially interested in smart stories that are layered, complex, and unexpected, and she appreciates big, developed worlds. In terms of picture books, she is interested in character-driven projects and smart, exceptional writing. Jennifer also represents illustrators and author-illustrators.

Critique with Jen: You are bidding on a five page critique to be received via email. If you win, please format your manuscript in Times Roman, double spaced with one inch margins.

How do I bid? This auction item has closed

Place your bid in the comment section at the bottom of this blog post by increasing the previous bid by a minimum of $10. Please include information about how I may contact you if you are the winning bidder; If I haven't contacted you immediately following the auction, please reach out to me at ktomsic@gmail.com . Questions can also be posted in the comment section below.

When does this particular auction item close?

**This Auction will close on December 13, 2014** Last bid will be accepted at 11:59PM Mountain Standard Time (MST) 11:59 PM mountain time = 10:59 PM Pacific Time= 12:59am next day Central Time=1:59am next day Eastern Time This auction item has closed

What happens next?

I will contact the winning bidder (as long as you remembered to provide your contact information!). You will make your donation at this donation link and then you will email a copy of your receipt to me at ktomsic@gmail.com Then I will put you in touch with Jen.

What are other items on the Kid Lit for Hait (#KidLitForHaiti) Auction?

To Visit a full list of all the auction items featured on Kid Lit for Haiti: PLEASE CLICK HERE

How do I know when new auction items are posted to this blog:

You can receive emails when new auction items are listed. Simply enter your email address in the upper left corner of this blog where it says "Follow by email". You will only receive an email when a new post is created on this blog.

Want to know more? Here are some of Jen's clients and their books:

Meg Medina
SUNSET COLORA (Candlewick, forthcoming)
YAQUI DELGADO WANTS TO KICK YOUR ASS (Candlewick), *Pura Belpré Award Winner 2014*
THE GIRL WHO COULD SILENCE THE WIND (Candlewick)
TIA ISA WANTS A CAR (Candlewick), Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award 2012
MILAGROS, GIRL FROM AWAY (Holt)

Eliza Wheeler - Author-Illustrator
LEFT-HANDED FATE by Kate Milford, illustrations (Holt, forthcoming)
TELL ME A TATTOO STORY by Alison McGhee, illustrations (Chronicle, forthcoming)
OUR BABY by Varsha Baja, illustrations (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin, forthcoming)
NOT EVEN CODY and CODY AND THE MEEN KIDS by Tricia Springstubb, illustrations (Candlewick, forthcoming)
WHEREVER YOU GO by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrations (Little, Brown Children's, forthcoming)
INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN Books IV, V by Maryrose Wood, illustrations (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)
THE GRUDGE KEEPER by Mara Rockliff, illustrations (Peachtree)
DOLL BONES by Holly Black, illustrations (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)
MISS MAPLE'S SEEDS, author-illustrator (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin)

Mike Boldt - Author-Illustrator
I DON'T WANT TO BE A FROG by Dev Petty, illustrations (Doubleday/Random House, forthcoming)
COLORS VERSUS SHAPES (HarperCollins, forthcoming)
TIARA-SAURUS REX by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illustrations (Bloomsbury, forthcoming)
GET ME ANOTHER ONE by Robert Munsch, illustrations (Scholastic Canada)
ODE TO UNDERWEAR by Helaine Becker, illustrations (Scholastic Canada)
LITTLE JACK HORNER, LIVE FROM THE CORNER by Helaine Becker, illustrations (Scholastic Canada)
123 VERSUS ABC (HarperCollins)

Joy Preble
FINDING PARIS (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, forthcoming)
THE SWEET DEAD LIFE series (Soho Press)
The DREAMING ANASTASIA trilogy (Sourcebooks)

Kathryn Fitzmaurice
DESTINY, REWRITTEN (HarperCollins)
A DIAMOND IN THE DESERT (Viking/Penguin)
THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY (HarperCollins)

Crystal Allen
THE LAURA LINE (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)
HOW LAMAR'S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA SIZED TROPHY (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)

Barry Wolverton
THE VANISHING ISLAND trilogy (Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins, forthcoming)
NEVERSINK (Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins)

Bob Boyle
ROSIE & REX (HarperCollins)

Lauren Strasnick
THEN YOU WERE GONE (Simon Pulse/S&S)
HER AND ME AND YOU (Simon Pulse/S&S)
NOTHING LIKE YOU (Simon Pulse/S&S)

Denise Doyen
ONCE UPON A TWICE (Random House), *E.B. White Read Aloud Honor*

Samantha Vamos
ALPHABET TRAINS (Charlesbridge, forthcoming)
ALPHABET TRUCKS (Charlesbridge)
THE CAZUELA THAT THE FARM MAIDEN STIRRED (Charlesbridge), *Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor*
BEFORE YOU WERE HERE, MI AMOR (Viking/Penguin)

Brandi Dougherty
RECIPE FOR ADVENTURE Books 5-8 with celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis (Grosset & Dunlap/Penguin, forthcoming)
THE LITTLEST ELF (Scholastic)
THE LITTLEST CHRISTMAS STAR (Scholastic)
MISS FORTUNE (Scholastic)

Nick James
SKYSHIP ACADEMY trilogy (Flux)

Kim Tomsic

THE ELEPHANTS CAME (Chronicle 2017)

Diversity in YA Fiction

"Diversity in YA Fiction is a website and book tour founded by two young adult authors, Malinda Lo and Cindy Pon, to celebrate diverse stories in YA."

I came across Diversity in YA Fiction on Twitter (@cindypon). She posted a challenge to take the DiYA reading challenge:

" What to read: You can read whichever diverse books you like! By diverse we mean: (1) main characters or major secondary characters (e.g., a love interest or best friend kind of character) who are of color or are LGBT; or (2) written by a person of color or LGBT author. If you need some suggestions, check out our monthly lists of new books, and these book lists at Black Teens Read."

My "Diversity" Reading Experience:
I grew up in a military family. We moved from base to base and diversity was the consistent norm. Although the classroom rosters included a good number of students who were Latino, Korean, Vietnamese, Black, White, etc., I only saw--Hong, the prettiest girl in school;or Addie, oh, so funny, or Nanae, super-good at basketball... I want on her team; or Jason, will he look at me today or is he crushing on Hong. Sure, attention was given to labels like rich and poor, but we never wasted time on color. I honestly thought my school, my world was a microcosm of how all communities functioned. It wasn't until after I graduated college that I discovered my experiences were unique.  By taking the Diversity in YA challenge, I enjoyed getting lost in the texture and color of different worlds now that I live in a white-washed community.   Reading expands teens' horizons and experiences. Just like I thought everyone grew up with diversity, there are those who may have limited exposure to diversity and in turn they believe their world is the norm. Thank goodness for authors like Matt de la Pena and Sherman Alexie (and Cindy Pon and Malinda Lo) who set us straight while entertaining.

Some recommendations to add to the suggested reading list include:
We Were Here by Matt de la Peña
How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen
A Single Shard by Lin Sue Park
Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Peña
Ball Don't Lie by Matt de la Peña
Paris Pan Takes the Dare by Cynthea Liu
The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Same Kind of Different As Me (not technically a YA or MG read, but still recommended) by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

What are additional titles that should be added to this list?

How Lamar's Bad Prank won the NEWBERY a book review by Kim Tomsic

Middle schooler, Lamar, is an Indiana boy trying to convince the Hoosier-cult community that bowling is better than basketball. But he's also trying to achieve a lot more...

Synopsis"Thirteen-year-old Lamar Washington is the maddest, baddest, most spectacular bowler at Striker's Bowling Paradise. But while Lamar's a whiz at rolling strikes, he always strikes out with girls. And his brother, Xavier the Basketball Savior, is no help. Xavier earns trophy after trophy on the basketball court and soaks up Dad's attention, leaving no room for Lamar's problems.

Until bad boy Billy Jenks convinces Lamar that hustling at the alley will help him win his dream girl, plus earn him enough money to buy an expensive pro ball and impress celebrity bowler Bubba Sanders. But when Billy's scheme goes awry, Lamar ends up ruining his brother's shot at college and every relationship in his life. Can Lamar figure out how to mend his broken ties, no matter what the cost?


From debut author Crystal Allen comes an unforgettable story of one boy's struggle to win his family's respect and get the girl of his dreams while playing the sport he loves."

Author Crystal Allen definitely handled her business and  HOW LAMAR'S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY seems like a no-brainer for the Newbery (ALA's top award for children's literature). This middle grade novel is laugh-out-loud funny, full of heart and drama,  and packed with voice, v o I C E, VOICE. I can picture writing coaches using Crystal Allen's style as an example of snappy writing, because she is outrageously clever and the master of  many creative elements, like a  Spunk and Bite How-To. The zippy language of Allen's debut book will entertain you on the level of Savvy (a previous Newbery winner) while tugging the same emotional cords as When You Reach Me (oh, what?...another Newbery winner).

PREDICTIONS: Not only do I predict a Newbery nod (as well as a Sid Fleishman Award), but I also predict a blockbuster movie. Lamar has the flavor of Chris Rock's Everybody hates Chris and will win the same audience as Wimpy Kid.  Anyone who reads Lamar's tale and actually claims they don't love it must be drinking  "Haterade." Why? Because How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy is "shut-yo' mouth" good.

5 out of 5 lollipop rating

It's "shut-yo' mouth" good!

How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba Sized Trophy (Balzer and Bray February, 2011) by Crystal Allen $16.99 ISBN-13: 9780061992728 and ISBN: 0061992720
Purchasing Links:Barnes and Noble
Tattered Cover
Indie Bound
Boulder Book Store
Amazon