In New York City on May 2nd the Children's Book Council will announce the fourth annual Children's Choice Book Awards. One would think that a Taylor Swift - Kanye West drama would never occur at a celebration of children's authors and illustrators. However, last year there was what some people call the Knuffle Scuffle when the Knuffle Bunny creator, Mo Willems forcibly ejected the former Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Jon Scieszka from the stage after Scieszka, in a Kayne West maneuver, tried to hijack the ceremony.
Who Will Kids Choose as Author of the Year?
One can only wonder, if at this year ceremony there will be Scieszka/Krosoczka Hijinks. Jarrett J. Kroscoczka, whose book Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute (Knopf/Random House) won last year in the third and fourth grade category, has been tapped as this year's host.
The event is one that has publishers protecting their authors and illustrators from admiring librarians, teachers and other kid lit fans. This year the celebrity line-up will include Laurie Halse Anderson, author of author of Speak (Farrar Straus Giroux) and Chains (Atheneum), Eloise creator Hilary Knight, Clare Vanderpool, winner of the 2011 Newbery Medal for Moon Over Manifest (Delacorte), Erin E. Stead, winner of the 2011 Caldecott Medal for A Sick Day for Amos McGee (Roaring Brook), and The National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and beloved storyteller Katherine Paterson. Also, legendary spook-master R.L. Stine and
five-time winner of the
The Children's Book Council (CBC) in association with Every Child A Reader, the CBC Foundation, hosts the annual Children's Choice Book Awards Program with the announcement of 30 finalists in six categories, including Author and Illustrator of the Year. The Children's Choice Book Awards is the only national children's book awards program where winning titles are selected by young readers of all ages. Children and teens are now able to cast their vote for their favorite books, author, and illustrator at bookstores, school libraries, and at www.BookWeekOnline.com until April 29, 2011.