For starters, you can escape the dreary weather at the movie theater. The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's bestselling fantasy series, comes to the big screen on February 14th. In addition to reading the chapter books and seeing the fantastical film, you can indulge in even more Spiderwick fun with special movie tie-in books. This certainly is one way to beat the mid-winter blues!

If you like the magical world of faeries presented in The Spiderwick Chronicles, then you'll be fascinated by RUNEMARKS, award-winning author Joanne Harris's fantasy debut. A daring heroine, lots of mythical creatures and plenty of adventure make this a book you won't be able to put down.

We also have a new installment in the Geronimo Stilton series, VALLEY OF THE GIANT SKELETONS, in which Geronimo is off in search of ancient treasure. What an adventure!

You'll LOVE reading all about the winners of this year's American Library Association (ALA) Awards that were announced last month. We've had them up on Kidsreads.com for a while. If you missed them, be sure to see a listing of the winning titles and honor books later in this newsletter. As usual, this year brought lots of surprises and shed light on some truly outstanding books.

And last but certainly not least, we spotlight a few titles in our Cool New Books and New in Paperback roundups that are perfect to read and reflect on during Black History Month, that special time of the year when we honor the numerous achievements of African Americans and the contributions they've made throughout history. Our featured books include FREEDOM TRAIN by Evelyn Coleman; NIGHT RUNNING: How James Escaped with the Help of His Faithful Dog, by Elisa Carbone; THE ROAD TO PARIS by Nikki Grimes; and WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball, by Kadir Nelson.

Here's wishing you a wonderful February filled with lots of memorable reads. And Happy Valentine's Day to YOU! This newsletter is our own special valentine to you!

Carol Fitzgerald for Kidsreads.com

Celebrate the movie's release with special edition books that will give you an insider's view of the faerie world as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film. Check out the adventure from Thimbletack's point of view, create your own field guide, learn how to protect your home against unfriendly creatures, and much more. Have a blast interacting with these fantastical titles!

-Click here to see the Spiderwick movie tie-in books.

-Click here to read an excerpt from RUNEMARKS.

The Newbery Medal was named for 18th-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

-This year's winner of the John Newbery Medal is GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES! Voices from a Medieval Village written by Laura Amy Schlitz and illustrated by Robert Byrd. 

-Three Newbery Honor Books were named: ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis, FEATHERS by Jacqueline Woodson and THE WEDNESDAY WARS by Gary D. Schmidt.

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, established by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2001 with support from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois.

-This year's winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is THE WALL: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain written and illustrated by Peter Sis.

-Two Robert F. Sibert Honor Books were named: LIGHTSHIP written and illustrated by Brian Floca and NIC BISHOP SPIDERS written and illustrated by Nic Bishop.

The Coretta Scott King Award is given to an African American author and an African American illustrator for an outstandingly inspirational and educational contribution. The books promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream. The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

-This year's winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award is ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis.

-Two Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books were named: NOVEMBER BLUES by Sharon M. Draper and TWELVE ROUNDS TO GLORY: The Story of Muhammad Ali written by Charles R. Smith Jr. and illustrated by Bryan Collier.

-This year's winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award is LET IT SHINE: Three Favorite Spirituals written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan.

-Two Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books were named: JAZZ ON A SATURDAY NIGHT written and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, and THE SECRET OLIVIA TOLD ME written by N. Joy and illustrated by Nancy Devard.

-The winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Author Talent Award is Sundee T. Frazier, author of BRENDAN BUCKLEY'S UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING IN IT.

The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Three awards each consisting of $5,000 and a framed plaque are given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (ages 0-8), middle school (ages 9-13) and teens (ages 14-18). (Age groupings are approximations.) The book must emphasize the artistic expression of the disability experience for children and/or adolescent audiences. It must portray some aspect of living with a disability or that of a friend or family member, whether the disability is physical, mental or emotional.

-This year's winner of the Schneider Family Picture Book Award is KAMI AND THE YAKS written by Andrea Stenn Stryer and illustrated by Bert Dodson.

-This year's winner of the Schneider Family Middle School Book Award is REACHING FOR SUN by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer.

VALLEY OF THE GIANT SKELETONS: Geronimo Stilton #32 by Geronimo Stilton
When Geronimo's cousin Trap brings him an ancient treasure map, Geronimo finds himself irresistibly drawn into yet another terrifying but exciting adventure --- and this time, he ends up in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

January’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes SMALL STEPS, Louis Sachar's follow-up to his 1998 bestseller HOLES, in which Theodore Johnson (aka Armpit) tries to turn his life around following his release from Camp Green Lake; GOSSAMER, a contemporary fantasy from two-time Newbery Medal winner Lois Lowry that examines the origins of our dreams and nightmares; SWORDBIRD, a captivating tale full of adventure, bravery, heroism and a fascinating bird world created by teenage author Nancy Yi Fan; FRAMED, in which Frank Cottrell Boyce --- who wrote the award-winning novel MILLIONS --- tells the story of a boy who reminds an entire town of the power of art; and Nikki Grimes’s THE ROAD TO PARIS, a Coretta Scott King Honor book about a foster child who is half black and trying to adjust to life in a town that is mostly white.

ELEVEN by Patricia Reilly Giff
Sam is almost 11 when he discovers a locked box in the attic above his grandfather Mack’s room, and a piece of paper that says he was kidnapped. There are lots of other words, but Sam has always had trouble reading. He’s desperate to find out who he is, and if his beloved Mack is really his grandfather. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE SEEMS: THE GLITCH IN SLEEP by John Hulme and Michael Wexler
Twelve-year-old Becker Drane works as a Fixer for The Seems, a secret organization that ensures our world keeps running --- and more importantly, sticks to The Plan that’s been made for it. When a Glitch is reported in the Department of Sleep, Becker is dispatched to Fix it, but he’s not so sure this is a routine mission. Reviewed by Brian Farrey. 

TUNNELS by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
When 14-year-old Will’s father disappears and the police fail to find any leads, Will takes it upon himself to search for clues. That’s when he and his friend, Chester, discover the tunnel hidden behind the bookcase in the cellar. So begins their nightmarish quest, uncovering deeply hidden secrets and running for their lives. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

SWORD QUEST by Nancy Yi Fan  
The formerly enslaved Wind-voice, the half-dove, is now free, and the one-winged archaeopteryx Maldeor hungers for supreme power. Can Wind-voice and his valiant companions --- Ewingerale, the woodpecker scribe; Stormac, the myna warrior; and Fleydur, the musician eagle --- save the future of their world? Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle.

THE FALL OF THE TEMPLAR: Grey Griffins, Book 3 by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis
The Grey Griffins return for their third adventure. However, the future appears bleak and short-lived, as the enemy now controls the spear of Ragnarok and is planning on using it to destroy the world. The Grey Griffins still have a chance to conquer the evil, but first they must venture down into the dangerous depths of the Underworld to retrieve a magical artifact. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

FREEDOM TRAIN by Evelyn Coleman
The year is 1947, and the setting is a segregated South. Twelve-year-old Clyde Thomason has been chosen to recite the Freedom Pledge when the Freedom Train stops in Atlanta. But Clyde has a number of problems: the school bully, stage fright, losing his pet frog, his family’s poverty, and trying to understand right from wrong in an unjust world. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

SLAM DUNK! by Sharon Robinson
Elijah “Jumper” Breeze has survived his first summer in Harlem, and his first summer without his father. Now he faces the sixth grade, which includes a new school, basketball tryouts and running for class representative. Quitting is not an option, but can Jumper juggle all of his new commitments? Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

GHOST LETTERS by Stephen Alter
Present-day Massachusetts and colonial India more than 100 years ago are the settings for this creative space-and-time novel. Long-lost letters, messages in a bottle, a phantom postman, an English genie and a spinster’s skeletal hand that wanders the earth add to the mysterious atmosphere of this ghostly tale. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

THE MAGIC HALF by Annie Barrows
From its charming crème-colored jacket --- with the pale pink roses in the background --- to the final page, THE MAGIC HALF takes readers on a journey through time, with 11-year-old Miri Gill leading the way. Annie Barrows has written a whimsical story that feels just right. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt. 

THE DARING ADVENTURES OF PENHALIGON BRUSH written by S. Jones Rogan  and illustrated by Christian Slade
Penhaligon Brush is a quiet young fox, the trusted apothecary of Ramble-on-the-Water. Little does he know that a letter from his brother will draw him into danger and adventure, and provide the answers to his questions about his own mysterious past. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

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