The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate ; illustrations by Patricia Castelao has been awarded the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature for the year 2013. This heart-moving tale about a captive silverback gorilla was inspired by a true story. Ivan has spent 27 years of his life at The Big Top Mall, a cheap roadside circus attraction, confined to an enclosure of glass, metal, and concrete. He has become numb to his existence, watching TV, dabbling with art, and eating food thrown to him. Bob, a spunky dog, and Stella, an aging elephant are his only friends and companions. Ivan's melancholy life begins to change, however, when Ruby, a young vibrant elephant appears on the scene and Stella dies from neglect. Stella's dying plea to Ivan is help Ruby escape.

Awards season is upon us and here are your 2013 Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards:

Author Award:
"Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America" by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Author Honor Books:
"Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson

"No Crystal Stair:  A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller" by Vonda Micheaux Nelson

Illustrator Award:
"I, Too, Am America" illustrated by Bryan Collier

Illustrator Honor Books:
"H.O.R.S.E." illustrated by Christopher Myers

Along with the 2013 Caldecott Medal Winner, the 2013 Caldecott Honor books have also been announced. This year five picture books were selected to receive the Caldecott Honor. Those five recipients are:

Creepy carrots! by words, Aaron Reynolds ; pictures, Peter Brown

Extra yarn by Mac Barnett ; illustrated by Jon Klassen

This Is Not My Hat, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, has been awarded the 2013 Caldecott Medal. Klassen's story of a little fish, a big fish, a stolen hat and the consequences that follow is told through spare text and simple, yet clever illustrations. This award-winner will have kids and parents turning the pages over and over to enjoy both the story and the artwork.

If you like romance, happy endings, and ongoing stories like Debbie Macomber's Blossom Street or Emily March's Eternity Springs series try…

Little night [large print] by Luanne Rice

Coming home [large print] by Karen Kingsbury

Larkspur Cove [Large print] by Lisa Wingate

Looking for some paranormal adventure mixed with a little romance? Try one of these books:

Daughter of smoke & bone by Laini Taylor

The Raven Boys [sound recording] by Maggie Stiefvater

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

The iron king by Julie Kagawa

Kia Dupree writes dramatic, intense Urban Fiction. Try some of these if you like Shattered:

The coldest winter ever by Sister Souljah

Push by Sapphire

Section 8: a hood rat novel by K'wan

The road to grace [large print]: the third journal of the walk series by Richard Paul Evans

What doesn't kill you [large print] by Iris Johansen

The beginner's goodbye [large print] by Anne Tyler

The hunter [large print]: a novel by John Lescroart

...here are more books with family secrets lurking in British manor houses.

Chapter 1: The Assembly

“They have failed when we needed them the most,” The old man said in a loud voice. “We must get another group to fulfill this mission and save the universe. We must do this! Are you all with me? This mission must be done. We alone can't stop this, but the right group - only the bravest, smartest, strongest, and most skillful - can stop the sun from exploding.”

In a raspy voice a white clocked man said “yessss, this group mussst be able to get to Sssaturn and get the plassmetic ray ssstaff and sssave the universsse.”

“Do you allow this, high council,” asked a black cloaked man.

“We do,” said the high council at the same time.

“Then, commence operation!”

Location: High Head Quarters, also known as HHQ -

“Sir, we must talk,” said Commander Bob.

“Yes, Commander Bob,” Said Leader Kern.

“We have been approved about the operation. The high council agreed.”

“WHAT? Why would they?

I stared at my toes wiggling in the sand, feeling the wind tug at my loosely braided blond hair when I felt it. I felt a poke in my back. I turned around, having some ridiculous hope that it was a crewmember from the cruise ship. But why would it be? That cruise ship left me stranded here on Gale Island a week ago, taking my parents and everyone else with it. Sadly, it also took my twin brother Adam, too. Adam was the only person that could understand me, and I was the only person that could understand him. Of course, we both had good friends, but we were best friends because we were so much alike. He loved adventures as much as I did, and we always snuck off to get into trouble. I really wished he was there. But, of course no person was there. It was a bottle. It must have fallen from the sand dunes, I thought. I picked up the bottle and gave it a once over. I took a double take. There was a piece of paper coiled up inside!

As we moved on to the next trial, I found myself checking everywhere around me in anticipation. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, we came to a gigantic gold door encrusted in jewels. Cautiously I pushed on it, it swung open, and it was surprisingly light. Raising my sword I walked in and saw… a sea of teddy bears blocking the exit.

Seriously, I’m not kidding. It was a circular room probably about 20 paces across and it was split into two sections, one was where Jonah and I were standing and the other side was a pit filled with an assortment of stuffed Kittens, Puppies, and teddy bears. They were all smiling so wide it made me want to throw up because of the happiness. I turned around expecting to see Jonah’s face puffing up as he tried not to laugh, but instead I saw a face full of fear. I tried so hard not to laugh that I must have looked like I poked my head in a beehive and got a face full of hurt.

Check out the pieces submitted during the fall 2012 Tween Creative Writing Series.  Developed by a local Creative Writing Masters student, the kids were encouraged to stretch their writing skills and think outside the box.  Thanks to all of those that attended and took part.    

• STRANDED by Alaina S.
• Cosmetic Power by Surya B.
• The Bane of Telsamon by Nolan W.

Oscar Wilde and the Vatican murders by Gyles Brandreth

Kill my darling: a Bill Slider mystery by Cynthia Harrod -Eagles

Back in the habit: a Falcone & Driscoll investigation by Alice Loweecey

The last minute by Jeff Abbott

The Canton Seniors Book Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from 2:00-3:00 PM in Group Study Room A. We meet every month except December. Adult Services librarians, Elaine Skrzynski and Joyce Simowski, alternate leading the discussion. Copies of the discussion book are distributed at the monthly meeting or ask for a copy at the Adult Services Help Desk.

On Thursday, January 10 at Noon we will be discussing:

The shadow of the wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón — Barcelona, 1945 — just after the war, Daniel awakes on his eleventh birthday to find that he can no longer remember his mother's face. To console him, Daniel's widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again. Daniel's father coaxes him to choose a volume from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the novel he selects, The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax's work.

Canton Seniors Book Group meets on Thursday, January 24 at 2:00-3:00 PM in Canton Public Library's Group Study Room A. Copies of this month's book will be available after December 27. We will be discussing:

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Like adventure, action, and suspense in your books? Try one of these:

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Theodosia Throckmorton and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers

Shipwreck by Gordon Korman