Episode #235: Chop Suey!: ALAYMA, Sprayed Edges, and Banned Book Awards
Welcome back! Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where the discuss the ALA Youth Media Awards, the special effect called sprayed edges, and various news surrounded banned books. And Alison Morris of First Books joins to offer some book recommendations!
Thank you to our newest patreon! Grace’s friends Laurel Snyder joins us! Laurel is the author of many books including Orphan Island and The Witch of Woodland. Thanks for joining our Patreon!
How have you been?
Grace is feeling a little sad about Chinese Menu not winning any awards this year but she also understands that the books that won completely deserve it and were FABULOUS! Grace has been talking to We Need Diverse Books about a charity project and will be doing a painting a month and then auctioning them off. 100% of the proceeds will go to Diverse Books. Grace will grab a fortune cookie and illustrate whatever the fortune says! The auction is called Good Fortune!
Alvina has been busy back into the work swing of things for the year. In the last month or two, Grace has been in the throws of perimenopause.
Chop Suey! Topic #1: ALA Awards!
Little Brown is celebrating the ALA Youth Media Awards! Little Brown won the Caldecott medal for BIG and Vashti Harrison is the first black woman to win the Caldecott and only the second woman of color to win the award. (Next to Michaela Goade). Vashti also won the CSK Author Award honor and a CSK Illustrator Award honor.
2024 Odyssey Awards for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Children and Young Adults: Chinese Menu won an Honors Odyssey Award!
The Newbery Medal went to Dave Eggers for his book, The Eyes of the Impossible. Illustrated by Shawn Harris.
Caldecott Honors:
Jovita Wore Pants by Aida Salazar and illustrated by Molly Mendoza
There Was a Party for Langston illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds
The Truth About Dragons illustrated by Hanna Cha, written by Julie Leung
Newbery Honors:
Eagle Drums written and illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson
Elf Dog and Owl Head written by M.T. Anderson, illustrated by Junyi Wu
MexiKid: A Graphic Memoir written by Pedro Martín
Simon Sort of Says written by Erin Bow
The Many Assassinations of Samir, The Seller of Dreams written by Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Daniel Miyares
Chop Suey Topic #2: Sprayed Edges
Grace and Alvina talk about their feelings on sprayed edges on printed books!
Chop Suey Topic #3: Book Banning Award
Grace talks about the “inaugural winners of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature, authors who have championed intellectual freedom and the fight against censorship.”
Publishing News: U.S. appeals court blocks Texas law that could ban or restrict library books!
Authors Against Book Bans! Grace has joined their informational meeting.
2024 Book Recommendations from Alison Morris!
Grown-up book!: The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman
Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Leuyen Pham
The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
Gratefuls
Alison is grateful that most of the time her health is pretty good! Grace is grateful for her health too and that her family is really healthy! Alvina is grateful for her health too (piggy backing!) and grateful for her nail color that brings her joy and also for Alison’s book recommendations.
Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio for producing and editing this podcast. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)
You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on Twitter and TikTok and @Alvinaling on Instagram and Threads, @alvinaling on BlueSky
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Instagram and Threads, @authorgracelin on Facebook, @gracelinauthor on TikTok, and @authorgracelin on BlueSky Social!
You can find Alison Morris on Instagram @kidlitgirl and @Alisonlmorris on Twitter
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