The Newbery and Caldecott Awards were just announced.  I’ve been discussing in my various school presentations the books that I thought would be winners. Well, “When You Reach Me”, by Rebecca Stead, actually won the medal award! I also picked one of the Caldecott awards, “Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors”, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, and written by Joyce Sidmanby.  It was one of my all-time favorites for beautifully illustrated poetry through the year. (The Newbery Award is geared for ages 9 through 14 and the Caldecott Award is for outstanding picture books).

So here are the winners for both categories: The Newbery Medal winner is “When You Reach Me”, by Rebecca Steadman and the honor winners are “Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice”, by Phillip Hoose, “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon”, by Grace Lin, “The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg”, by Rodman Philbrick and “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate”, by Jacqueline Kelly. (I recently reviewed this last book and loved it.) The Caldecott Medal winner is “The Lion & the Mouse”, illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney. The honor winners are “All the World”, illustrated by Marla Prazee, and written by Liz Garton Scanlon and the aforementioned outstanding poetry book.

Winter is the perfect time of year to read stories out loud as children wind down for the day and get ready to go to sleep. The long dark hours, along with the cold weather, are the right ingredients for bedtime reading. I’ll begin with a favorite type of read aloud story that kids of all ages with love: tall tales. Gullible Gus, by Maxine Rose Schur, and illustrated by Andrew Glass, is just such a tall tale. Gullible Gus is so gullible that the other cowpokes love to tell unbelievable stories just to poke fun at him. He visits a town of liars to cure him of believing everything. The story has three tall tales that are also full of long and interesting words, funny situations and a gullible cowboy kids will cheer on. The pictures are full of humor and the story can easily be read in one or two evening sittings.

Pingo, by the acclaimed duo of Brandon Mull, and illustrated by Brandon Dorman, is a delightful and funny picture book that youngsters ages 4 through 8 will beg to read again and again. Chad has an imaginary friend, Pingo, that goes everywhere and does everything with him until he gets older and doesn’t need Pingo anymore. But Pingo will not have this and begins to trick him at every turn. The antics of Pingo as Chad grows up and old are hilarious and the full page paintings fit perfectly with the storyline.

Tollins: Explosive Tales for Children, by Conn Iggulden, and illustrated by Lizzy Duncan, includes three tales about the tiny Tollins who must fend for themselves now that humans are invading their small world. The stories are exciting, inviting and kids ages 6 and up will look forward to bedtime if this book is read to them!  And the colorful pictures found throughout add to the enjoyment.

Stagecoach Sal, by Deborah Hopkinson, and illustrated by Carson Ellis, is a picture book with the feel of another tall tale. Sally ends up driving the stagecoach and encounters a dangerous bandit, but with her wits and skills she craftily overcomes him and becomes the first woman mail deliverer in California. This is a delightful story for all ages.

The Great Dog Wash, by Shellie Braeuner, and illustrated by Robert Neubecker, is a picture book with a simple washing that ends up being much more when someone brings a cat to get washed. This is great fun!

Now for books that have to do with sleep:  Let’s begin with Cat Dreams, by Ursula K. Le Guin, and illustrated by S. D. Schindler. This wonderful story epitomizes what a cat would love in her life as she dreams of mice and not having dogs anywhere around.

Sleepsong, by George Ella Lyon, and illustrated by Peter Cataloamotto, will surely have your little ones drifting off.  As parents tuck a youngster in bed, the talk about many kinds of animals getting ready for sleep is discussed.

A Book of Sleep, by Il Sung Na, is the perfect remedy for a little one who’s not ready for sleep. This book is sure to quiet and calm every part of the body and mind as each animal prepares for sleep.

While the World is Sleeping, by Pamela Duncan Edwards, and illustrated by Daniel Kirk, will take you over meadows and through forests as you silently glide past nocturnal animals and observe their night activities.

And lastly, here is a reissue of a classic story that all households should have. The Napping House, by Audrey and Don Wood, was first published back in 1984. It’s a cumulative tale about a bed and who climbs atop it as they desire sleep. This is fun and delightful!