Children's Award-Winning Books  

Considered to be the most prestigious awards in children's literature, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals honor outstanding writing and illustration of works published in the United States during the previous year.  The awards are administered by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

The winner of the 2009 Newbery Medal is The Graveyard Book, written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean (HarperCollins).  "A child named Nobody, an assassin, a graveyard, and the dead are the perfect combination in this deliciously creepy tale, which is sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting, and sometimes surprising," said Newbery Committee Chair Rose V. Trevino.

2009 Newbery Honor books include: The Underneath, written by Kathi Appelt (Atheneum Books);  The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom, written by Margarita Engle (Henry Holt & Company);  Savvy, written by Ingrid Law (Dial Books);  and After Tupac & D Foster, written by Jacqueline Woodson (G.P. Putnam's Sons).

The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson (Houghton Mifflin Company), received the 2009 Caldecott Medal.  Richly detailed black-and-white scratchboard illustrations expand this timeless bedtime verse, offering reassurance to young children that there is always light in the darkness.

2009 Caldecott Honor books include: A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, illustrated and written by Marla Frazee (Harcourt);  How I Learned Geography, illustrated and written by Uri Shulevitz (Farrar Straus Giroux);  and A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant (Eerdmans Books). 

For complete reviews of these books and links to other award-winning books, such as the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, visit ala.org/alsc.

Special Courses for Young Hunters  

Idaho Fish and Game offers Hunter Education students three course options to choose from, and two options for Bowhunter Education students.  Traditional classroom courses and internet courses are available for both, while the Hunter Education program also offers a home-study workbook option.

Traditional Hunter Education classroom courses remain the most popular course type and are the best choice for budding young hunters.  Taught by volunteer instructors, these classes meet about six evenings in a two-week period and are capped off by a field exercise where students put some of their newfound skills to the test.  Enrollees must be at least nine years of age to participate.  Although not required, parents or guardians are encouraged to attend courses with their children and participate in the entire program. 

In Idaho, the first step towards safe, ethical hunting is a Hunter Education course.  To find out which option best suits the needs of your young hunter, visit the Fish and Game website, http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.  Click on the Hunter and Bowhunter Education box to access the site and learn more about course options, review course availability, and even register for a course.

Young Writers and Illustrators Contest  

The Reading Rainbow 15th Annual Young Writers & Illustrators Contest is sponsored locally by Idaho Public Television, Idaho PTV.  The contest is open to children in kindergarten through 3rd grade.  Stories can be fact or fiction, prose or poetry.  Only single author stories qualify, and only one entry per person will be accepted. 

Entries must be received at Idaho Public Television by March 25, 2009.  For complete contest rules, and to view past winners, visit idahoptv.org/kids.

Talking to Kids About the Economy 

The American Academy of Pediatrics, aap.org, offers these tips to help cope with life during tough economic times.

Take care of yourself.  Remember that children depend on the adults around them to feel secure, so it's important that you take care of yourself.  If you are worried or upset, your children will be, too.  Even very young children can tell when something is wrong.

Limit TV and other media time.  When children overhear news coverage or adults talking about America's money problems, like job cuts and people losing their homes, they may become worried, especially because they don't really understand what is happening.

Choose your words carefully.  Comments like "We just lost your college savings," "I might lose my job," or "We can't afford that!" can be very upsetting to children.  In times of uncertainty, try to focus on what you do know and offer reassuring words.  For example, "We have enough money to pay for food and our house, but we may need to spend less on eating out."  It is important to talk with your children because they can sense stress and become anxious or upset if no one communicates with them. 

All they need is a basic explanation of why people are upset or worried and what impact it will have on them personally.

Be sensitive to each child's needs.  It is important to talk at each child's level.  What and how much information you share depends on the age and developmental level of your children.  In general, older children will want and benefit from more detailed information; younger children will benefit from simpler and briefer information.  Start with asking them what they may already have heard or offer a simple explanation at first.  Then ask your children if they have any more questions.

Plan a family meeting.  Family meetings are a very effective way for families to encourage healthy communication.  It can be a time when family members learn how to get along with each other better.  Parents can also use the time to share family values and cultural beliefs.

Focus on Nutrition 

March is National Nutrition Month, a good time to focus on a healthy lifestyle.  Registered Dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association Melinda Johnson says teaching children healthful eating habits is easiest when you start them young.  "It is never too early to help your child develop a healthy relationship with food," says Johnson.  She offers these tips to help raise a healthy eater.

Make family mealtime a priority: Plan healthy meals in advance to ensure that you are offering a wide range of healthy items.  Research shows that children who eat with their family tend to have a healthier diet.  With busy schedules it can be hard to sit down for a family meal, but even one or two nights a week can have a positive effect.

Be flexible: Being overly restrictive about food can lead to an unhealthy preoccupation with food.  Never offer food as a reward or a punishment; you can't expect perfection but you can make sure that the majority of choices are healthy.  Also, if it seems that a picky eater isn't open to new choices, be persistent.  Most kids need several exposures to a new food before becoming comfortable with a new item.

Encourage input: it is important to seek your child's involvement in the family's menu.  Bring kids into the kitchen by allowing them to help with the menu and do age-appropriate tasks like setting the table or tearing lettuce for the salad.

Get active: A proper diet is just one ingredient for a healthy lifestyle. Planning regular physical activities as a family is a great way to encourage your kids to get active.

Be a good role model: Children learn from their parents. Be positive about having a healthy relationship with food and engaging in physical activity.

For more ideas about healthy lifestyles, visit eatright.org and mypyramid.gov.

Kid-Driven Music

In true Recess Monkey spirit, the songs on the new CD Tabby Road are celebrations of the sometimes wacky and always wonderfully fresh "kids take on life."  The album is inspired by real life children's experiences and youthful exploration.  The three members of Recess Monkey are teachers, who met while working at the same Seattle school.  Loaded with zany brainy creativity, Tabby Road is musically appealing to both young and old listeners.

National Women's History Month

Each year, March is designated as National Women's History Month, to ensure that the history of women will be recognized and celebrated in schools, workplaces, and communities throughout the country.  The stories of women's historic achievements present an expanded view of the complexity and fulfillment of living a purposeful life. 

The theme for National Women's History Month 2009 is Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet.  Rachel Carson, the founder of the contemporary environmental movement, is the iconic model of the theme.  The 2009 honorees are women who have demonstrated leadership in protecting the environment on a local, state, national, or international level.  Brief biographies of the honorees are posted on the National Women's History website, nwhp.org.

Test Your Knowledge of Women's History

1. What woman was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature?

2. Who was the first woman to run for President of the United States (1872)?

3. Who wrote the first version of the Equal Rights Amendment, in 1923?

4. When did officials of Little League Baseball announce that they would "defer to the changing social climate" and let girls play on their team?

5. Who was the Shoshone Indian woman who served as guide and interpreter on the Lewis and Clark expedition?

 
Answers: 1. Toni Morrison  2. Victoria Woodhull  3. Alice Paul  4. 1974  5. Sacajawea