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January 28

Today, the American Library Association announces its annual book award winners.

Grades	3 – 12
Calendar Activity Type	Literacy-Related Event
Also on January 28 The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.

ABOUT THIS CALENDAR EVENT

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Each year, the American Library Association recognizes a multitude of books and authors for their quality and impact. Ranging from awards for young children's books such as the Caldecott and Newbery Medals, to the Belpré award for books celebrating Latino culture, to the Sibert Medal for distinguished informational books, the ALA recognizes a wide range of outstanding material for children, young adults, and adults.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY

The American Library Association Book, Print, and Media Awards for Children and Young Adults include:

Visit the ALA pages for each award. Select from the list above the award most relevant to your students' ages and interests. Have your students select a winning author or illustrator from the award set you have selected, and instruct them to complete one of these activities:

Write or illustrate a story in your chosen author/illustrator's style.
Conduct Internet research on your author/illustrator and then stage a mock interview based on your research.
Present a book review of one of your chosen author/illustrator's "must-read" titles.

WEBSITES

Teach with Award-Winning Children's Books
This Scholastic webpage includes links to past winners of ALA awards. Many titles offer links to additional resources, including author biographies, discussion guides, and more.
100 Best Books for Children
This booklist includes 100 top recommendations from the National Education Association for children and young adults.

RELATED RESOURCES

Lesson Plans

Parent & Afterschool Resources

Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson

Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Narrative Structure

This lesson uses comic strip frames to define plot and reinforce the structure that underlies a narrative. Students finish by writing their own original narratives.

Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson

Postmodern Picture Books in Middle School

Students analyze the structure of a postmodern picture book, Black and White, to uncover how authors create unexpected plots and connections and form relationships between words and illustrations.

Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson

Press Conference for Bud, Not Buddy

Students read Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, demonstrate comprehension of the story by involving themselves in discussions, and analyze the characters in preparation for a class "press conference."

Grades K – 2 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson

Building a Matrix for Leo Lionni Books: An Author Study

In this author study, students listen to and discuss four books by Leo Lionni. They identify similarities and differences in the stories and then compare two stories of their choice.