CHECK IT OUT:

Each year, the American Library Assn. bestows outstanding books with awards and honors for excellence in children’s literature. The Newbery Medal commemorates 18th-century British bookseller John Newbery for distinguished contributions to American literature for children. The Caldecott Medal was named for 19th-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott and is presented to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book.

The winners and runner-up honor books have the distinction of bearing a facsimile of the gold medal on the book’s jacket with each publication. Kids, parents and teachers recognize the medal as a sign of an exemplary book. These winners are all available in the children’s room at the library and its branches.

The Central Newport Beach Public Library and all branches will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The book drops are available. All libraries will be open on Tuesday at their regularly scheduled times.

“Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village” by Laura Amy Schlitz: The 2008 Newbery Winner introduces 13th-century England through a series of dramatic narratives spoken by various characters from ages 10 to 15. Experience the lives of Alice, the shepherdess; Pask, the runaway; or Drago, the tanner’s apprentice, to name a few. Fascinating and elegant, it’s a worthy addition for 2008.

“Elijah of Buxton” by Christopher Paul Curtis: This Newbery Honor book follows the life of an 11-year-old, free-born boy in the 1860s who lives in a Canadian community of escaped slaves and his transformation into a courageous hero.

“The Wednesday Wars” by Gary D. Schmidt: Although seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood is convinced his teacher hates him, he learns life lessons both funny and serious while reading Shakespeare’s plays in Mrs. Baker’s classroom. This Newbery Honor book is suitable for junior high students.

“Feathers” by Jacqueline Woodson: The final Newbery Honor book shows sixth-grader Frannie the power of growing friendship and eternal hope with the arrival of a new student at her school.

“The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures,” by Brian Selznick: This 2008 Caldecott Winner is unique in that it could have won the prize for illustration or literature. Discover the world of orphaned 12-year-old Hugo in 1931 Paris with these superb black-and-white drawings that tell the story wordlessly interspersed with suspenseful text. Evocative and mysterious, it’s a literal page-turner.

“Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad” by Ellen Levine; illustrated by Kadir Nelson: This Caldecott Honor book recounts the fictionalized version of a clever Virginian slave boy, who ships himself to freedom in 1849 Philadelphia.

“First the Egg” by Laura Vaccaro Seeger: Die-cuts provide a fresh approach to illustration in this Caldecott Honor book by author and illustrator Seeger.

“The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain” by Peter SÃs: Czechoslovakia during the Prague spring of 1968 is brought to life by Sis as adolescents glimpse the new world of creative possibilities beyond their narrow existences in this Caldecott Honor title.

“Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity” by Mo Willems: Knuffle Bunny and Trixie have an adventure presented through collages and double-page spreads that deserves the distinction of a Caldecott Honor book.

CHECK IT OUT is written by Newport Beach Public Library reference librarian Mary Ellen Bowman. Use your Newport Beach Public Library card to reserve these titles at www.newportbeachlibrary.org or call (949) 717-3800 and press 2.