Books offer a freedom that we all deserve to enjoy. They allow us to travel to exotic places and imaginative destinations we only wished existed. They rekindle feelings from our childhood, or help us cope with adolescent years. They make us laugh, cry, empower us and most of all, books offer something else- the gift of imagination. It's often said that "Reading is Knowledge, and Knowledge is Power." In honoring the gift of reading and National Book Month, we're spotlighting the National Book Foundation.
The mission of the National Book Foundation and the National Book Awards is to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand it's audience, and to enhance the cultural value of good writing in America. (quoted from their site).
Their History:
On March 16, 1950, publishers, editors, writers, and critics gathered at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City to celebrate the first annual National Book Awards, an award given to writers by writers. The American Book Publisher’s Council, The Book Manufacturers’ Institute, and The American Booksellers’ Association jointly sponsored the Awards, bringing together the American literary community for the first time to honor the year’s best work in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. As the Boston Herald reported the following day, “literary history was indeed in the making.” (quoted from their site)
Today, they have given awards in over 48 categories! Of course I was curious to see who won in the YA Literature group for the past three years and here's who won:
2007: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
2008: What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
2009: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
On October 13th, 2010 the 20 Finalists for Young Adult Literature, Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction will be announced. If you'd like to learn more about the National Book Foundation, please visit them here http://www.nationalbook.org/
Not only can you find the list of awards dating back to 1950, but you can find current events, and their latest news. AND they're holding their 11th annual Lights on Afterschool event on October 21st.
The Lights on Afterschool national rally is to bring attention for the need for more after school resources and programs. What to learn more? You can find a local event, the history of the rally and register here http://tinyurl.com/n588rg I'm surprised I'm just now learning about this, as Austin has a huge list of places supporting this amazing and much needed rally. Be sure to visit the link and see what places in your area are joining the rally.
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What a great cause. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's one I just found out about, and I have no idea how I didn't know about it before.
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