Children's Book Awards Winners 2007:

Newbery Award:

Newbery Honors:

Caldecott Award:

Caldecott Honors:

Coretta Scott King Award: Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He’s best known in his hometown as the boy who made a memorable impression on Frederick Douglass. But things change when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the thief, and he discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled—a life from which he’ll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home. A Limited number of signed first edition copies of this book are still available.

Celebrate African-American History Month

Baldwin's Harlem » Herb Boyd's study of Baldwin and Harlem features vivid literary portraits of a powerful writer in sometimes controversial dialogue with other major figures of his era. It also centers Baldwin's Harlem in a memorable, necessary way. Boyd's book is fascinating and authoritative on a subject that he knows well and writes about with insight and sympathy." -- Arnold Rampersad, author of Ralph Ellison: A Biography

Fanon » Widemans first novel in a decade conjures the author of The Wretched of the Earth and his urgent relevance today. Widemans fascinating new novel weaves together fiction, biography, and memoir to evoke the life and message of Frantz Fanon, the influential author of The Wretched of the Earth. A philosopher, psychiatrist, and political activist, Fanon was a fierce, acute critic of racism and oppression. Born of African descent in Martinique in 1927, Fanon fought to defend France during World War II and then later against France in Algerias war for independence.

Obama: From Promise to Power » Eye-opening, well researched, and compulsively readable, Obama: From Promise to Power is a necessary look at the evolution of a politician from public servant to candidate-savior—a politician who has experienced fame, adulation, and criticism in equal parts and on a greater scale than the public eye has seen in quite some time. Obama chronicler David Mendell gives an in-depth, comprehensive portrait of the boy named Barry who took inspiration from his hardworking parents and became the eloquent, suave Obama—a man whose last name has become a catchphrase for hope in a politically jaded society desperate for a new star.

Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season (Hardcover) » April 15, 1947, marked the most important opening day in baseball history. When Jackie Robinson stepped onto the diamond that afternoon at Ebbets Field, he became the first black man to break into major-league baseball in the twentieth century. World War II had just ended. Democracy had triumphed. Now Americans were beginning to press for justice on the home front -- and Robinson had a chance to lead the way. "Eig details the dynamics of Robinson's hard-earned acceptance by teammates, the well-chronicled abuse Robinson took from opposing fans and players, the response of local and out-of-town press, and the impact the season had on Robinson's family and on African Americans." -- Publishers Weekly

Africana: Arts and Letters: An A-to-Z Reference of Writers, Musicians, and Artists of the African American Experience » This is a richly informative and also highly browsable reference of African-American contributions to the arts, adapted from the one-volume Africana. It offers essays on influential black figures from Amiri Baraka, Paul Robeson, and Romare Bearden to Melvin Van Peebles, Grandmaster Flash, and Maya Angelou, as well as on black cultural events throughout modern history, creating a rich resource of African-American arts and letters. The original Africana was inspired by the lifelong dream of W.E.B. Du Bois to create an "Encyclopedia Africana," and was shaped by an advisory board led by Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. Pub. at $16.95 NOW ON SALE $7.99

                         

Diana Ross: Going Back  A fashion icon and idol of performing artists around the world, Diana Ross is without a doubt one of the most fascinating women of our time, captured by all the leading fashion photographers - Richard Avedon, Victor Skrebneski, and Herb Ritts, among them. Going Back bears witness to this. In Going Back, Diana Ross, along with Rosanne Shelnutt, has daringly and lovingly assembled a treasury of filmic memories, iconic images, and other magic moments. Hardcover published at $45. now SALE PRICE $16.99

Follow the Drinking Gourd » By following the directions in a song, "The Drinking Gourd," taught them by an old sailor named Peg Leg Joe, runaway slaves journey north along the Underground Railroad to freedom in Canada. * Age Range: 6 to 12 * 48pp * Edition Description: Reissue " An extraordinary and inspiring tribute to a unique part of African-American history."-- The Boston Globe.

I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer » Tough-minded and poetic, this biographical sketch draws much of its power from what it leaves unsaid, obliging readers to align themselves closely with the narrator. The speaker is Matthew Henson, who joined Robert Peary in planting the flag on the North Pole in 1909; the words Weatherford assign him testify to a lifetime spent in resolute pursuit of his ambitions. "I did not start as cabin boy, climb the ranks to able-bodied seaman... and learn trades and foreign tongues to be shunned by white crews who thought blacks were not seaworthy," he states. "My dreams had sails."

Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum »  Regardless of whether they’ve heard of jazz or Art Tatum, young readers will appreciate how Parker uses simple, lyrical storytelling and colorful and energetic ink-and-wash illustrations to show the world as young Art Tatum might have seen it. Tatum came from modest beginnings and was nearly blind, but his passion for the piano and his acute memory for any sound that he heard drove him to become a virtuoso who was revered by both classical and jazz pianists alike. Hardcover, ages 4-8 years.

Two for the Chinese New Year: 

Silk Princess »  Santore's original tale is an elaboration of the legend regarding the discovery of silk some 5000 years ago during China's ancient Middle Kingdom. The Emperor's daughter watches a cocoon fall from a mulberry tree into her mother's teacup and unravel in the hot liquid. Curious, the child finds that she can stretch the single unraveled thread through the palace grounds and up onto the nearby mountain, where she meets a very old man-a silk weaver-who tells her the secret of harvesting the cocoons and weaving cloth. Grades 3-5.

Legend of the Chinese Dragon »  In ancient China, the different tribes lived under the protection of benevolent spirits that took the form of animals. To this day, the dragon is a symbol of peace and plays an especially important role in the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Tall and narrow in shape, the book is illustrated with what appear to be rough-hewn woodcuts executed in black and bright primary colors. Ever-handsome page design varies throughout, setting the pace for the story. Evoking Chinese scroll painting, elegant calligraphy runs down the side of every spread, and seals designed by the calligrapher appear where appropriate. Ages 5-10 years.

Valentines Day is February 14th

Here are a few book titles, gifts and reminders for loved ones tall and small:

The Fisherman and His Wife » Caldecott Honor–winning artist Rachel Isadora brings another fabulous fairy tale to brilliant life with her stunning collages. The Brothers Grimm story of the kind fisherman who catches an enchanted fish, and his greedy wife who always wants more, is perfect for these "give-me" times. Rachel Isadora's captivating collage-style artwork, featuring the African landscape and the increasingly turbulent ocean, provides a wonderful new backdrop for this classic story. Hardcover, ages 4-8 years.

Guess How Much I Love You is one of the most beloved stories. This children's classic has touched the lives of readers around the world.
More than 18 million copies of this timeless classic have been sold worldwide! Free animated version of the story on DVD with book purchase. Hardcover w/DVD, Ages 4-8 years.

Tumbling Bear Wind-up » Schylling's Teddy Bear is an adorable wind up toy. The bear is brown plush material and is wearing a red bow around his neck. When your child winds him up, he uses his arms and legs to tumble. Wind up toys are loved by kids and this soft friend is a unique and enchanting toy.Comes with wind-up key in a clear see-through box. $9.99

Woolbur »  "DO express yourself creatively… DON'T worry if you weave your forelock into a pot holder! DO march to your own beat… DON'T worry when Maa and Paa tell you to stay with the herd! DO be bold and brave… DON'T be afraid to BE YOURSELF!" Spunky, funky, and refreshingly distinct, Woolbur will strike a chord with anyone who's ever felt different. And that's all of us! Ages 4-6 years, hardcover, Helakoski is the author of Michigan Read's 2007 title Big Chickens.

The Girl in the Castle inside the Museum » Reminiscent of “The Lady of Shalot,” here is an original fairy tale that feels like a dream–haunting, beautiful, and completely unforgettable. Written by an eloquent fairy-tale writer-scholar and illustrated by a much-honored picture-book artist, this defies easy definition. Clearly "the museum" represents the metaphorical archive where fairy-tale collections regrettably gather dust, and this enigmatic tale is a plea for children to enter their immutable worlds within worlds, lest the tales be isolated and lost forever. One of the most beautifully illustrated books this year.

Ooh-La-La (Max in Love) » After Max the poetic dog made a million, and after he went to Hollywood, (but before he went to India), he went to Paris, the City of Love, and fell in love with the city—and also just plain fell in love, with a Dalmatian named Crêpes Suzette. Children's book author, New Yorker cartoonist, and designer Maira Kalman fills her frenetically painted story for readers 5 to 9 with visual and verbal puns, quirky comments, and bits of homage to various artists. Adults will love this too! Paperback, $6.99

Won't You Be My Kissaroo? (Board Book) » Upbeat pencil, watercolor, and collage illustrations catalogue the many kinds of kisses a day brings to loving animal families. Tenderhearted rhymes describe cuddly scenes, from a bear cub's sticky-sweet breakfast smooch to a mama rabbit's good-bye kiss that "goes with a hug to keep you safe and feeling snug." (Ages birth to 2) Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2004, Now in a sweet new board book edition. Storybook edition also available. 

From Me to You » Illustrated in bold watercolors reminiscent of children's paintings, this gentle tale for prereaders tells of Rat, a water rat who wears a sailor suit and lives on a raft in a reedy pond, and who just now is feeling rather blue because none of his friends have been by for ages. Then a bright yellow envelope arrives at his door—a letter from a secret admirer—and Rat brushes his teeth, and combs his whiskers, and heads out to find who could have written him. British author and illustrator Anthony France and Tiphanie Beeke create a delightful, somewhat old-fashioned world of caring animal friends. Hardcover was $15.99 SPECIAL SALE $6.99

Pustefix Bubble Bear »  The famous Pustefix Bear needs no description. Squeeze his belly and the wand pops up out of his head! Filled with 6 ounces of ultra luminescent bubble solution. Assorted colors, as available only. Ages: 3 + Manufacturer: Toysmith

 
Parasite Pals Valentines »  Valentine’s Day is the time to tell your sweetheart just how you feel, even if you’re feeling queasy and slightly itchy. With these ten different 3 inch (7.6 cm) to 5 inch (12.7 cm) Valentines you can give a Tickles Tapeworm Valentine to the cafeteria lady or a Dig Dig Head Louse Valentine to your barber. Envelopes included.

Stop by the Book Beat card section soon, and check out our unique and beautiful Valentine selections - your eyes will pop and your heart will drop! 

Vampire Loves is a graphic novel that follows the strangely romantic adventures of Ferdinand and his friends as they flirt with, seduce, cheat on, break up, and make up with all manner of unearthly creatures including ghosts, other vampires, tree-folk and the occasional golem. Edgy, charming, and filled with Joann Sfar's inimitable blend of tenderness, comedy, melancholy, and philosophy, the stories in this first volume draw as much from the wellspring of Eastern European Jewish mysticism as from twenty-first-century Goth culture. Love isn't any easier when you're dead.

The are lots of unique rock and roll and jazz posters available in our backroom gallery. Many are handsigned by the artist.

We now have a selection of many MUTTS book titles, these overstocks are all reduced in price and on sale from $4.99 -$6.99

You Suck » by Christopher Moore. "Mr. Moore is back on track with a vampire comedy and an instant joke: it’s called “You Suck,” so publications that otherwise avoid that phrase have to print its title. The title needs mentioning because the book will be too popular to be ignored. “You Suck” is funny enough to reanimate Mr. Moore’s fans, at least those who wondered about the last book’s squirrel types. It’s sure to appeal to anyone who shares the author’s ideas of a fun-loving vampire’s priorities." -- Ny Times

Desserts by the Yard » "Brooklyn-born Yard worked her way up to reign as Hollywood and Beverly Hills queen of sweet. Executive pastry chef of Puck's Spago empire, she annually creates 1,700 or so perfect desserts for the Governors Ball following the Oscars, such as mousse-filled chocolate boxes on power-painted red carpets the year Julia Roberts won for Erin Brockovich. But Yard hasn't forgotten the rapturous tastes of her childhood; along with celeb-studded, look-at-me tales of her lofty successes, she offers tender memories and recipes for such favorites as Italian bakery Rainbow Cookies. Yard actually delivers what every cookbook promises: news for the professional and foolproof secrets for the avid amateur." --Publisher's Weekly

Art of Simple Food: Notes and Recipes froma Delicious Revolution »  Perhaps more responsible than anyone for the revolution in the way we eat, cook, and think about food, Alice Waters has “single-handedly chang[ed] the American palate” according to the New York Times. Her simple but inventive dishes focus on a passion for flavor and a reverence for locally produced, seasonal foods."Whether explaining why salting food properly is key or describing the steps to creating the ideal Grilled Cheese Sandwich, she continues to prove herself one of our best modern-day food writers." -- PW

Love » Universally desired and uniquely experienced, love finds expression in every land and culture. This enchanting new book celebrates the depth and diversity of love—at many moments in history, and at every human age—in an exquisite collection of photographs from National Geographic's famous archives and beyond. Each picture tells a tantalizing story and captures an intimate, unforgettable glimpse of love's many facets, from courtship to friendship to charity and more.

Victrola Favorites: Artifacts from Bygone Days (Book and 2x CD) » Recordings made between the 1920s-1950s compiled by Rob Millis and Jeffery Taylor of the Seattle-based experimental band Climax Golden Twins from their collections of rare 78rpm records and design ephemera. Deluxe 144-page clothbound, full-color book with two CDs featuring Burmese guitars, Chinese opera, Persian folk songs, fado, hillbilly, jazz, blues and much, much more.

Cover Story: Album Cover Art » "vividly explores an element of music culture that has withered with the advent of MP3s and digital downloading. Records possess a visual as well as an aural capacity for storytelling. The record cover -- eye candy for the music lover -- speaks a language rooted in the environment and era of the music itself. And, more intimately, a record can create a profound sense of analogy with its owner, and it's this relationship that we share." Produced by the esteemed music journal Wax Poetics, it graphically narrates the vibrant subculture of record collecting through the art of the album cover. It's a must-have for record connoisseurs and art aficionados alike.

Krazy Kat Kartoon Kollection (2x DVD) » In 1913, George Herriman created a comic strip about a character named Krazy Kat. It was admired by comic lovers and artists for its strange poetic narrative and how it bent the conventions of serial comics. In 1962, the strip began airing as a full-color animated series. Now, Koch Vision has released more than 3 and a half hours of the series on a 2-disc DVD set. The collection includes 39 cartoons, two of which never made it to television. 214 minutes.

Peace is the Way » "This latest work from [Deepak] Chopra comes armed with praise from the likes of the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Wayne Dyer, and Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Chopra is distressed at the omnipresence of violent conflict in our time and finds his remedy in the acknowledgment and rejection of the dualities and false sense of self that lie at its root. Beyond these, he counsels, lies the compassion that will help us reject violence. 'The opposite of compassion has to be renounced, because in anger, vengeance, mechanized death, and violence against Nature is our doom.' The text includes 'Seven Practices for Peacemakers,' a kind of mini-handbook for nonviolent leaders."—Library Journal was $23. SPECIAL SALE $7.99

Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America » If David Sedaris were to do a bit of reportage on today’s candy industry, it might just resemble this hilarious book. Candyfreak dares you not to drool as Steve Almond recalls such bygone confections as the luscious Caravelle bar and the perfectly balanced Hershey's Cookies 'n Mint, and describes his obsession with the disappearance of these and other candy bars. "I got a real sugar rush and cluster headache reading this bittersweet book by Steve Almond-Joy, the sugar daddy himself. I won't sugarcoat it—this book is one sweet treat."—Amy Sedaris was $21.95 SPECIAL SALE: $5.99

 Random Acts of Kindness Week February 12-18.

"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." - Aesop

Random Acts of Kindness Week focuses on the spirit of hope and goodness. It is a springboard for action. A time to be open, to act upon thoughts of generosity that arise spontaneously from your heart. Just notice what happens as kindness ripples out! Here are some links on the practice of kindness:
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation - inspiring people to practice kindness.
Free Hugs Campaign - sometimes even a hug is enough.
Extreme Kindness - join the kindness crew.
Staged Kindness - make believe the world is a happier place until it really is.
Purple Acts of Kindness - Yahoo's program to do good acts.                                                Quotations on Kindness - read some inspired words on the art of kindness.                                Stories about Kindness - read anonymous stories and post your own here.                               Message in a Bottle - send a story of kindness across the sea!

“Rehearsal for the Destruction of Mu”, will be performed during the opening of “3 the Hard Way”, an exhibition of new art work by Tom Carey, Topher Crowder and Dennis Jones. At the Zeitgeist Gallery, 2661 Michigan Avenue in Detroit, 313-965-9192, The reception for the artists will run Saturday, February 16th, from 7 pm to midnight, with music around 9pm. Music and visuals by psych freaks UVU plus Monster Isle musicians and artists; Jamie Easter, Mary Alice, Tom Carey, Matthew Smith and Cary Loren will display amazing shadow screen stunts with puppets and colored lights plus ecstatic aural stimulations. Photos from a recent performance can be seen at Monster Island at UFO Factory. Copies of Monster Island's new LP "The Children of Mu" are available at Book Beat, Street Corner Music and Car City Records.

Book Beat February Reading Club selection:

Rashoman and 17 Stories by Ryuosuke Akutagawa. Our meeting will be at Gayles Chocolates in Royal Oak on Wednesday, February 27th at 7:00 PM.

We will be discussing the following representative selections, from the Penguin edition of Rashomon and 17 Other Stories: "Rashomon" p.3, "In a Bamboo Grove" p.10, "Hell Screen" p42, "Green Onions" p.120, "The Writers Craft" p.163, "Death Register" p. 181, "Spinning Gears" p.206. Reading club books are discounted 15%. 

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (芥川 龍之介 Akutagawa Ryūnosuke); (March 1, 1892 - July 24, 1927) was a Japanese writer active in Taisho period Japan. He is regarded as the "Father of the Japanese short story", and is noted for his superb style and finely detailed stories that explore the darker side of human nature.

Shop local! The Book Beat is an independent locally owned bookstore serving the metro-Detroit area since 1982, we specialize in art, photography, children's books and quality lit. Book Beat is located at 26010 Greenfield in Oak Park, MI 48237 call 248/968-1190 for further information or visit us online at http://thebookbeat.com If you wish to unsubscribe from the Book Beat Newsletter, please send an email to info@thebookbeat.com. Please write "unsubscribe" in the subject bar.