Skipping Stones is an award-winning, nonprofit magazine for youth that encourages communication, cooperation, creativity and celebration of cultural and environmental richness. Founded in 1988 and published five times a year, Skipping Stones provides a forum for sharing ideas and experiences among youth from different countries and cultures. Art and original writings submissions in every language and from all ages are always welcomed.

Each year Skipping Stones recognizes outstanding authentic books and teaching resources with the Annual Skipping Stones Honor Awards. The honored books, published by both large and small publishers, promote cooperation and cultivate an awareness of our diverse cultures. Together, they encourage an understanding of the world’s diversity, ecological richness, respect for differing viewpoints and close relationships in human societies. Bound to provide a great reading adventure, they offer a variety of learning experiences. Reviewers aged 8 to 80, from many backgrounds and life experiences, help select the winners and their reviews are published in the Summer Skipping Stones issue.

The 2009 winners are broken down into 3 categories – Multicultural & International Awareness, Nature and Ecology Books, and Teaching and Parenting Resources; and winning titles include:

Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins,
The Storyteller’s Candle by Lucia Gonzalez, illustrated by Lulu Delacre,
Grandfather’s Story Cloth by Linda Gerdner and Sarah Langford, illustrated by Stuart Loughridge.

For a complete list of the winners, click here: I just printed it off and will be heading to my local library this afternoon to see what treasures I can find!

Creating a more peaceful and compassionate world continues to be the most significant challenge of humankind. To acknowledge children as agents of positive change and to celebrate the ways in which they help create a better world, PaperTigers’ new issue offers interviews, articles, reviews and resources that point to their heart, determination and resolve to make a difference. We encourage you to take the time to explore these new offerings. And should you need further enticement, here’s an excerpt from author Mitali Perkins‘ article, “Books Can Shape A Child’s Heart:”

Stories are powerful allies as we seek to raise a generation of compassionate children. I distinctly remember the moment when I grasped the beauty of sacrificial giving. I was nine years old and befriending Sara Crewe in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Little Princess (J. B. Lippincott) for the first time…

Ready to be moved, inspired and energized?… Just head on over to the website. Then check back here, as we post more about this theme in the coming weeks.

(image credit: “My World” by Esau Andrade Valencia)

It all began with a Twitter and spread across the country in no time! Author Mitali Perkins put her idea on techology that some of us have yet to understand and from New England to the Pacific Northwest, independent bookstores, children’s authors, illustrators, and the young readers who love them are coming together on February 14 in a grand celebration.

It’s happening in New England, in New York (both in the city and across the state), in Seattle, (where, in independent Northwest style, they’ve rechristened the celebration Kids Heart Books), and in Los Angeles. By the time this post goes up, heaven only knows how many more bookstores, and writers, and illustrators–in how many more cities–will have joined this absolutely amazing union that brings together all facets of the kidlit world!

Among the number of authors and illustrators who will be flocking to their neighborhood bookstores are Grace Lin,  Karen Cushman, Kevin Hawkes, Cynthia Lord, David Yoo, Jamie Hogan (illustrator of Rickshaw Girl) and Mitali Perkins. In New England alone, over 160 authors and illustrators are turning out to meet their readers in their favorite bookstores.

Is this happening in your town? In your neighborhood bookstore? It’s not too late. Join the party that was started with Mitali’s Twitter, or help to start one–there are still 11 more days until February 14.  Make it possible for a child–or you yourself–to  heart an author–or an illustrator–and their books on Valentine’s Day!

Entering Bangkok’s Neilson Hays Library is like launching an adventure into time travel. Not a computer can be seen, card catalogs still hold sway, and books–no video cassettes or DVDs–wait behind glass doors in old-fashioned bookcases. Patrons remove their shoes before entering the building, and the smooth, highly polished wooden floor feels like satin beneath the soles of bare feet.

Make no mistake about it, this is a true library, not a museum, and nowhere is that more evident than in the children’s section. Shelves built over 140 years ago hold Lemony Snicket, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, and Montana prodigy Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series. They are joined by modern classics–Hatchet and The Outsiders, Edward Eager’s Knight’s Castle, Arthur Ransome, Enid Blyton, and all of Mary Poppins, as well as the more venerable Don Quixote, Lorna Doone, and The Pathfinder.  Among this august company is Mitali Perkins’ wonderful novel, Rickshaw Girl, the story of a Bangladeshi girl who transforms her talent for painting alpanas, the traditional patterns that adorn household walkways and thresholds, into a financial contribution for her family.

It’s a good thing that bean-bag chairs are near the picture books, because this is a corner that demands lingering, filled with gorgeous books from all over the English-speaking world. New Zealand’s wonderful Hairy MacLary lives here, as does Where the Giant Sleeps, by Mem Fox, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky–and a treasure from New York City’s Chinatown that deserves–and will soon receive–its own post.

Set in a serene little garden, with an adjacent cafe and outdoor tables, this library is an oasis of tranquility in a restless city. It’s not only a respite for Bangkok residents, the library also offers a welcome vacation from shopping and sightseeing for travelers, with a small charge for those who are not library members.

Our January calendar of book-related events (thanks, Corinne!) is chock-full of incredible happenings. Below are just a few more that shouldn’t go unnoticed. If these events are any indication—and I think they are—2009 is off to a great start!

—Author and illustrator Grace Lin‘s new charity project will have her auctioning an original painting per month this year, to benefit The Foundation of Children’s Books‘ program of bringing authors into low-income schools. Now you have a chance to bid on—and hopefully win—one or more of her “Small Graces” paintings while helping a very worthy cause. Doesn’t it sound like a great way to live up to your new year’s resolution of making a difference?

—On Jan 22, those in or around New York City will have a chance to listen to the wind. Yes, that’s right. The Young People’s Chorus of New York will be performing the world premiere of composer Victoria Bond’s piece written for the book Listen to the Wind, by Susan L. Roth’s and Greg Mortenson. The piece is to be performed at the Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble, at 7:30pm, at the official launch of the book. Listen to the Wind is featured on PaperTigers, along with an interview and e-gallery of Susan’s work. Prepare to be delighted!

—And last but not least… What started as a 140-character Twitter message by author Mitali Perkins (“Idea: Indies partner with authors for a ‘give a signed book’ day; all Kid/YA authors in area show up at stores to sign one afternoon”) is shaping up to be quite a literary love fest. Literally. Mitali joined forces with a group of book lovers to turn her idea into “Kids (Heart) Authors Day“, a multi-bookstore event to take place on Valentine’s Day all throughout New England. If you’re near one of them, don’t miss the chance to pick up a signed literary valentine—and to let them know why you love writers, illustrators and independent bookstores.

Did I say spread the word?…

Award winning author Mitali Perkins is starting 2009 on an exciting note! Her newest book Secret Keeper, published by Random House, is being released on January 13th. (Watch a trailer for the book here on Mitali’s blog.) To celebrate, Mitali is inviting everyone in the San Francisco area to a Chai and Samosa Reception at Not Your Mother’s Book Club at the Town & Country Village in Palo Alto between 6 – 7pm Thursday, January 15th.

From 7-8 p.m that same evening, Mitali will lead a writing workshop entitled “MAGIC CARPET: Creating a Sense of Place in Story,” a fun, hands-on, stress-free event for writers of all stages and ages. The session will start with tips and techniques, continue with prompts to inspire a time of writing, and end with personalized feedback. This event will be a great shared memory for parents and teens, and a welcome escape for stressed-out students who want to relax with an ungraded creative exercise. No experience necessary, but to sign up for the workshop, you must send an email confirmation to NYMBC (at) booksinc (dot) net, as space is limited to twenty participants.

For those in the Seattle area, Barnes and Noble (Bellevue Downtown) will host a launch party for Secret Keeper on January 18 at 2pm. Mitali will be in attendance and looks forward to discussing and signing copies of her new book. Later that day, teens are invited to join Mitali for an Indian Dinner/Teen Writers Workshop at the Bellevue Regional Library. Again, pre-registration is required.

Mitali is a regularly featured author and contributor to the PaperTigers website. In 2007 she and her mother, award winning alpana painter Madhusree Bose, took part in our first PaperTigers Outreach Program at the San Francisco Waldorf School. Mitali will be contributing an article on “The Power of Children to Make a Difference” in our upcoming issue of PaperTigers due out February 1st.

(Click on event name for more information)

Golden Feather Literature Festival~ ongoing until Jan 31, Mongolia

5th Tales in the Park Festival~ ongoing until Feb 7, Bangkok, Thailand

Discovering Ethnic Minorities – Storytelling Workshops for Children~ ongoing until May 31, Hong Kong

2008 Cybils (the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards) Finalists Announced~ Jan 1

Costa Book Awards Winners Announced~ Jan 6, London, United Kingdom

7th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities~ Jan 9 – 12, Honolulu, HI, USA

Mitali Perkin’s Secret Keeper Book Launch Party and Writing Workshop~ Jan 15, Palo Alto, CA, USA

CISA World Symposium and Storytelling Festival: Indigenous Voices, Ancient Trade Routes~ Jan 15 – 17, San Leandro, CA, USA

Storytelling by Winners of the First Time Writers & Illustrators Publishing Initiative 2008~ Jan 17, Singapore

Newberry Library Lecture – Babes in the Wood: The Death of Childhood and the Birth of Modern Children’s Literature~ Jan 17, Chicago, IL, USA

Presentation Ceremony for the Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation~ Jan 20, London, United Kingdom

20th Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities~ Jan 20 – 25, Eatonville, FL, USA

Presentation by Award Winning Author and Literacy Advocate David Bouchard~ Jan 21, Port Moody, BC, Canada

Jaipur Literature Festival~ Jan 21 – 25, Jaipur, India

SCBWI Tokyo Presents Alison Lester: From Arnhem Land to Antarctica as a Children’s Author and Illustrator~ Jan 23, Tokyo, Japan

Deb Ellis and Groundwood Books Partnership with USBBY in a Fundraiser for IBBY’s Fund for Children in Crisis~ Jan 23, Denver, CO, USA

2nd Children’s & Young Adults’ Book Fair~ Jan 23 – 26, Marousi, Greece

American Library Association (ALA) 2009 Midwinter Meeting~ Jan 23 – 29, Denver, CO, USA

ALA Youth Media Awards Announcement~ Jan 26, Denver, CO, USA

Yabun 2009: Celebrating Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultures~ Jan 26, Sydney, Australia

No Name-Calling Week~ Jan 26 – 30, USA

Family Literacy Week~ Jan 26 – 31, Province of British Columbia, Canada

Family Literacy Day~ Jan 27, Canada

SCBWI South Africa – Cape Town Presents What’s Happening in the SA Educational Book World~ Jan 28 , Cape Town, South Africa

3rd International Galle Literary Festival~ Jan 28 – Feb 1, Galle, Sri Lanka

Kolkata Book Fair~ Jan 28 – Feb 8, Kolkata, India

Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award Entry Deadline~ Jan 30, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

SCBWI Annual Winter Meeting~ Jan 30 – Feb 1, New York, NY, USA

The Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards are given annually to children’s books published in the preceding year that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races, as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence. On October 17th, winners of the 55th Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards received their awards, gave their acceptance speeches, and signed copies of their books at the United Nations Plaza in New York City.

PaperTigers congratulates:

WINNER – Books for Younger Children Category

The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom, written and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully

WINNER – Books For Older Children Category

We are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin, written by Larry Dane Brimner

HONORS – Books for Younger Children Category

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II, written and illustrated by Lita Judge

HONORS – Books for Older Children Category

Rickshaw Girl, written by Mitali Perkins with illustrations by Jamie Hogan

Honors – Books for Older Children Category

Elijah of Buxton, written by Christopher Paul Curtis

Honors – Books for Older Children Category

Birmingham, 1963, written by Carole Boston Weatherford

You can read Mitali’s acceptance speech and see photos of the event on her blog. Check out Larry Brimner’s Write. Write. Written! — A Writer’s Journal and Lita Judge’s blog as well!

In November our PaperTigers website will focus on the theme of “war and peace in children’s books,” featuring original essays by Lita Judge (One Thousand Tracings) and Jo Montie, former member of the Jane Addams Award committee.

Yesterday Cynthia Leitich Smith celebrated the 10th anniversary of her wonderful “Children’s and YA Literature Resources” website (congratulations, Cynthia!). Now I wonder… how come we were the ones to get a gift?

In honor of “Book Blogger Appreciation Week” (Sep 15-19) Cynthia decided to highlight blogs that “focus on underrepresented perspectives in the field of youth literature.” PaperTigers has made her short list, and now we find ourselves in the very good company of Mitali’s Fire Escape, The Brown Bookshelf and other great blogs. Thank you, Cynthia! Please know that your contributions as a writer, blogger and promoter of good literature are much appreciated too—this week and always!

This year’s winners of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards and the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature have received the online equivalent of a standing ovation. The all-star lineup of awardees is indeed a reason to cheer and celebrate: they are exceptionally wonderful stories about social justice, equality, world community and other timely subjects.

Among the winners, honorable mentions and commended titles are books that have been praised, time and again, since published last year, by those involved in the children’s book community, PaperTigers included. The following titles (and certainly the ones not mentioned by name in this post) are well worth visiting and revisiting:

Américas Award Winner-
Yum! Mmm! Que Rico! America’s Sproutings by Pat Mora, illus. by Rafael López

Américas Award Honorable Mention-
Little Night, by Yuyi Morales

Américas Award Commended Titles-
My Colors, My World/Mis Colores, Mi Mundo, by Maya Christina González (scroll down the page to see it featured as our Jan’08 book of the month)
Come Look With Me: Latin American Art, by Kimberly Lane
Nana’s Big Surprise/Nana, Que Sorpresa!, by Amada Irma Pérez, illustrated by Maya Christina González
Tricycle, by Elisa Amado and Alfonso Ruano
Sacred Leaf, by Deborah Ellis

Jane Addams Honor Book-
Rickshaw Girl, by Mitali Perkins (more about Mitali and Rickshaw Girl here).