The 'Oscars For Kids Lit' At The Evanston Public Library

EVANSTON, IL - From the Evanston Public Library: With the holidays growing closer every day, this is a great time to think about children’s books to buy or borrow to entertain and engage children. Two of the Library’s most accomplished children’s librarians and an award-winning author and illustrator are the perfect guides to provide both informational and entertaining guidance on excellence in books for children. They'll be presenting Best Picture Books of 2017 (an event for all adults interested in children's books) onSaturday, November 18, at 10 am in the Community Meeting Room of the Main Library.

Collections Manager Betsy Bird and Children’s Librarian and picture book selector Brian Wilson will discuss the best and brightest of the year’s picture books. Betsy will talk about the books that have made her cheer, and Mr. Brian will offer his annual enthusiastic countdown of storytime favorites. Matthew Cordell, local author and illustrator extraordinaire, will be talking about one of 2017’s most fantastic books.

Evanston Public Library Collections Manager Betsy Bird, who has worked at the Library since 2015, was formerly a Youth Media Specialist, the person who bought all the kids' books for Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx, for the New York Public Library. She has served on the Newbery Committee, which annually awards a medal to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. She has written for Horn Book, a publication about books for children and young adults, as well as published several children’s books herself. In addition to her popular blog, A Fuse 8 Production, found on the School Library Journal website, she and her sister produce a podcast called Fuse 8 n’ Kate, in which they track down picture book “classics” and determine whether they deserve to remain in the children’s literature canon.

Children who attend storytimes at Evanston Public Library most likely know Children’s Librarian Brian Wilson as Mr. Brian. Brian, who has worked at the library since 2001, served on the 2017 Caldecott Award Selection Committee. The Caldecott Award is given annually to the illustrator of the year’s most distinguished picture book. Brian has for many years reviewed audiovisual materials for the American Library Association Booklist. Colleague Betsy Bird says, “Brian is so talented—he really knows his stuff. He reads like crazy and has exquisite taste.” Brian’s blog, Mr. Brian’s Picture Book Picks, can be found at mrbrianspicturebookspicks.

Matthew Cordell is the illustrator of many acclaimed books for children including Special Delivery, a Washington Post best picture book of 2015. He is the author and illustrator of Trouble Gum, Another Brother, Wish, and Hello! Hello!, a New York Times Notable picture book and the illustrator of Toot Toot Zoom!, Mighty Casey, Righty and Lefty, Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, and Toby and the Snowflakes, which was written by his wife. They live in Chicago’s northern suburbs with their two children. His blog can be found at http://matthewcordell.blogspot.com.

Image via Patch archive