Maurice Sendak died today.  He was a transformative author and illustrator of books for children.  Where the Wild Things Are is his best known title, which won the Caldecott Medal in 1964.  As a child, I spent many hours listening to Really Rosie - a musical based on his books with music by Carol King.   You might enjoy reading them too!

Congratulations to the winners! - Check out their Work!

Children up to age 6

1st place: Joaquin Albornoz, age 5, “Joaquin’s Birthday Party”

Honorable Mention: Kapil Kumar age 5 1/2 , “Sharing and Friendship”

Children ages 7-12

1st place: Nathan Koketsu, age 11, “Adventure in the Open Sea”

2nd place: Madurya Suresh, age 9, “The Search for the Sun”

3rd place: Laura Shieh, age 12, “Silver Dandelion”

Honorable Mention:  Audrey Chiang, age 8, “The Firefly and her Glow”

Teens

1st place: Apanuba Mahmood, age 14, “Flaming Resolve! – Fleeting Demon Encounter”

2nd place: Huyen Nguyen (Chibi Teresa), age 15, “Phantom Dream Hunter: The Prologue”

3rd place: Sienna Gonzales, age 14, “Colored Pencils”

Honorable Mention: Thu Nguyen, age 14,  “Terra”

Adults

1st place: Queena Xu, “Butterfly Wish”

2nd place: Christine Bainbridge, “A Dream”

3rd place: Eric Elemen, “Super Busy Dad”

Honorable Mention: Darren Tat, “Death Match”

For more photos, please vist the San Jose Public Library Flickr site.

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If you have a talent for creating comic/manga style illustrated short stories, you are invited to enter San José Public Library’s Graphic Novel Making Contest for all ages as part of our Summer Reading Celebration, 2012. This contest is sponsored by San José Public Library, Hijinx Comics, San José Museum of Art and TRY Japan Culture Group.

Here’s how to enter …

• Create your own comic book with a maximum length of 8 pages, including the cover page.
• Use letter-size paper (8.5 x 11) with black-and-white drawings and text on one side only.
• Each submission must be the creative and original work of a single individual—the author/illustrator.
• The contest is limited to amateur authors/ illustrators only.
• Computer generated images are acceptable as long as they are your original work (no clip art)
• Consider submitting a photocopy that is an accurate reflection of the original (as submissions are non-returnable).
• San José Public Library reserves the right to reproduce your work. You can reuse all your work after the contest.
• Be sure to print and complete the creative works release form. Include your Name, Age, Contact Information and Signature.
• Entries can be submitted to any San José Public Library location no later than 8p.m. on Wednesday, August 1, 2012.  There is a limit of one entry per contestant.

Entries will be judged on content and illustrations by a panel of library staff and comic industry professionals. All cash prizes will be awarded as gift cards. 

• Children (up to age 6): first place will receive Art Supplies
• Children (7-12):  first place $40, second place $20
• Teens (ages 13-17):  first place $100; second place $70; third place $50
• Adults (age 18 and above):  first place $100; second place $70; third place $50

Winners will be announced and prizes awarded at a reception to be held at the Berryessa Branch Library on Saturday, August 25th at 2:00 p.m.in the Community Room. 

Check out the award winning entries from 2011 and 2010. We're discussing last year's winners and other graphic novels in the Online Book Club during June and July.      

Learn how to make your own comic book, graphic novel or manga!  Oliver Chin will be teaching this free workshop for teens at some San José Public Library branches.

San José Public Library staff members are ineligible to participate.

San José Public Library reserves the right to refuse submissions that are not appropriate for a general audience. This contest is open to all California residents.

LMNO Peas by Keith Baker, Alpha Oops! the Day Z Went First by Alethea Kontis and Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham are three picture books with fun and zany story lines for the alphabet.  I never imagined the alphabet could be so fun.  I read these stories to my pre-school age son, and he loved them.  The pictures are wonderful and the twists and turns between the alphabet characters make the story so fun.  I recommend these stories highly.  LMNO Peas and Alpha Oops! the Day Z Went First are displayed on the concept display pyramid, and Z is for Moose is a new book on the new book display shelf.  Check for these titles at your next visit.  If you don't find them, don't be surprised because they are very popular and may be checked out!

National Autism Awareness Month

My Brother Charlie, by Holly Robinson Peete

For all ages, My Brother Charlie is a beautifully written, heart packed, brightly illustrated, clear and simple introduction to autism.

National Autism Awareness Month (A few facts)

• Autism is a developmental disorder, occurring in children before the age of 3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002494/

• "Autism affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. A baby with autism spectrum disorder may be unresponsive to people, or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time.  A child with ASD may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement." http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

• About 1 in 88 children have been found to have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD.)  Rates appear to be increasing, but this may be due to the increased awareness and diagnostic procedures currently in place. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtm/ss6103a1.htm?s_cid=ss6103a1_w

• Autism is three to four times more common among boys than girls. http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

San José Public Library Resources on Autism:

Materials

• General: http://catalog.sjlibrary.org/search~/a?searchtype=X&searcharg=autism&SORT=D&searchscope=1
• Fiction: http://catalog.sjlibrary.org/search~S1?/X(Autism)+and+(Fiction)&SORT=D/X(Autism)+and+(Fiction)&SORT=D&SUBKEY=(Autism)+and+(Fiction)/1%2C53%2C53%2CB/browse#anchor_25
• Nonfiction: http://catalog.sjlibrary.org/search~S1/X?SEARCH=((Autism)%20and%20(nonfiction))&SORT=D

Social Workers in the Library

• http://sjpl.org/blog/social-workers-library-1

Story time

• Inclusive Storytime at the Library: http://sjpl.org/tags/inclusive-story-time

Additional Resources:

• Autism Society: http://www.autism-society.org/about-us/national-autism-awareness-month/
• First 5 of California:  www.f5ac.org/files/AutismScreeningppt.ppt

• Parents Helping Parents:http://www.php.com/
• Plane Tree Medical Library http://www.planetree-sccl.org/
• PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002831/