Kudos!

§ One City, Two Brothers and Motherbridge of Love are both Nautilus Silver Medal Winners! The Nautilus Book Awards were conceived to recognize and reward a group of world-changing books, and to celebrate how they contribute to positive social change, spiritual growth, conscious living, high-level wellness, and responsible leadership.

§ May means book awards are being announced, and Barefoot has won another prize! Skipping Stone Magazine is primarily for US teachers, and they honor books that promote multicultural & international awareness. From their website: "Awakening to our global interdependence challenges us to understand and appreciate differences, realizing the potential inherent in diversity." They have chosen to honor One City, Two Brothers in their round-up of the best multi-cultural books of 2008.

§ A favorable review of Knick Knack Paddy Whack in Booklist:

An exuberant tropical island setting marks this traditional sing-along counting song that will have preschoolers pointing at the pictures and joining in. On the endpapers, the dog plays with its bone, while on each double-page spread (created in bright acrylics and digital collage), the old man knick knacks on his drum, and one at a time, children join in with different instruments––a trumpet, a keyboard, a violin, and more. At last, the multicultural group sits down to feast on pizza, and then starts to make the music all over again. A CD is included, as are musical notation and words for a sing-along. There are also notes on percussion, keyboard, and other instrument “families.” Pictures, words, and music make for joyful sharing many times over. — Hazel Rochman