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School Picks Favorite Books Ahead of Main Awards

Detail from the cover of Patricia Reilly Giff's <i>House of Tailors</i>.
Detail from the cover of Patricia Reilly Giff's House of Tailors.

The winners of the most prestigious awards in children's literature are announced. The Caldecott Medal for best picture book went to Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes. The Newbery Medal, awarded to the best book for older children, was given to Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata.

But students at Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, Ill., held their own mock Newbery competition, crowning The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer; Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins; and House of Tailors by Patricia Reilly Giff as the top choices of 2004.

NPR's Renee Montagne talks to Paulette Goodman, librarian at Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, Ill., and a few students at the school about their choices.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Renee Montagne, one of the best-known names in public radio, is a special correspondent and host for NPR News.