Literary Awards: The Best Books of 2008

It’s that time of year again to recognize the best and brightest in books for 2008 according to various giants in the publishing industry.

First up, The New York Times announced its Notable Children’s Books of 2008 which includes Walter Dean Myers’ Sunrise Over Fallujah on its list.

Publishers Weekly joined in the praise for Sunrise Over Fallujah and included Kadir Nelson’s We Are the Ship:  The Story of Negro League Baseball in its list of Best Books for 2008 under children’s non-fiction.

School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2008 includes Kadir Nelson’s We Are the Ship:  The Story of Negro League Baseball, Walter Dean Myers’ Sunrise Over Fallujah, Hope Anita Smith’s Keeping the Night Watch, and Carole Boston Weatherford’s Becoming Billie Holiday.

Amazon has joined the Best Books recognition as well with three separate lists for picture books, middle grade, and young adult.

This week, the Cybils announced the nominees for this year’s competition.  The lists are extensive and I don’t envy the committee for the work that they have to do in choosing a winner for each of the eleven categories next year.

Finally, the National Book Foundation announced their winners for the 2008 National Book Awards.

Congratulations to all of the winners and best wishes to the Cybils nominees!

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