‘The Graveyard Book’ Wins Newbery Medal

[groovedaddy]

Neil Gaiman, a renowned author of science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and comics aimed at adults, won the John Newbery Medal for the year’s most outstanding contribution to children’s literature on Monday.

Mr. Gaiman, 48, won for “The Graveyard Book,” a story about a boy who is raised in a cemetery by ghosts after his family is killed in the opening pages of the novel. In announcing the winner of what is widely considered the most prestigious honor in children’s literature, the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, cited Mr. Gaiman’s work for its “delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing,” noting its “magical, haunting prose.”

The association, which conferred the medal at its midwinter meeting in Denver, also awarded the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children to Beth Krommes, who illustrated “The House in the Night,” a book written by Susan Marie Swanson.

Speaking by telephone from Los Angeles, where he had been doing press interviews for the forthcoming film adaptation of his first children’s novel, “Coraline,” Mr. Gaiman said he was stunned by the award, partly because the book had already found a popular audience. “The Graveyard Book,” published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, has spent 15 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list for children’s chapter books.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/books/27newb.html?th&emc=th

[asdjrocky]

1. Wonderful book and highly recommended.

[spinbaby]

2. It does look good

I just added it to my amazon order.

[Sabriel]

3. A little scary, a little funny, and a little sad.

What more can you ask for?

The audio book version is excellent, too.

[Sequoia]

4. I put it on hold at the library.

It might be a kid's book but I want to read it.

[Doctor_Horrible]

5. one of the very very few Newberry books I've actually enjoyed!

[Sequoia]

6. I finally got and read the book. It's is most excellent !!

I sure hope there is a sequel. Just because it's a kid's book doesn't mean you can't enjoy it too. Lovely writing and interesting words are used.

[Sequoia]

7. The author was on The Colbert Repor

last night at 8:30pm(from the night before). What a guy !!! I hope he keeps writing, he's very good.

[Greyskye]

8. My 10 year old son just read it.

He loved it, and was excited to know that I already own some of Gaiman's other novels. :D