Is it 2008 already? We've been so busy waiting for the American Library Association's medalists to be announced that we almost forgot. Wait no longer, because we have the results. Biographies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and books about winter will keep you occupied in these chilly months. And if fresh is what you're after, you'll enjoy Q&As with our featured authors, a list of our favorites books from last year, and young adult book trends we would like to see continue. Oh, yeah, and scanimation picture books are better than video games.

2008 ALA MEDALISTS
And the awards go to...

• Newbery Medal: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
• Caldecott Medal: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
• Coretta Scott King Author Award: Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
• Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award: Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals by Ashley Bryan
• Michael L. Printz Award: White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean
• Belpré Author Award: The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle and Sean Qualls (illustrator)
• Belpré Illustrator Award: Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes and Yuyi Morales (illustrator)

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s important message lives on in the form of countless children's books. The following are some of our favorites. My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Christine King Farris is an intimate look inside Martin Luther King's childhood, written by one of the people who knew him best. M.L.K.: The Journey of a King, by Tonya Bolden, is filled with fascinating photographs, quotes, and important dates. I Have a Dream, with a foreword by Coretta Scott King, is an illustrated version of King's most famous speech. Last, but certainly not least, is Doreen Rappaport's Martin's Big Words, a stunning Caldecott Medal winner combining historical facts with King's own impressive words. Check out all our books on Dr. King here.

KIDS' Q&A: EOIN COLFER
Ever hear of a little series of books called Artemis Fowl? Of course you have! Well, apparently Eoin Colfer hasn't used up all his amazing story ideas, as he now gives us a new series beginning with Airman. Featuring Conor Broekhart, a young boy who must invent a flying machine to escape the tyranny of his country's new leader, this book is sure to keep a reader flying high until the next installment. Read Eoin's Q&A, discover a few of the things that make this phenomenal author tick, and save 30% on Airman for a limited time.

KIDS' Q&A: LESLEY M. M. BLUME
We must admit that we wouldn't have expected to read a fine Southern Gothic tale like Tennyson from a writer based in New York City, but indeed we have. This book is so haunting, so carefully detailed, and so wonderfully written, we dare you not to recommend it to everyone you know. The same can be said for Lesley M. M. Blume's Q&A; read it and see if you don't become her immediate fan. And grab Tennyson for your nightstand at 30% off the cover price.

WINTERTIME BOOKS
Rain or snow, winter is a wonderful time to snuggle up with a book. Eric Rohmann's new book, A Kitten Tale, is a simply written story about anticipating snow, a great picture book for preschoolers. Winter Babies Wear Layers, a hiply illustrated board book by Michelle Sinclair Colman, continues her cool series for toddlers. It's no secret that here in Portland we get a lot of rain in the wintertime. Who Likes the Rain? by Etta Kaner will answer all your rainy day questions. And most children's book lovers know about Ezra Jack Keats classic, The Snowy Day, but it's still one of the best wintertime books out there.

KIDS' Q&A: ANTOINETTE PORTIS
Cool, creative, charming; all these describe Antoinette Portis's new book, Not a Stick. Evoking the sense of play and imagination of Harold and the Purple Crayon, this winning sequel to Not a Box won't spend much time on your child's bookshelf, as you will read it over and over. Read Antoinette's Q&A to discover the perils of Cap'n Crunch cereal and how she came to love a rat. And save 30% on Not a Stick.

KIDS' Q&A: LESLIE HELAKOSKI AND LEE HARPER
Woolbur is not like other sheep. This cute "it's cool to be yourself" story is one of our favorite new picture books of the year. Leslie Helakoski and illustrator Lee Harper recently sat down to answer our Kids' Q&A and the result is here for you to enjoy. And, of course, we have Woolbur on sale for 30% off the retail price, so that you can meet this spunky little rebel sheep for yourself.

OUR FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2007
We would be remiss to let 2007 fade away without giving you the short list of what some of our favorite books were from last year. Each of these books stands out as an instant classic.

YOUNG ADULT TRENDS FOR 2008
Jill here. Sadly, 2007 has come and gone, but its passing has imbued a sense of hope for 2008. Personally, I'm thrilled at some of the recent trends in young adult literature, and I want to take this moment to cheer on those publishers that have taken risks and broken the mold. I've been seeing a lot of great, dynamic male characters: Sid Hite's fantastically written novel I'm Exploding Now perfectly captures the deadpan humor of a typical ennui-filled sixteen-year-old. Hero by Perry Moore delivers the first gay superhero in a YA action-adventure. Most notably, however, is character James Sveck in Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron. We on the kids' team unanimously love James Sveck, and I adore the way the author has constructed such a strong, relatable coming-of-age story with a gay character, whose gayness is almost incidental; it's so matter-of-fact.

KIDS' BESTSELLERS

1. Small Pig by Arnold Lobel (Early Readers) 2. Uncle Elephant by Arnold Lobel (Early Readers) 3. No Fighting, No Biting by Else Holmelund Minarik (Early Readers) 4. Little Bear's Visit by Maurice Sendak (Early Readers) 5. Christmas Alphabet Cards by Robert Sabuda (Sale Books - Holiday) 6. The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz (Reference) 7. The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials #1 by Philip Pullman (Fantasy) 8. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Seder (Pop-up Books) 9. The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden (Reference) 10. The Subtle Knife: His Dark Materials #2 by Philip Pullman (Fantasy)