From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:56:36 -0500

KT's message about authors from Australia, New Zealand and the UK reminded me that this is one of the dimensions of the Printz award I most appreciate--in part because so many great y.a. books come from writers in those countries. (Really, is it the water in Australia?)

That's not to negate the terrific home-grown titles that also garner deserved attention from the Printz, but I like the fact that the award is intended to draw attention to high-quality, literary books in English, regardless of original, as long as they've been published here.

As with aany award, from year to year I find myself less-than-thrilled with some of the choices and overjoyed with others. Overall, however, all it takes is looking back over the past thirteen years to see a list that includes truly outstanding books from English-speaking countries.

Here's some of my favorite books from writers outside the U.S. that have received Printz recognition:

Kit's Wilderness by David Almond Postcards from No-Man's Land by Aidan Chambers One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke Black Juice by Margo Lanagan I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak The Book Thief by Markus Zusak how i live now by Meg Rosoff (a bit of a mix--U.S. author living in Britain)

Megan

-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706

608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu

www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Fri 17 Aug 2012 11:56:36 AM CDT