ALA 2016 Book Awards!  I hope you were as excited as I was several days ago when the winners of the 2016 American Library Association Youth Media Awards were announced. Besides the Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Printz, Pura Belpre, and Caldecott awards, there were many, many others. Click above for the ALA list. I’ve already read a couple of those books on the list.

I’ve been revising a picture book manuscript which I started months ago. It’s been gathering dust in my work-in-progress files. Coming back and reading it with fresh eyes helps. I can see where I needed to develop my character more and write in more descriptive details to really make the story. Sometimes I need to go back and reread some of the notes I’ve taken at workshops and conferences or even take out that book on the writing process.

I am always learning. I am a work-in-progress writer. Like I say to the students when I do school visits: Revising means to revisit your work and make it better. Next Saturday, I will attend a Picture Book Salon meeting sponsored by our local SCBWI chapter. It will cover creative nonfiction in picture books. See what I mean? There are always resources and opportunities for writers to perfect their writing skills. Look around your area for such resources. Do you belong to SCBWI? If not, why not?

And here’s another great list on the Latin@s in Kid List blog. This one lists new books being released in 2016. Some of my author friends’ books are on the list. So exciting!