Newbery and Caldecott Medal Winners Named

Christopher Paul Curtis, author of “Bud, Not Buddy,” and Simms Taback, illustrator of “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat,” are this year’s winners of the prestigious John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals for children’s literature, the American Library Assn. announced this week.

In “Bud, Not Buddy” (Delacorte Press, 1999), 10-year-old Bud Caldwell runs away from a foster home and begins a journey searching for his father, with clues pointing to a legendary jazz bandleader.

“Joseph Had a Little Overcoat” (Viking, 1999) is based on a Yiddish folk tale of a resourceful tailor who transforms his worn-out overcoat into smaller and smaller garments. Taback illustrated the tale in watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink and collage.

Three Newbery Honor Books were also named: “Getting Near to Baby,” by Audrey Couloumbis; “26 Fairmount Avenue,” by Tomie dePaola; and “Our Only May Amelia,” by Jennifer L. Holm.

Four Caldecott Honor Books were also named: “Sector 7,” illustrated and written by David Weisner; “The Ugly Duckling,” illustrated and adapted by Jerry Pinkney; “When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry,” illustrated and written by Molly Bang; and “A Child’s Calendar,” illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman and written by John Updike.

*

Writers Bloc presents an evening of satire, crime and humor with author Carl Hiassen in conversation with musician and author Kinky Friedman. With his latest novel, “Sick Puppy,” just published, Hiassen has also written “Double Whammy,” “Striptease,” “Stormy Weather” and “Lucky You.”

The pair will appear at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Writer’s Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. Tickets are $15. Call (310) 335-0917 for reservations.

*

Hiassen will also take questions about “Sick Puppy” from fans through Barnes & Noble’s online chat session at https://www.barnesandnoble.com today at 4 p.m. Other authors coming up include:

* Friday, noon: Connie May Fowler discusses “Remembering Blue,” a love story set in a north Florida coastal town, where a young widow mourns the loss of her fisherman husband.

* Monday, 4 p.m.: Michael Connelly talks about his latest thriller, “Void Moon.”

* Monday, 6 p.m.: Dean Koontz will log on to discuss “False Memory,” a suspense novel about autophobia--fear of oneself.

* Tuesday, 4 p.m.: Ursula Hegi discusses “The Vision of Emma Blau,” the companion novel to her “Stones From the River.” “Emma Blau” poses the question: If you knew you could experience a significant love only once in your life, would you want these years at the end or the beginning?