Jason Reynolds Wins Carnegie Medal for Story Collection Look Both Ways
Poet and author Jason Reynolds has won the Carnegie medal, the UK’s most prestigious prize for children’s books, for his short story collection Look Both Ways. The book is a collection of 10 interlinked stories about children walking home from school. The stories cover topics relatable to children from all walks of life, including bullying, homophobia, and bereavement. Judges said the stories “brim with humour, empathy and humanity,” and “challenge the reader to see differently in an engaging and fresh way.” When asked how it felt to win, Reynolds said it was “amazing.” He explained, “For me, the Carnegie is super special. I was shortlisted before, which was good enough for me. But this time around it has been really incredible to know that that book has resonated in the UK, mainly because I think it validates the idea that it’s just a human story.”
Beauty and the Beast Prequel Series Coming to Disney Plus
The Disney Plus Beauty and the Beast prequel has officially been ordered to series. The prequel is a live-action musical series that features 2017’s Beauty and the Beast stars Luke Evans and Josh Gad reprising the roles of Gaston and LeFou. Additionally, it has been announced that newcomer Briana Middleton is joining the show as Tilly, LeFou’s stepsister. The series has been given an eight-episode order. Production will begin in spring 2022.
Leicester-Based Books2Door Donates to Book Shop Destroy in Gaza
Books2Door, a Leicester-based book firm in England is donating 1,000 books to a book shop in the Gaza Strip, which was completely destroyed in the recent Hamas/Israeli conflict. Books2Door owner Abdul Thadha says that he saw an online campaign to help rebuild the two-storey Samir Mansour shop, and he offered his help. Thadha said, “When I saw what had happened to the Mansour shop, my heart sank. This business is 21 years old, it is a community, it is a library it is where children in Gaza were getting their English literature books from. I thought ‘I have a business, I have children’s book, this is something we can help with.'” The online campaign has raised more than $200,000 and received thousands of books nationwide.
Here’s What You Need to Know About Florida’s Critical Race Theory Ban
Last Thursday, Florida passed a law forbidding the teaching of critical race theory in schools. Here’s everything you need to know about the ban.