Contrary to popular belief, exposing babies and toddlers to different languages doesn't confuse them--it

actually prepares their brains for language development and reading readiness, says early childhood expert Patricia K. Kuhl, a guest speaker at ""Minds, Brains and Early Learning: How Infants Crack the Speech Code," one of the highlights at the American Library Association's Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

The co-director of the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences and coauthor of The Scientist in the Crib (Morrow Press, 1999) says infants are born "citizens of the world" and can acquire any language easily.

Kuhl (left) adds that educators end up teaching language the wrong way and at the wrong time to those older than seven, which is a huge problem because if kids aren't reading by third grade, it's almost impossible for them to catch up. What should libraries do? Encourage parents to read and provide social interaction--and speak to them in a language that encourages them to think and respond. Kuhl's research could potentially change our views of how children learn--and our approach to education.

Phillip Hoose, Brian Floca, and Chris Barton were on hand Monday for the 2010 Association for Library Service to Children awards presentation. Stone, winner of the 10th annual Sibert Medal for Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream (Candlewick), described the honor as "one of the most jubilant moments of my life" and talked about the joys of working with her editor, Marc Aronson, the recipient of the first Sibert Medal in 2001. The award is given annually to the most distinguished informational book for children.

Hoose, a Sibert Honor Book winner for Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (Farrar/ Melanie Kroupa Bks.)-about a teenage pioneer in the civil rights movement-accepted the citation with Colvin (left), bringing the crowd to its feet in applause for her brave story. Also accepting Honor Book awards were Chris Barton and Tony Persiani for The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors (Charlesbridge) and Brian Floca for Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 (S & S/ Richard Jackson Bks.)

Lois Lowry, two-time winner of the Newbery Medal, will deliver the 2011 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture next spring in St. Louis, MO. "We are thrilled to honor Lois Lowry, who has made a brilliant and lasting contribution to the field of children's literature and who is a dynamic and vital member of the children's book community," said 2011Arbuthnot Committee Chair Carol Edwards. Lowry, whose career spans more than 30 years, won the Newbery in 1990 for Number the Stars and in 1994 for The Giver (both Houghton). She also was the recipient of the 2007 Margaret A. Edwards Award, which honors an author's lifetime contributions to young adult literature.

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