Kate DiCamillo is just back from Las Vegas ("exhausted and overjoyed," she says on Facebook), where she was picking up the Newbery Medal that she won earlier in the year for "Flora & Ulysses," her funny, charming and poignant story about a girl, a squirrel and a vacuum cleaner. And she now finds herself on another longlist for yet another prize.
The Guardian of London has announced its longlist for The Guardian Children's Prize, a list that was described as being "challenging, funny, exciting, beautiful, thoughtful, bonkers," according to one of the judges, writer Gillian Cross.
DiCamillo's "Flora & Ulysses" is on the list, along with seven other books. Here's the list, with the UK publishers listed. (DiCamillo's US publisher is Candlewick.) The short list will be announced in August, and the winner will be annonced on Nov. 13.
"The Diaries of Bluebell Gadsby: Flora in Love," by Natasha Farrant (Faber)
"Phoenix," by SF Said (David Fickling)
"Flora and Ulysses," by Kate DiCamillo (Walker)
"The Dark Wild," by Piers Torday (Quercus)
"Shine," by Candy Gourlay (David Fickling)
