2011 Newbery, Caldecott Medal winners announced

Yesterday in San Diego, the American Library Association announced the winners of this year’s Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal, the top honors for books for children and young adults.

The most prestigious of the two awards, the John Newbery Medal, which is given each year to the book that makes the “most outstanding contribution to children’s literature,” was awarded to “Moon Over Manifest” by Clare Vanderpool.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal is given each year to the “most distinguished American picture book for children." This year’s Caldecott Medal went to “A Sick Day for Amos McGee,” which was written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead.

Esteemed worldwide for the high quality of books that they recognize, the ALA awards are meant to serve as a guide for parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. The award winners are selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s and young adult experts.

Many of you will be familiar with past Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners. Past winners of the Newbery Medal include the following books:

2010 - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
2009 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Dave McKean
2008 - Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
2007 - The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron and illustrated by Matt Phelan
2006 - Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
2005 - Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
2004 - The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering.
2003 - Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
2002 - A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
2001 - A Year Down Yonder by by Richard Peck

2000 - Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
1999 - Holes by Louis Sachar
1998 - Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
1997 - The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
1996 - The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
1995 - Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
1994 - The Giver by Lois Lowry
1993 - Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
1992 - Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
1991 - Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

1990 - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
1989 - Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman
1988 - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
1987 - The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
1986 - Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
1985 - The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
1984 - Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
1983 - Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt
1982 - A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard
1981 - Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

1980 - A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-1832 by Joan W. Blos
1979 - The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
1978 - Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
1977 - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
1976 - The Grey King by Susan Cooper
1975 - M. C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton
1974 - The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox (Bradbury)
1973 - Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
1972 - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
1971 - Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars

1970 - Sounder by William H. Armstrong
1969 - The High King by Lloyd Alexander
1968 - From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
1967 - Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt
1966 - I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
1965 - Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska
1964 - It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville
1963 - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
1962 - The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
1961 - Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

1960 - Onion John by Joseph Krumgold
1959 - The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
1958 - Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith
1957 - Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
1956 - Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
1955 - The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
1954 - ...And Now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold
1953 - Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark
1952 - Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes
1951 - Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

1950 - The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
1949 - King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
1948 - The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois
1947 - Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
1946 - Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
1945 - Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
1944 - Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
1943 - Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
1942 - The Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds
1941 - Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

1940 - Daniel Boone by James Daugherty
1939 - Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright
1938 - The White Stag by Kate Seredy
1937 - Roller Skates by Ruth Sawyer
1936 - Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
1935 - Dobry by Monica Shannon
1934 - Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women by Cornelia Meigs
1933 - Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Lewis
1932 - Waterless Mountain by Laura Adams Armer
1931 - The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

1930 - Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field
1929 - The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
1928 - Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji
1927 - Smoky, the Cowhorse by Will James
1926 - Shen of the Sea by Arthur Bowie Chrisman
1925 - Tales from Silver Lands by Charles Finger
1924 - The Dark Frigate by Charles Hawes
1923 - The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
1922 - The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon

Past Caldecott Medal winners include the following books:

2010 - The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
2009 - The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson
2008 - The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
2007 - Flotsam by David Wiesner
2006 - The Hello, Goodbye Window, illustrated by Chris Raschka and written by Norton Juster
2005 - Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
2004 - The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
2003 - My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
2002 - The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
2001 - So You Want to Be President? illustrated by David Small with text by Judith St. George

2000 - Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
1999 - Snowflake Bentley, illustrated by Mary Azarian with text by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
1998 - Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky
1997 - Golem by David Wisniewski
1996 - Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
1995 - Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz with text by Eve Bunting
1994 - Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say with text edited by Walter Lorraine
1993 - Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
1992 - Tuesday by David Wiesner
1991 - Black and White by David Macaulay

1990 - Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young
1989 - Song and Dance Man, illustrated by Stephen Gammell with text by Karen Ackerman
1988 - Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr with text by Jane Yolen
1987 - Hey, Al, illustrated by Richard Egielski with text by Arthur Yorinks
1986 - The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
1985 - Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman with text retold by Margaret Hodges
1984 - The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot by Alice & Martin Provensen
1983 - Shadow, translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown with original text in French by Blaise Cendrars
1982 - Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
1981 - Fables by Arnold Lobel

1980 - Ox-Cart Man, illustrated by Barbara Cooney with text by Donald Hall
1979 - The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble
1978 - Noah's Ark by Peter Spier
1977 - Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon with text by Margaret Musgrove
1976 - Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon with text retold by Verna Aardema
1975 - Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott
1974 - Duffy and the Devil, illustrated by Margot Zemach and retold by Harve Zemach
1973 - The Funny Little Woman, illustrated by Blair Lent with text retold by Arlene Mosel
1972 - One Fine Day, retold and illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian
1971 - A Story A Story, retold and illustrated by Gail E. Haley

1970 - Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
1969 - The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz with text by retold by Arthur Ransome
1968 - Drummer Hoff, illustrated by Ed Emberley with text adapted by Barbara Emberley
1967 - Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness
1966 - Always Room for One More, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian with text by Sorche Nic Leodhas
1965 - May I Bring a Friend? illustrated by Beni Montresor with text by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
1964 - Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
1963 - The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
1962 - Once a Mouse, retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown
1961 - Baboushka and the Three Kings, illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov wiith text by Ruth Robbins

1960 - Nine Days to Christmas, illustrated by Marie Hall Ets with text by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
1959 - Chanticleer and the Fox, illustrated by Barbara Cooney with text adapted from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Barbara Cooney
1958 - Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
1957 - A Tree Is Nice, illustrated by Marc Simont with text by Janice Udry
1956 - Frog Went A-Courtin', illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky with text retold by John Langstaff
1955 - Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper, illustrated by Marcia Brown with text translated from Charles Perrault by Marcia Brown
1954 - Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans
1953 - The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward
1952 - Finders Keepers, illustrated by Nicholas Mordvinoff with text by William Lipkind
1951 - The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous

1950 - Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi
1949 - The Big Snow by Berta & Elmer Hader
1948 - White Snow, Bright Snow, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin with text by Alvin Tresselt
1947 - The Little Island, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard with text by Golden MacDonald
1946 - The Rooster Crows by Maud & Miska Petersham
1945 - Prayer for a Child, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones with text by Rachel Field
1944 - Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin with text by James Thurber
1943 - The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
1942 - Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
1941 - They Were Strong and Good by Robert Lawson

1940 - Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
1939 - Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
1938 - Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop with text selected by Helen Dean Fish

The ALA also handed out a number of other awards yesterday. For more information about those awards as well as the finalists for the Newbery and Caldecott medals, visit the ALA’s Web site at www.ala.org.

Impending humiliation can be a powerful motivator in marathons

I ran my first full marathon (26.2 miles) yesterday when I completed the 10th Annual BankTrust First Light Marathon in Mobile.

I didn’t break any land speed records in the attempt, but I did meet two of the three goals that I set out to accomplish – I had fun, and I finished the race.

I did not, however, run the race at my intended pace. I crossed the finish line in five hours, 27 minutes and 18 seconds, that is, I ran the race at a 12.5-minute per mile pace. I set out to keep an 11-minute per mile pace.

I did OK and felt good for first 10 or 11 miles. I was slightly ahead of pace, and felt like I could run all the way to Texas without letting up. However, around the tenth mile, the course took us over Interstate 65 on Dauphin Street, and we begin to encounter the first of numerous steep hills along the route. The next 10 miles or so sucked the life out of me.

I lost pace at this point and began to experience significant pain in my calves. At the same time, all of those folks that I’d passed since the start seemed to stream back ahead of me, never to be seen again.

Eventually, I made it out of the hills, having run through the campuses at Spring Hill College and the University of South Alabama, even passed the National Guard Armory on Museum Street, where I set for and returned from Iraq back in 2003 and 2004.

The route took us back out on to Springhill Avenue, and that’s when thing’s got really interesting. After all of those hills, I began to wonder if I would even be able to finish the race. My calves were destroyed, burning, and I felt that they could at any moment begin to cramp uncontrollably. I knew that if I reached that point, I’d be worthless, unable to continue and finish the race. I imagined myself twitching in the grass, being checked out by one of the many ambulance crews who were working the race for the City of Mobile.

I slowed my pace even more, and my thoughts were dominated by the impending humiliation I would feel if I couldn’t finish. More than a few people, especially my co-workers and family, knew that I was running the marathon, and I could just picture them not seeing my name among the official finishers in Monday morning’s Mobile Press-Register. Worse yet, my wife and five-year-old daughter were waiting for me at the finish line. What would daddy say to his daughter if he wasn’t man enough to finish a race he’d been training for since the first week of September?

I refused to give up and focused on the simplest of distance running principles – just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Suddenly, without warning, about the time I crossed over the railroad tracks on Springhill Avenue, the pain in my calves disappeared. Was it a dump of endorphins, those mystical, natural painkillers that are known mostly for producing “jogger’s high”? Whatever it was, I was thankful, and I began to pick up the pace.

I the end, I crossed the finish line after nearly five and a half hours of running. The race started at 7:30 a.m., and I crossed the finished line a few minutes before 1 p.m. Officially, I finished 390th out of 471 runners in the full marathon. I didn’t win, but I did meet two of my most important goals – I finished, and I had fun.

Koontz's 'What the Night Knows' debuts atop PW best-seller list

It’s Sunday, so that means that it’s time for my weekly review of this week’s Publishers Weekly Best-Seller List. According to the list, we’ve got three new books at the top of the four major best-seller lists this week.

“What the Night Knows” by Dean Koontz replaced “Dead or Alive” by Tom Clancy and Grant Blackwood as the No. 1 book on the hardcover fiction best-sellers list.

"Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption" by Laura Hillenbrand replaced “Decision Points” by George W. Bush as the top book on the hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson retained the No. 1 spot on the mass market paperback best-sellers list. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” also replaced “Inside of a Dog” by Alexandra Horwitz as the top book on the trade paperbacks best-sellers list.

There are five books on this week’s hardcover fiction best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. Those books (and their place on the list) are "What the Night Knows" by Dean Koontz (1), "The Outlaws: A Presidential Agent Novel" by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV (4), "Secrets to the Grave" by Tami Hoag (8), "In Too Deep: Book One of the Looking Glass Trilogy" by Jayne Ann Krentz (9) and "Dead Zero: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel" by Stephen Hunter (14).

There are four books on this week’s hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. They include "Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man" by Steve Harvey (6), "Getting More: How to Negotiate to Achieve Your Goals in the Real World" by Stuart Diamond (10), "Debt Free For Life: The Finish Rich Plan for Financial Freedom" by David Bach (12) and "A--holes Finish First" by Tucker Max (14).

There are nine books on this week’s mass market paperbacks best-sellers list that weren’t on that list last week. Those books include "Ruthless Game" by Christine Feehan (2), "Deliver Us from Evil" by David Baldacci (4), "Promise Canyon" by Robyn Carr (6), "The Lady Most Likely...: A Novel in Three Parts" by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway (8), "The Scent of Jasmine" by Jude Deveraux (10), "Live to Tell: A Detective D.D. Warren Novel" by Lisa Gardner (11), "Deja Vu" by Fern Michaels (12), "Black Magic Sanction" by Kim Harrison (13) and "The First Rule" by Robert Crais (15).

There are four books on this week’s trade paperbacks list that weren’t on the list last week. Those books are "Water for Elephants: A Novel" by Sara Gruen (9), "Happy Ever After" by Nora Roberts (10), "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay (13) and "My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands" by Chelsea Handler (14).

As a reminder, I’m posting these lists each Sunday because they, as a whole, represent a great, contemporary recommended reading list. They are initially released each week on Thursday, and if you’re interested in reading them then, visit Publishers Weekly’s Web site at www.publishersweekly.com. Below you’ll find all four of this week’s best-seller lists.

HARDCOVER FICTION
1. "What the Night Knows" by Dean Koontz
2. "Dead or Alive" by Tom Clancy and Grant Blackwood
3. "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson
4. "The Outlaws: A Presidential Agent Novel" by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV
5. "The Confession" by John Grisham
6. "Cross Fire" by James Patterson
7. "Port Mortuary" by Patricia Cornwell
8. "Secrets to the Grave" by Tami Hoag
9. "In Too Deep: Book One of the Looking Glass Trilogy" by Jayne Ann Krentz
10. "Freedom: A Novel" by Jonathan Franzen
11. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
12. "Hell's Corner" by David Baldacci
13. "Full Dark, No Stars" by Stephen King
14. "Dead Zero: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel" by Stephen Hunter
15. "Fall of Giants" by Ken Follett

HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" by Laura Hillenbrand
2. "Decision Points" by George W. Bush
3. "Life" by Keith Richards
4. "The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman" by Timothy Ferriss
5. "Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff
6. "Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man" by Steve Harvey
7. "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth: A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race" by Jon Stewart
8. "Autobiography of Mark Twain" by Ed. by Harriet Elinor Smith
9. "Decoded" by Jay-Z
10. "Getting More: How to Negotiate to Achieve Your Goals in the Real World" by Stuart Diamond
11. "Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?" by Ina Garten
12. "Debt Free For Life: The Finish Rich Plan for Financial Freedom" by David Bach
13. "Broke" by Glenn Beck
14. "A--holes Finish First" by Tucker Max
15. "Sh t My Dad Says" by Justin Halpern

MASS MARKET PAPERBACKS
1. "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson
2. "Ruthless Game" by Christine Feehan
3. "The Girl Who Played with Fire" by Stieg Larsson
4. "Deliver Us from Evil" by David Baldacci
5. "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown
6. "Promise Canyon" by Robyn Carr
7. "U is for Undertow" by Sue Grafton
8. "The Lady Most Likely...: A Novel in Three Parts" by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway
9. "Alex Cross's Trial" by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
10. "The Scent of Jasmine" by Jude Deveraux
11. "Live to Tell: A Detective D.D. Warren Novel" by Lisa Gardner
12. "Deja Vu" by Fern Michaels
13. "Black Magic Sanction" by Kim Harrison
14. "Breathless" by Dean Koontz
15. "The First Rule" by Robert Crais

TRADE PAPERBACKS
1. "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson
2. "House Rules" by Jodi Picoult
3. "The Girl Who Played with Fire" by Stieg Larsson
4. "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert
5. "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese
6. "Just Kids" by Patti Smith
7. "The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel" by Garth Stein
8. "Little Bee" by Chris Cleave
9. "Water for Elephants: A Novel" by Sara Gruen
10. "Happy Ever After" by Nora Roberts
11. "Inside of a Dog" by Alexandra Horowitz
12. "True Grit" by Charles Portis
13. "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay
14. "My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands" by Chelsea Handler
15. "The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have" by Mark Nepo

In the end, let me know if you’ve had a chance to read any of these books. What did you think about them? Which would you recommend? Let us know in the comments section below.

It's put up or shut up time at tomorrow's First Light Marathon

Bright and early tomorrow morning in Mobile, I will attempt to run my first marathon (26.2 miles).

I’ve ran in dozens of organized foot races in the past, most of them in Mobile, but none of them longer than a half-marathon, that is, 13.1 miles.

Back in the late summer, I read an article in Outside magazine about marathon running, and the article included a running plan that would help just about anyone prepare for their first marathon. I tore it out, made up my mind to give it a shot and followed the plan as closely as possible. At age 34, I figured that if I was ever going to say that I’d ran a marathon, I’d better do it now before I get to old to make a serious attempt.

As best as I can tell, between the first week of September and today, I logged 53 training runs, covering 372 miles. I managed to tough out the longest training run, 20 miles, two weeks ago before beginning to taper off in preparation for the race tomorrow. Those 20 miles are the farthest I’ve ever run at one time without stopping.

I’ll be running in the BankTrust First Light Marathon in Mobile in the morning, and according to the Mobile Press-Register on Thursday, a record number of over 1,800 people had signed up for the marathon, half-marathon, relay and 1.2-mile fun run.

One unwanted curve that has been thrown into my first marathon experience is the weather forecast. Despite the fact that Mobile is known for its mild weather, the temperature at tomorrow’s marathon start time, 7:30 a.m., is supposed to be around 35 degrees. Throw in a predicted 17 mph northeast wind, and the wind-chill factor will be 27 degrees, according to The Weather Channel.

Winds that strong will mean one thing for certain. No records will likely be set tomorrow by any of the world-class runners in attendance.

Of course, I’ve no intention or real chance of finishing in record time anyway. My goal is to simply finish and to have fun in the process. And from the looks of things, I will have plenty of company.

To save some time, I rode down to Mobile today and picked up my race packet early, so that I wouldn’t have to bother doing so tomorrow morning. Race packets were available for early pick up at the Admiral Semmes Hotel in downtown Mobile, and there was a large crowd there when I slipped in to get my official race bib and race T-shirt.

In the end, I have to admit that I’m a little nervous about tomorrow. When push comes to shove, will I have the juice to put for the effort I know will be required to finish the race? Will I be able to dig down deep inside and find that extra something to man up and not stop? One can only trust that the weeks of training will pay off in the moment of truth. I can assure you my race plan is a simple one – I’m just going to keep putting one foot in front of the other one until I get to the finish line, where my wife and daughter will be waiting with a large jug of Gatorade and an over-sized bottle Extra Strength Tylenol.

'The Last Airbender' = 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' + 'Seven Years in Tibet'

I watched “The Last Airbender” for the first time yesterday, and I have to admit that I was disappointed by the quality of this much-publicized movie.

Released on July 1, the movie was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, which was the main reason I wanted to see it, given the quality of some of his earlier movies. I assure you, “The Last Airbender” falls far short of such films as “The Sixth Sense” and “The Village.”

The movie starred Noah Ringer (who reportedly got the lead role because he has a black belt in Taekwondo), Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone (aka Jasper Hale in The Twilight Series of movies), Dev Patel (aka Jamal Malik from “Slumdog Millionaire”), Shaun Toub (who was in “Crash” and “Iron Man”), Aasif Mandvi (a regular on The Daily Show with John Stewart) and Cliff Curtis (aka Rabbit from the TV show, “Trauma”).

For those of you who haven’t seen “The Last Airbender,” it’s a fantasy film with heavy doses of martial arts and magic, very “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” meets “Chronicles of Narnia” meets “Seven Years in Tibet.” The movie is set in a world in which humans, depending on which tribe they’re born into, have the ability to manipulate one of the four primal elements – earth, wind, fire and water. One person, called the Avatar, is the only person in the world who can manipulate all four. When this person dies, he’s reincarnated as a member of another tribe elsewhere in the world.

“The Last Airbender” is about an Avatar named Aang, who becomes trapped for nearly a century in ice and awakens to learn that the rest of his tribe has been wiped out. Aided by the two members of the waterbending tribe who free him from his century-long trap and others, he sets out on a quest to unite the earth and water tribes against the Fire Nation, who killed all of the Airbenders.

To me, the most interesting thing about this movie is the fact that it is based on the first season of the animated TV series, “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” which aired for three seasons (2005-2008) on Nickelodeon. (Shyamalan reportedly first became interested in “Avatar” when one of his daughters, a fan of the cartoon, dressed up as one of the characters for Halloween one year.) The series was created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Financially, “The Last Airbender” movie has not done as well as expected. Its shooting budget was $150 million, and its marketing budget was around $130 million = total cost of about $280 million. Gross revenues from the film, as of this writing, were $319 million. No official announcement has been released regarding a potential sequel to the film.

In the end, I was disappointed by this movie, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it wasn’t worth watching. Looking back, it’s more of a kid movie anyway, so maybe I’m just outside of the film’s target audience.

How many of you have had a chance to see “The Last Airbender”? What did you think about it? Did you like it? Hate it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Dunn Hardware fire tops headlines a century ago in Conecuh County

It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in January 1911.

In the Jan 5, 1911 edition of The Conecuh Record newspaper, publisher and editor J.C. Whitcomb reported that “a cold wave struck Evergreen Monday night after a heavy rain and sleet storm all day Monday. Wednesday morning, the thermometer registered 12 degrees above zero, the coldest weather experienced here in many years. Ice formed an inch thick and many water pipes were frozen, which made business for the plumbers.”

Readers that week also learned that “all of the merchants of Evergreen report an increased trade during the year, and the outlook for 1911 is very encouraging for a big year in the commercial world.”

Subscribers also heard that week that “Montgomery is making big preparations for the inauguration of Governor-elect O’Neal which will occur on the 16th, inst. The L&N will have tickets on sale at reduced prices.”

Whitcomb also reported that week that “all trains on the L&N were delayed for several hours on Tuesday, owing to a washout above Fort Deposit. The washout was discovered in time to avoid a wreck.”

Readers that week also learned that “Capt. J.C. Cheney and family left here last week for Montgomery, where the captain will be associated with Mr. Kolb, Secretary of Agriculture. Evergreen lost a good citizen when the captain left it.

“W.H. Moorer has been appointed mayor of Evergreen to fill the unexpired term of Capt. Cheney, and E.J. McCreary was appointed councilman.”

In the Jan. 12, 1911 edition of the paper, Whitcomb reported that “Boys Corn Clubs are being organized all over the state, and we hope that the Conecuh County boys will come to the front and organize one of the largest clubs in the state.”

Readers that week also learned that “a number of Evergreenites contemplate going to Montgomery next Monday to attend the inauguration of Governor-elect O’Neal.”

Subscribers also saw that week that the “Rev. W.B. Crumpton filled the pulpit at the Baptist Church Sunday last.”

Whitcomb also reported that “Messrs. W.C. Crumpton and E.C. Page left Monday for Montgomery, where they will enter upon their duties as Senator and Representative.”

Readers also read that week that “Mr. D.G. Rutland died Wednesday night at 11 o’clock at his home east of Evergreen. One week ago, he was stricken with paralysis and at no time during the week did he regain consciousness. Although everything was done for him that was possible, it was to no avail. Mr. Rutland had long been a resident of Evergreen and was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends, and his demise is greatly regretted.”

In the Jan. 19, 1911 edition of The Record, it was reported that “A.F. Davis has sold out his grocery business and opened a restaurant in the old First National Bank building, where he is serving first class meals.”

Readers that week also learned that “the banks and post office were closed Thursday in observance of General Lee’s birthday.”

That week’s paper also included the following advertisement.

“Having purchased the dyeing, cleaning and pressing business from McNutt and Wallis, I am prepared to serve the public in this line and solicit the patronage of everybody. T.A. Gantt.”

Subscribers also saw that week that “Messrs. Thornton of Montgomery have purchased P.C. Walker’s residence and will engage in the grocery business in Evergreen.”

Whitcomb also reported that week that “F.M. Deer of Herbert, Ala. was the lucky man who received the Majestic range (stove) which the Dunn Hardware Co. gave away as a premium. The Majestic range has no equal on earth.”

Readers that week also learned that “W.W. Pridgen is in St. Louis buying more mules and horses for the stable of Lee & Pridgen.

“W.B. Ivey has returned from St. Louis with two more car loads of horses and mules.”

The Jan. 26, 1911 edition of The Record was full of bad news, most of it centered on a fire that destroyed a local business.

“Fire: Last Thursday, the garage and warehouse of the Dunn Hardware Co. was totally destroyed by fire. At about six o’clock, an explosion of oil occurred and in less time than it takes to tell it, the whole building was a mass of flames. Several of the employees had narrow escapes in getting out of the building.

“For an hour, a number of gasoline drums continued to explode, making a spectacular sight as the fluid went into the air. Jas. F. Jones building adjoining was almost totally destroyed. Several other buildings were threatened with destruction but fortunately escaped.

“Dunn lost his automobile as did Dr. Betts. The loss falls heavy upon the Dunn Hardware Co. as they carried no insurance on the building or stock. Mr. Dunn informs us that they will rebuild at once on a larger scale than before, and that they are in no way crippled by the loss, but will be able to supply the trade with their usual promptness.”

The fire was so serious that it prompted the Evergreen city council to take immediate action, which readers learned about when Whitcomb reported that “the city council has issued an ordinance prohibiting the keeping of more than 10 gallons of gasoline in one place of business within the city limits.”

Whitcomb also issued the following editorial that week regarding the fire.

“The fire last Thursday night demonstrated the fact that we need an organized fire department and a water supply that can be depended upon when most needed. The boys were handicapped in fighting the Dunn fire by broken hose, lack of proper tools and water. We hope before we have another fire, we will be in better shape to handle it.”

In unrelated news that week, readers learned that “Jas. Andrews, residing at Skinnerton, was killed at Flomaton by a train last Saturday morning. The body was literally ground to pieces. The remains were shipped to Skinnerton for interment.”

Whitcomb also reported that week that “Last Thursday, Sheriff Hines and two revenue officers raided two illicit stills near Belleville. The man who operated the stills was arrested and taken to Brewton. A small quantity of liquor was found.”

Readers also learned that week that “W.W. Pridgen was kicked in the head by a mule a few days since, but fortunately was not seriously injured.”

Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of February 2011 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback - Jan. 6, 2011

ONE YEAR AGO
JAN. 7, 2010

“One of Evergreen’s most storied athletes will close out his college football career when he takes the field to participate in this year’s BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, Calif.
“Evergreen native Drew Davis, will play in his final game for the Crimson Tide tonight when his team takes on No. 2-ranked University of Texas. The BCS Title Game, which is being played in Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, will be televised nationally on ABC, starting tonight at 7 p.m.”

“Sparta Academy’s eighth-ranked varsity girls basketball team picked up its eighth win of the season Saturday by whipping Restoration Academy, 69-23, in Fairfield.
“Erica Palmer led Sparta with 23 points, five rebounds, eight steals and four assists.”
Other standout Sparta players in that game included Kayla Baggett, Savannah Brown, Emily Booker, Madelyn Black, April Palmer, Tiffany Martin, Ashton Raines, Grace Matlock, Emily Kendrick and Rebekah Coleman.

“Hillcrest High School jumped out to a 1-0 start in area play Saturday night with a 55-50 home win over 4A Area 3 rival, Thomasville.
“DeAundre Lyons, a 6-foot-4 junior, led Hillcrest with 19 points, and Shannon Roach followed with eight points. Jarmel Cunningham also scored eight points, and William Grace finished the game with seven.”

16 YEARS AGO
JAN. 5, 1995

“These young men were the first inductees into the Evergreen Pee Wee Jaguars Hall of Fame on Nov. 5, 1994 at the 1994 Jaguars Tiny Mite and Pee Wee Banquet. They have achieved the highest award there is in Pee Wee Football. Members of the Hall of Fame are Matthew Jones, Jessie Rogers, Reggie Boykin, Willie Likely, Lee Goodwin, Donald Williams, Clifton Moore, Derrick McWilliam, Lavon Merrills, Raymond Taylor, Chris Mobley, Kelvin Riley, Issac McMillian and Ronald Riley.”

31 YEARS AGO
JAN. 3, 1980

“Two hunters and two deer is just about as good as it can be. James Booth got a six-pointer, and Paul Deason an eight-pointer last Friday ‘in the woods.’”

“Jack Gorum and Charles Holcombe and their party of hunters had good luck at their hunting club on the Sepulga River as they bagged three fine deer on Dec. 26.”

“Taking time out to spend with their ‘Little Brothers’ is one way that several Livingston University football players prepare for a game and perform a civic service. As one of the players said, ‘It really makes you feel good knowing that you’re helping someone who looks up to you.’ The Livingston ‘Big Brother’ chapter is sponsored by Livingston University’s Episcopal Chaplain, Edward Cate. The members are Willy Hopper, Laurence Winston, Oliver Burrell, Sam Bailey, Rennie Huff, Bobby McCoy, James Lee Mitchell, Doug Palmer, Father Edward Cate, John Long, Tony Rogers and Fred Stickney. Rogers is from Evergreen.”

46 YEARS AGO
JAN. 7, 1965

“Conner Warren of Evergreen was the co-pilot of the airplane that flew Governor George C. Wallace and his party to the Orange Bowl festivities in Miami last week. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Warren of Evergreen.
“Conner, now a student at Auburn University, is a graduate of Evergreen High School. As soon as he was old enough, he began flying and soloed in July 1962 and earned his license in November of the same year.”

“The Lyeffion Yellow Jackets, besting one of the better basketball teams in this area, racked up their second win of the season over the Evergreen Aggies in the Evergreen Gym Tuesday night by a 66 to 46 count.
“The Jackets presented a balanced attack with four men in double figures as they easily outscored the Evergreens. Larry Smith led the scoring with 20 points followed by Danny Norwood and Wayne Daniels with 14 and Sammy Williams with 12. Wilson had two and Salter, four.
“Wayne Tolbert with 11 and Steve Baggett with 10 led the Aggies. Mike Fields scored nine; Grover Jackson and Billy Kendall, six each; Ronnie Hayes and Jimmy Warren, two each.”

61 YEARS AGO
JAN. 5, 1950

“Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Brown and son, Sammy, visited in Montgomery Friday and Saturday. Mr. Brown attended the Blue-Gray game Saturday.”

“The Evergreen High Aggies will return to action on the hardwood with three games tomorrow (Friday) night in Memorial Gym. Coach Johnny Spurlock’s Greenville Tigers will furnish the opposition in all three games. Johnny will be remembered here as an outfielder on the Evergreen pro baseball club back in the good old thirties when there was a local entry in the Alabama State League.
“The Aggies are weakened by the absence of forward Dickey Bozeman, six-footer senior, who is out with a leg injury. The cause will be aided though, by the return of John Greel Ralls, who was out before Christmas with a fractured finger.”

“Two teams composed of former basketball stars and would-be stars will play a benefit game tonight in Memorial Gym at Evergreen High School under the sponsorship of the Evergreen Rotary and Kiwanis clubs.
“It’ll cost you and the wife six bits a piece to get in and 35 cents for each younger edition you bring along.”