Dim's Write Stuff

Something for your TBR lists! Every two years, the IBBY Executive Committee (International Board on Books for Young People) elects the international jury of experts from nominations submitted by the IBBY Sections. All the candidates nominated for the  Hans Christian Anderson Award have made outstanding contributions to children’s literature in their countries and are selected by the IBBY Sections; a complete list of the 78 candidates to the 2026 Awards can be seen here. I was hoping to attend the 40th IBBY Congress this year because of the theme, Listening to Other's Voices - increasingly crucial in a world of diminishing abilities to actually hear what is going on. Also because it's in Ottawa, Canada! A place of distant relatives and long-held yearnings to visit. Alas, next time ...  Meantime, I'll content myself with this Jury Recommends list chosen by the judges as recommended reading from the many nominations received for their Awards, because -  The Jury feels t...

Well, hello there! They say sabbaticals are the just the ticket for restoring one's sense of direction and refreshing one's perspectives, even unintentional ones. Avid followers, yes I'm talking to all three of you(!), may recall I made a soft promise a couple of years ago to level up with my posting. Who knew an intergalatic time warping conspiracy would reduce those 730 days into mere seconds!   During that crazy time shift, I didn't mean to neglect my ad nauseam sharing here. That part of my mo has not altered. I've just shifted my oversharing to other platforms, more easily updated on the run, accessible to a wider audience, more 2026 and less 2009 where I still feel at home!  Life has an endlessly fascinating and perplexing way of unfurling or rather unravelling at times. Best to let yourself tuck and roll with it I've come to appreciate. So here's a wee update and reaffirmation: Life stuff: still here! My life is probs no more extraordinary than yours....