Newbery medal for best children's book is given to Erin Entrada Kelly's 'The First State of Being'

NEW YORK (AP) — Erin Entrada Kelly's “The First State of Being,” a coming-of-age story that blends time travel and the approaching millennium of the year 2000, has won the John Newbery Medal for the year's outstanding children's book. The Randolph Caldecott Medal for best picture story went...

Elmo tells all: 'Sesame Street' 55th season features SZA, Chris Stapleton, Reneé Rapp and more

NEW YORK (AP) — Appearing on “Sesame Street”? That's the best idea. The 55th season of the acclaimed family program features a star-studded lineup of musicians that would be the envy of any summer festival: SZA, Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, Reneé Rapp and Samara Joy. ...

In his first 2025 catechism lesson, Pope says anyone who exploits or abuses a child answers to God

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Wednesday denounced the “scourge” of child labor and other abuses suffered by children, saying anyone who harms or exploits a child will have to answer to God. Francis dedicated his first catechism lesson of 2025 to the plight of children, telling...

A 3-year-old boy's death from a New Year's fireworks explosion in Honolulu raises toll to 4

HONOLULU (AP) — A 3-year-old boy's death from a New Year's fireworks explosion in Honolulu raises toll to 4.