Staff Contributor: Elizabeth M., Head of Youth Services
On Monday, January 26, the American Library Association Youth Media Awards were announced! Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. Here are some highlights:
Caldecott Award for most distinguished picture book:
Fireworks written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Catia Chien
Caldecott Honor Books:
Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
Our Lake by Angie Kang
Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer
Sundust by Zeke Pena
Newbery Award for most distinguished American literature for children:
All the Blues in the Sky by Renee Watson
Newbery Honor Books:
The Nine Moons of Hun Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by Maria Dolores Aguila
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
Printz Award for best book written for teens:
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith.
(It also received the American Indian Youth Literature Award for Young Adults.)
Prolific children’s author Candace Fleming was presented with the lifetime achievement award for young adult literature (Margaret A. Edwards Award) and children’s literature (Children’s Literature Legacy Award) as well as the Young Adult Excellence in Non-Fiction Award for Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown.
These titles, and so many more, can be found at your library! View the full list of all the awards, along with a recording of the live webcast announcement: https://ala.unikron.com/.