On Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 the American Library Association (ALA) announced the recipients of their annual Youth Media Awards in Seattle, Wash. Awards for best illustrations, best American literature, outstanding books for teens and more were presented to authors and illustrators for their contributions to children's and young adult literature. The following winners are just a partial list of those whose work was recognized for its excellence.
John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature
“The One and Only Ivan,” by Katherine Applegate, is the 2013 Newbery Medal winner. Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Splendors and Glooms” by Laura Amy Schlitz; “Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon” by Steve Sheinkin; and “Three Times Lucky” by Sheila Turnage.
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children
“This Is Not My Hat,” illustrated and written by Jon Klassen, is the 2013 Caldecott Medal winner. Five Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Creepy Carrots!” illustrated by Peter Brown, written by Aaron Reynolds; “Extra Yarn,” illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett; “Green,” illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger; “One Cool Friend,” illustrated by David Small, written by Toni Buzzeo and “Sleep Like a Tiger,” illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue.
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults
“Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America,” written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney is the King Author Book winner. Two King Author Honor Books were selected: “Each Kindness” by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis and “No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller” by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award
“I, Too, Am America,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Langston Hughes. Three King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: “H. O. R. S. E.,” illustrated and written by Christopher Myers; “Ellen’s Broom,” illustrated by Daniel Minter, written by Kelly Starling Lyons and “I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr.” illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults
“In Darkness,” written by Nick Lake, is the 2013 Printz Award winner. Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz; “Code Name Verity” by Elizabeth Wein; “Dodger” by Terry Pratchett and “The White Bicycle” by Beverley Brenna.
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience
“Back to Front and Upside Down!” written and illustrated by Claire Alexander wins the award for children ages 0 to 10.
“A Dog Called Homeless” written by Sarah Lean is the winner of the middle-school (ages 11-13) award.
The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am,” written by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States
“My Family for the War” is the 2013 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Germany in 2007 as “Liverpool Street,” the book was written by Anne C. Voorhoeve and translated by Tammi Reichel. Two Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return,” written and illustrated by Zeina Abirached, translated by Edward Gauvin and “Son of a Gun,” written and translated by Anne de Graaf.
Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience
“Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert,” illustrated by David Diaz, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Gary D. Schmidt.
Pura Belpré (Author) Award
“Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, is the Belpré Author Award winner. One Belpré Author Honor Book was named: “The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano” by Sonia Manzano.
Other awards handed out included the William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book, the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children, the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.
The San Francisco Children's Fiction Examiner will be taking a more in-depth look at each of these award winners in future articles.
Comments