ALA Youth Media Awards 2018
Last week was a big week. We had Galentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Fat Tuesday, and Ash Wednesday. The ALA (American Library Association) also announced their Youth Media Awards recipients, a pretty big deal in library land, and also a big deal for you who are interested in children’s and YA books. This is also a big deal for authors as new editions of their books are now released with one of the sweet medals showing they won on the cover. So, here are 2018’s Youth Media Awards, with links to library holdings. I have listed the major award winners only for the sake of brevity – to see all of the winners and honor books as well, click here.
John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly – Four kids’ lives intertwine after a prank involving a guinea pig and a well. Will friendship triumph in this middle grade story of the perils of middle school life?
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
Wolf in the Snow, illustrated and written by Matthew Cordell – A little girl and a wolf cub are both lost in the snaow. Can they help each other find their way home in this picture book?
Coretta Scott King Book Awards recognizing African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults:
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson, is the King Author Award winner – Jade needs to get out of her neighborhood if she’s going to succeed. She takes every opportunity she can, but some of those opportunities try to pigeonhole her into roles that don’t fit her at all.
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, is the King Illustrator Award winner – This is an anthology of poems celebrating great poets.
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, is the 2018 Printz Award winner – Marin ran away from her old life. But now, 3000 miles away, she’s alone in her dorm during winter break and her best friend is coming to visit.
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 2018 winner is Jacqueline Woodson, whose award-winning works include Brown Girl Dreaming, After Tupac & D Foster, Locomotion and Show Way.
Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:
The 2018 winner is Angela Johnson. Her books include Heaven, Looking for Red, The First Part Last and Sweet, Hereafter.
Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:
The Hate U Give, (link to audiobook) is the 2018 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Angie Thomas and narrated by Bahni Turpin – Star Carter is the only witness to her friend Khalil’s murder at the hands of a police officer. She now has to navigate life with pressure on all sides, trying to maintain peace in her community and her own safety and well being.
Stonewall Book Award–Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:
Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert – Suzette comes home from boarding school and doesn’t think she ever wants to go back. Her friends and family are here, including her brother,who has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. But to complicate things, Suzette ends up falling for this amazing girl… the girl her brother loves.
The 57 Bus, written by Dashka Slater – Two teenagers from vastly different backgrounds spend 8 minutes together on the same bus. Their lives will never be the same.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers is:
Charlie & Mouse, written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Emily Hughes – Two brothers spend the day together, doing awesome brother things.
William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:
The Hate U Give by by Angie Thomas (link to printed book) (see description above)
Post by Carey Gibbons, Reference Specialist
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