Kid Lit News: ALA awards!

This morning, the American Library Association announced the winners for the highly anticipated 2016 Youth Media Awards. It was a thrilling occasion for all those in the children's literature community. Some of the awards went to obvious contenders, but there were a few extremely unexpected winners as well. All in all, it was a fantastic event to be (virtually) part of. I am already looking forward to next year's awards!

Let's review some of my favorites, shall we?

Schneider Family Book Award

This award is given to books which feature a main character who has a disability. Thanks to my special education background, these are some of my favorite types of books to read and share with others.

Picture Book Category:

(ages 0-10)

Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

By Laurie Ann Thompson

"This picture book biography tells the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who bicycled across Ghana--nearly 400 miles--with only one leg. With that achievement he forever changed how his country treats people with disabilities, and he shows us all that one person is enough to change the world.​" (from Goodreads)

Middle Grade Category:

(ages 11-13)

Fish in a Tree

By Lynda Mullaly Hunt

"Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike." (from Goodreads)

The War That Saved My Life

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

"Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him. So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?" (from Goodreads)

Teen Category:

(13-18)

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

By Teresa Toten

"When Adam meets Robyn at a support group for kids coping with obsessive-compulsive disorder, he is drawn to her almost before he can take a breath. He's determined to protect and defend her--to play Batman to her Robyn--whatever the cost. But when you're fourteen and the everyday problems of dealing with divorced parents and step-siblings are supplemented by the challenges of OCD, it's hard to imagine yourself falling in love. How can you have a "normal" relationship when your life is so fraught with problems? And that's not even to mention the small matter of those threatening letters Adam's mother has started to receive..." (from Goodreads)

My Reaction: I thought that these were all excellent selections. I anticipated "The War That Saved My Life" as a Newbery contender, so was pleased to see it in this category as well. My only regret was that "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman didn't grab an award here. But then again, it did win the National Book Award, so I'll be content with that.

Randolph Caldecott Medal

This esteemed award is given to distinguished American picture books. There was some absolutely incredible art published in picture books throughout 2015. I don't at all envy the Caldecott committee for having to choose among those high quality works!

Caldecott Medal Winner:

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear”

Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

"Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war. Harry Colebourn's real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey--from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England... And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin. Here is the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh." (from Goodreads)

Caldecott Honor Books:

Trombone Shorty

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

"Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A prodigy, he was leading his own band by age six, and today this Grammy-nominated artist headlines the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest.Along with esteemed illustrator Bryan Collier, Andrews has created a lively picture book autobiography about how he followed his dream of becoming a musician, despite the odds, until he reached international stardom. Trombone Shorty is a celebration of the rich cultural history of New Orleans and the power of music." (From Goodreads)

Last Stop on Market Street

Illustrated by Christian Robinson

"Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them." (from Goodreads)

Waiting

Illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes

"Five friends sit happily on a windowsill, waiting for something amazing to happen. The owl is waiting for the moon. The pig is waiting for the rain. The bear is waiting for the wind. The puppy is waiting for the snow. And the rabbit is just looking out the window because he likes to wait! What will happen? Will patience win in the end? Or someday will the friends stop waiting and do something unexpected?" (from Goodreads)

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement

Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

"Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, even being beaten to within an inch of her life, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. Integral to the Freedom Summer of 1964, Ms. Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention that, despite President Johnson’s interference, aired on national TV news and spurred the nation to support the Freedom Democrats. Featuring luminous mixed-media art both vibrant and full of intricate detail, Singing for Freedom celebrates Fannie Lou Hamer’s life and legacy with an inspiring message of hope, determination, and strength." (from Goodreads)

My reaction: I admit it, I was convinced that "Waiting" would grab the gold for the Caldecott and I would have been very happy with that choice. But I did have a dream last night that "Winnie" won, so maybe I wasn't quite as convinced as I thought! However, I was hoping to see "Beyond the Pond" by Joseph Kuefler here; the artwork in that book is just mind-blowing. Still, these were fabulous choices. It's certainly encouraging to see such diversity being represented by the selections.

John Newbery Medal

The most anticipated and prestigious award of the event also caused the most surprise of the morning. The Medal is awarded to the most outstanding contribution to children's literature. As long as the author is a citizen or resident of the U.S. and the book is intended for children up to the age of 14, it can be a contender for this award. Hence, the Medalist this year...

Newbery Medal Winner:

Last Stop on Market Street

By Matt de la Peña

Nope, that's not a typo - a picture book won a Caldecott Honor AND The Newbery Medal!

Newbery Honor Books:

The War That Saved My Life

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

A Schneider Award AND a Newbery Honor!

Roller Girl

Victoria Jamieson

"Twelve-year-old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too. But Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend instead, and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid's life. There are bumps and bruises as Astrid learns who she is without Nicole...and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl." (from Goodreads)

Echo

Pam Munoz Ryan

"Lost and alone in a forbidden forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica. Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each, in turn, become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. And ultimately, pulled by the invisible thread of destiny, their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo." (from Goodreads)

My reaction: Like so many others in the virtual and actual YMA audience, I was stunned by the Newbery Winner announcement. After all, for the first time in the history of the Award, a picture book won the Medal! (Disclaimer: In 1982, "A Visit to William Blake's Inn" won the Newbery, but it is considered a poetry book. Yes, it has illustrations, but look it up in your library: it's classified with the poetry, not with the picture books.) Of course, there have been several picture books which won the Newbery Honor ("Show Way" by Jacqueline Woodson, for example), but it was completely unexpected for one to win the Medal simply because it has never been done. I have to say I am a bit disappointed that "Circus Mirandus" didn't make it here at all, but I am so glad that "Echo" won an Honor and it's also exciting to see how graphic novels are steadily making a comeback in children's literature.

Many other awards were handed out this morning to very deserving titles and incredibly gifted people. It was truly a great day for the children's literature community and all the talented names who work so hard to write, draw, and publish high quality books for kids. With renowned authors like Kate DiCamillo, Sharon Creech, and Kwame Alexander releasing new works, the year ahead of us promises to be just as outstanding as this one.

So begins a new year of book joy!

#newbery #kidlitnews #ALAawards