Forget the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and Grammys. If you love children's literature, the ALA Youth Media Awards are where it's at. The awards were announced virtually this morning as part of the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting. Top honors went to Donna Barba Higuera forThe Last Cuentista (winner of the Newbery Medal—on its 100th anniversary) and illustratorJason Chin who won the Caldecott Medal for Watercress, written by Andrea Wang.

Look below to see if your favorite book took home a prize. You can explore the full list (including all of the honor books and lifetime achievement awards) on the ALA website and find almost all of them in our collection, including as e-books and e-audiobooks. 

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: 

The Last Cuentista written by Donna Barba Higuera

There lived a girl named Petra Peäna, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children--among them Petra and her family--have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet--and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinisterCollective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past.

 

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: 

Watercress illustrated by Jason Chin and written by Andrea Wang

Embarrassed about gathering watercress from a roadside ditch, a girl learns to appreciate her Chinese heritage after learning why the plant is so important to her parents.

 

Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African-American author of outstanding books for children and young adults AND Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African-American illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Floyd Cooper

A powerful look at the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation's history.

 

 

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

Firekeeper’s Daughter written by Angeline Boulley

Treated like an outsider in both her hometown and on the Ojibwe reservation, a half-Native American science geek and star hockey player places her dreams on hold in the wake of a family tragedy.

 

 

 

 

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: 

Young Children's Awards: My City Speaks written by Darren Lebeuf and illustrated by Ashley Barron

In this charming ode to city life, a visually impaired young girl travels around the city she loves, enjoying all it has to offer.

 

 

Middle Grades Awards: A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers

After a tornado, Axel, who loves birds, finds an injured eaglet, and helps to rescue it—and also helps to resolve the problems in his broken family, and draw his father back home.

 

 

 

 

 

Teens Award: Words in My Hands written and illustrated by Asphyxia

Near-future Australia is controlled by Organicore, a company that produces the "perfectly balanced" synthetic meals that have all but replaced wild food, but Piper McBride, sixteen, deaf, and cued white, begins to wonder if wild food is as dangerous as Organicore's propaganda says.

 

 

 

 

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:

Temple Alley Summer written by Sachiko Kashiwaba, illustrated by Miho Satake and translated from the Japanese by Avery Fischer Udagawa

A fantastical and mysterious adventure filled with the living dead, magical pearls, and a suspiciously nosy black cat named Kiriko.

 

 

 

 

Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States: 

Boogie Boogie, Y'all written and illustrated by C.G. Esperanza

Lively and colorful with a read-aloud beat, this picture book celebrates the rich culture of the Boogie Down Bronx, inviting readers to an epic block party!

 

 

Pura Belpré Award honoring Latinx writers and illustrators whose children's and young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: 

Youth Illustration Award winner: !Vamos, Let’s Cross the Bridge! Raúl Gonazlez

Using their new truck to carry party supplies over the bridge, Little Lobo and his friend Kooky Dooky the rooster are stuck in traffic and decide to throw an epic party to pass the time.

 

 

 

Children's Author Award winner: The Last Cuentista written by Donna Barba Higuera

There lived a girl named Petra Peäna, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children--among them Petra and her family--have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet--and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinisterCollective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. 

 

Young Adult Author Award winner: How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love With the Universe written by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

When seventeen-year-old Star Fuentez reaches social media stardom, her polar-opposite twin, Moon, becomes "merch girl" on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and the grumpy but attractive Santiago Philips.
 

 

 

 

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

The People’s Painter: How Ben Schan Fought for Justice With Art written by Cynthia Levinson ; pictures by Evan Turk

A lyrical picture book introduction to the life and achievements of the influential Jewish artist and activist touches on Ben Shahn’s remarkable skills of observation, his witness to his protester father’s banishment and his commitment to promoting justice through art.

 

Stonewall Book Award—Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

Children’s & Young Adult Literature award winner: Too Bright to See written by Kyle Lukoff

In the summer before middle school, eleven-year-old Bug must contend with best friend Moira suddenly caring about clothes, makeup, and boys; a ghost haunting; and the truth about Bug's gender identity.

 

 

 

Young Adult Literature Award winner: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

When Lily realizes she has feelings for a girl in her math class, it threatens Lily's oldest friendships and even her father's citizenship status and eventually, Lily must decide if owning her truth is worth everything she has ever known.

 

 

 

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

Fox at Night written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor

Fox overcomes his fear of monsters when he meets real nocturnal animals.

 

 

 

 

 

American Indian Youth Literature Awards honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives

Picture Book: Herizon written by Daniel W. Vandever and illustrated by Corey Begay

Herizon follows the journey of a Diné girl as she helps her grandmother retrieve a flock of sheep. Join in her venture across land and water with the help of a magical scarf that will expand your imagination and transform what you thought possible. The inspiring story celebrates creativity and bravery, while promoting an inclusive future made possible through intergenterational strength and knowledge. (Not yet in NYPL's collection)

Middle Grade Book: Healer of the Water Monster written by Brian Young

A novel inspired by Navajo culture follows the experiences of a boy whose summer at his grandmother's reservation home is shaped by his uncle's addictions and an encounter with a sacred being from the Navajo creation story.

 

 

 

 

Young Adult Book: Apple (Skin to the Core) written by Eric Gansworth 

The Native American author recounts the story of his family, from the legacy of government boearding schools to his personal experiences fighting to be an artist balancing multiple worlds.

 

 

 

 

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage

Picture Book award winner:Watercress illustrated by Jason Chin and written by Andrea Wang

Embarrassed about gathering watercress from a roadside ditch, a girl learns to appreciate her Chinese heritage after learning why the plant is so important to her parents.

 

Children’s Literature award winner: Amina’s Song written by Hena Khan

Feeling pulled between two cultures after a month with family in Pakistan, Amina shares her experiences with Wisconsin classmates through a class assignment and a songwriting project with new student Nico.

 

 

 

 

Youth Literature award winner: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

When Lily realizes she has feelings for a girl in her math class, it threatens Lily's oldest friendships and even her father's citizenship status and eventually, Lily must decide if owning her truth is worth everything she has ever known.

 

 

 

 

The Sydney Taylor Book Award  for outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience

Gold Medalist Picture Book winner: The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel and illustrated by Sean Rubin

Muriel assumes her family is too poor to hold a Passover Seder this year-- but an act of kindness and a mysterious magician change everything.

 

 

 

Gold Medalist Middle Grades winner: How to Find What You’re Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani 

Middle schooler Ariel Goldberg must find her own voice and define her own beliefs after her big sister elopes with a young man from India following the Supreme Court decision that strikes down laws banning interracial marriage.

 

 

 

Gold Medalist Young Adult winner: The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros 

In 1893 Chicago, after his best friend becomes the latest victim in a long line of murdered Jewish boys, Alter Rosen is plunged into a nightmare where he is thrown back into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past.

 

 

 

 

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Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.