Award-winning Books!

Every January, the American Library Association gives awards to the best children’s and young adult books that were printed in the previous year.  The runners-up are given the title “Honor books”.

The Newbery medal, initiated in 1922, is the oldest children’s book award in the world.  Although it is named after an 18^th century British bookseller named John Newbery, this award is given to the most distinguished American children’s book of the year.  The 2013 winner is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  The Newbery honor books are BOMB: The race to build and steal the world's most dangerous weapon by Steve Sheinkin and Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage.

Recognizing that the illustrations are as important as the text in a picture book, in 1938 the ALA began awarding the Caldecott medal to the illustrator of the most outstanding picture book published in America.  The award is named after Randolph Caldecott, a 19^th century illustrator known for the action and humor of his illustrations, and is celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year.  The winner of the 2013 award is This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen.  Caldecott honor recipients are Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds, Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, and One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo.

These two time-honored awards have been joined by some more recent ones.  For example, the Theodor Seuss Geisel award has been given to the author and illustrator of the most outstanding Early Reader since 2006.  It is named after Dr. Seuss of course, who believed that even beginning children’s books should be fun.  This year’s winner is Up, Tall and High! by Ethan Long.  The honors award was received by the following books:  Let’s Go For a Drive! by Mo Willems, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, and Rabbit & Robot:  The Sleepover by Cece Bell.

The Michael J. Printz award is given to the best book written for teens.  It is named after a school librarian from Topeka Kansas who had a passion for finding the right book for the right student.  This year’s award went to In Darkness by Nick Lake.  Runners up include:  Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and Dodger by Terry Pratchett.

Looking for some great reads? For descriptions of the winners and runners-up of these awards and many others, go to the Assn. for Library Service to Children and the Young Adult Library Services Assn websites.  Great books, audiobooks and videos await you!

Image courtesy of Google images