The major Youth Media Award winners were announced this morning at the ALA’s winter meeting, ALA LibLearnX, including the Newbery, Caldecott and Printz award winners, the most prestigious awards in the youth book world. While no graphic novels won these three prizes, there were plenty of honors in many categories.
Of note were the many honored books from First Second and Harper Alley. Obviously the former is a mainstay of library awards. HarperAlley was launched in the pandemic by First Second and CCS alum Andrew Arnold, so a good showing for them.
Also of note, Harmony Becker (They Called us Enemy) won a major award on her own for Himawari House. And Victory Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, a retelling of the 1968 Olympics civil rights protest, made several lists, guaranteeing it a place of prominence in library orders and for young readers. Frizzy vt Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra was also a category winner.
So here’s a selected list of comics related winners – the Beat’s own Deb Aoki was on the scene and even had a few pictures; her full report on the weekend event will be forthcoming on the site.
Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults Honor Books:
- Swim Team, Johnnie Christmas, HarperAlley
- Victory Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, Dawud Anyabwile, Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, Norton Young Readers
Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences including several GNs:
Chef’s Kiss, Jarrett Melendez,Danica Brine, Oni Press
The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere ,James Spooner, Harper
Wash Day Diaries, Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith, Chronicle Books.
The Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults was presented to occasional comics writer Jason Reynolds.
Amazingly, several comics adaptations were Honor Books for the Odyssey Awards for the best audiobooks produced for children and young adults
Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel, produced by Steve Wagner and Michelle Altman for Macmillan Young Listeners, an imprint of Macmillan Audio, written by Leigh Bardugo, adaptation by Garet Scott and narrated by Ben Barnes and a full cast.
The First Helping (Lunch Lady Books 1 & 2), produced by Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Lauren Klein; Executive Producer Nick Martorelli for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, written Jarrett J. Krosoczka and narrated by Kate Flannery, the author and a full cast.
The Pura Belpré Awards honors Latinx writers and illustrators whose children’s and young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience and the Honor books included for youth Illustrartion included
Srta. Quinces, by Kat Fajardo, translated by Scholastic Inc. and published by Graphix
The Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner was
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra, First Second
A short video of the winner, provided by Deb Aoki:
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader bookincluded several Honor Books
Fish and Wave, by Sergio Ruzzier, HarperAlley
Owl and Penguin,by Vikram Madan, Holiday House
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults 2023 Excellence Winner was
Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, Dawud Anyabwile, Norton Young Readers
Although none of the other finalists were GNs, Papercutz editor Rex Ogle made the list for his prose Abuela, Don’t Forget Me.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature had three categories, Picture Book, Children’s Literature and Youth Literature.
The Youth Literature winner:
Himawari House, Harmony Becker, First Second
Because there are so many winners, the the ALA released the list as paragraphs (bulleted lists, people) and there are SO MANY graphic novels out now from emerging talent that I never heard of, I’m presenting the entre list in case I missed something.
John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature
Freewater, written by Amina Luqman-Dawson
Honor books:
- Iveliz Explains It All, written by Andrea Beatriz Arango and published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House
- The Last Mapmaker, written by Christina Soontornvat and published by Candlewick Press
- Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, written by Lisa Yee and published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children
- Hot Dog, illustrated and written by Doug Salati, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named
- Ain’t Burned: All the Bright, illustrated by Jason Griffin, written by Jason Reynolds and published by Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
- Berry Song, illustrated and written by Michaela Goade and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
- Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, illustrated by Janelle Washington, written by Angela Joy and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
- Knight Owl, illustrated and written by Christopher Denise and published by Christy Ottaviano Books, an imprint of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.
- Freewater, written by Amina Luqman-Dawson, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by JIMMY Patterson/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Three King Author Honor Books were selected
- Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler, written by Ibi Zoboi and published by Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
- The Talk, written by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
- Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
King Illustrator Book winner.
- Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual, illustrated by Frank Morrison, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
King Illustrator Honor Books:
- Me and the Boss: A Story about Mending and Love, illustrated by April Harrison, written by Michelle Edwards and published by Anne Schwartz Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House
- Swim Team, illustrated and written by Johnnie Christmas and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile, written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
- We Deserve Monuments, written by Jas Hammonds, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award
- Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, illustrated by Janelle Washington, written by Angela Joy and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Claudette McLinn
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults
- All My Rage, written by Sabaa Tahir, published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Printz Honor Books:
- Scout’s Honor, written by Lily Anderson and published by Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group
- Icebreaker, written by A.L. Graziadei and published by Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group
- When the Angels Left the Old Country, written by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido
- Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality, written by Eliot Schrefer and published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience
Young Children (0-8)
- Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion, written by Shannon Stocker, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Honor Book
- In the Blue, written and illustrated by Erin Hourigan and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Winner Middle Grades (9-13)
- Wildoak, written by C.C. Harrington and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., is the winner for middle grades (ages 9 to 13).
Honor Books
- Hummingbird, written by Natalie Lloyd and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
- Honestly Elliott, written by Gillian McDunn and published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.
Winner Teens (1-18)
- The Words We Keep, written by Erin Stewart and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House
Honor Book
- Breathe and Count Back from Ten, written by Natalia Sylvester and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences
- A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting, by Sophie Irwin, published by Pamela Dorman Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
- Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution, by R. F. Kuang, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Chef’s Kiss, written by Jarrett Melendez, illustrated by Danica Brine, published by Oni Press, an imprint of Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group
- Daughter of the Moon Goddess, by Sue Lynn Tan, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy, published by Simon & Schuster
- Solito A Memoir, by Javier Zamora, published by Hogarth, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House
- The High Desert Black. Punk. Nowhere., written and illustrated by James Spooner, published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- The Kaiju Preservation Society, by John Scalzi, published by Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan Publishing Group
- True Biz, by Sara Nović, published by Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House
- Wash Day Diaries, written by Jamila Rowser, illustrated by Robyn Smith, published by Chronicle Books.
The ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture winner: Rita Williams-Garcia
Children’s Literature Legacy Award: James E. Ransome
Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults: Jason Reynolds
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
Winner:
- Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II is the 2023 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Italian as Una bambina e basta. Raccontata agli altri bambini e basta, the book was written by Lia Levi, illustrated by Jess Mason, translated by Sylvia Notini and published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Honor Books:
- Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War, published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., written by Mónica Montañés, illustrated by Eva Sánchez Gómez and translated by Lawrence Schimel
- Dragonfly Eyes, published by Candlewick Press, written by Cao Wenxuan and translated by Helen Wang
- João by a Thread, published by Elsewhere Editions, written and illustrated by Roger Mello and translated by Daniel Hahn.
Odyssey Award for the best audiobooks produced for children and young adults, available in English in the United States
Winners:
- Stuntboy, in the Meantime, produced by Taryn Beato for Simon & Schuster Audio, is the 2023 Odyssey Award winner for children. The book is written by Jason Reynolds and narrated by Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock and Angel Pean with a full cast.
- The Honeys, produced by Melissa Ellard for Scholastic Audio, is the 2023 Odyssey Award winner for young adults. The book is written by Ryan La Sala and narrated by Pete Cross.
Odyssey Honor Audiobooks:
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff, produced by Melissa Ellard and Paul Gagne for Weston Woods Studios and Scholastic Audio, retold and narrated by Mac Barnett
- Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel, produced by Steve Wagner and Michelle Altman for Macmillan Young Listeners, an imprint of Macmillan Audio, written by Leigh Bardugo, adaptation by Garet Scott and narrated by Ben Barnes and a full cast
- Inheritance A Visual Poem, produced by Caitlin Garing for Quill Books, an imprint of HarperAudio, and written and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo
- The First Helping (Lunch Lady Books 1 & 2), produced by Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Lauren Klein Executive Producer Nick Martorelli for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, written Jarrett J. Krosoczka and narrated by Kate Flannery, the author and a full cast.
Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latinx writers and illustrators
Youth Illustration winner:
- Where Wonder Grows, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, written by Xelena González and published by Cinco Puntos Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.
Youth Illustration Honor Books:
- The Coquíes Still Sing, illustrated by Krystal Quiles, written by Karina Nicole González and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
- A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters, illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS
- Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land, illustrated and written by Mirelle Ortega and published by Cameron Kids, an imprint of Cameron + Company, a division of ABRAMS
- Phenomenal: AOC The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, illustrated by Loris Lora, written by Anika Aldamuy Denise and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers
- Srta. Quinces, illustrated and written by Kat Fajardo, translated by Scholastic Inc. and published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
- Still Dreaming / Seguimos soñando, illustrated by Magdalena Mora, written by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, translated by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite and published by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.
Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner.
- Frizzy, by Claribel A. Ortega, illustrated by Rose Bousamra and published by First Second, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books:
- The Coquíes Still Sing, written by Karina Nicole González, illustrated by Krystal Quiles and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
- The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border, written by Stephen Briseño, illustrated by Magdalena Mora and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House
- Tumble, written by Celia C. Pérez and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Pura Belpré Young Adult Author winner
- Burn Down, Rise Up, written by Vincent Tirado, published by Sourcebooks Fire, an imprint of Sourcebooks.
Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Books:
- Breathe and Count Back from Ten, written by Natalia Sylvester and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- High Spirits, written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido
- The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, written by Sonora Reyes and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children
Winner:
- Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration, written by Elizabeth Partridge and illustrated by Lauren Tamaki, Chronicle Books.
Sibert Honor Books:
- Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, written by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
- A Seed Grows, written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis and published by Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House
- Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, written by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House
- The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, written by Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award
Winner:
- Love, Violet, written by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, illustrated by Charlene Chua and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Honor Books for children’s literature:
- In the Key of Us, written by Mariama J. Lockington and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
- Kapaemahu, written by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House
- The Real Riley Mayes, written and illustrated by Rachel Elliott and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, and HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Strong, written by Rob Kearney & Eric Rosswood, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Young Adult Literature Award
- When the Angels Left the Old Country, written by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido
Honor Books for Young Adult Literature:
- I Kissed Shara Wheeler, written by Casey McQuiston and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group
- Kings of B’more, written by R. Eric Thomas and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House
- Man o’ War, written by Cory McCarthy and published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
- The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, written by Jen Ferguson (Métis/white) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book
Winner
- I Did It!, written and illustrated by Michael Emberley, published by Holiday House.
Geisel Honor Books:
- Fish and Wave, written and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Gigi and Ojiji, written and illustrated by Melissa Iwai and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Owl and Penguin, written and illustrated by Vikram Madan and published by Holiday House
- A Seed Grows, written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis and published by Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House.
William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:
- The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, written by Isaac Blum, book is published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Finalists:
- The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, written by Jen Ferguson (Métis/white) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books
- Wake the Bones, written by Elizabeth Kilcoyne and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group at Macmillan
- The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, written by Sonora Reyes and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Hell Followed with Us, written by Andrew Joseph White and published by Peachtree Teen, an imprint of Peachtree Publishing Company.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
Winner
- Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice, written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company.
Finalists:
- Abuela, Don’t Forget Me, written by Rex Ogle and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company
- American Murderer: The Parasite that Haunted the South, written by Gail Jarrow and published by Calkins Creek
- A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome, written by Ariel Henley and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
- Unequal: A Story of America, written by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.
The Picture Book winner:
- From the Tops of the Trees, written by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Rachel Wada and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group.
Picture Book honor:
- Nana, Nenek & Nina written and illustrated by Liza Ferneyhough and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.
Children’s Literature winner:
- Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, written by Lisa Yee and published by Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Children’s Literature honor:
- Troublemaker, written by John Cho, with Sarah Suk and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Youth Literature winner:
- Himawari House, written and illustrated by Harmony Becker and published by First Second, an imprint of Macmillan.
Literature honor book:
- The Silence that Binds Us, written by Joanna Ho and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.
The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience.
Gold Medalists Picture Book:
- The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, by Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Middle Grade winner
- Aviva vs. the Dybbuk, by Mari Lowe and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido
Young Adult winner
- When the Angels Left the Old Country, by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.
Silver Medalists Picture Book honors:
- Big Dreams, Small Fish, written and illustrated by Paula Cohen and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido
- The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from Uganda, by Shoshana Nambi, illustrated by Moran Yogev and published by Kalaniot Books, an imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing Company
- Sitting Shiva, by Erin Silver, illustrated by Michelle Theodore and published by Orca Book Publishers
Middle Grade honors
- Honey and Me, by Meira Drazin and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
- Black Bird, Blue Road, by Sofiya Pasternack and published by Versify, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Ellen Outside the Lines, by A. J. Sass and published by Little, Brown and Company, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Young Adult honors
- My Fine Fellow: A Delicious Entanglement, by Jennieke Cohen and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Some Kind of Hate, by Sarah Darer Littman and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
- Eight Nights of Flirting, by Hannah Reynolds and published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
