The American Library Association’s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience took place virtually this week, and as is tradition, the Youth Media Awards were handed out, a huge list of awards and honor books for young readers were announced. Graphic novels have shown up on the list in many categories in recent years – including New Kid winning the most prestigious award of all, the Newbery medal, in 2020.
This year there were a handful of comics related titles, led by webcomics-to-print sensation Lore Olympus winning an Alex Award. The Alex Awards are presented to ten books for adults that appeal to young readers. Rachel Smythe’s mythological romance contineus to rack up sales and honors.
Elsewhere, combing through the list, a few more comics were found. (As mighty as it is, the ALA does not seem to have discovered the use of bulleted lists for press releases.)
Norm Feuti’s Beak & Ally #1: Unlikely Friends (HarperAlley) was named a Geisel Honor Books, presented to the best books for beginning readers. The book portrays a friendship between a bird and an alligator.
Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero by E. Lockhart and Manuel Preitano (DC Comics) was a silver medalist in the young adult category for the Sydney Taylor Book Award, presented to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. The book portrays the friendship between a young woman and a dog that is jeopardized by Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Congratulations to all the winners!
