MORE AWARDS! 

Over the next few days I will list the other awards. I am separating the Young Adult/Teen books from the others. That way if you aren't interested in YA lit, you can just skip that post!

 

   

The Geisel Award! 

What's a Geisel? Dr. Seuss' real name. The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is presented to the most distinguished beginning reader book since many of Dr. Seuss' books focus on learning how to read.  Fox at Night written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor (who also gave us Mel Fell!) is the 2022 winner.

Three Geisel Honor Books were named: Beak & Ally #1: Unlikely Friends a beginning graphic novel written and illustrated by Norm Feuti; I Hop written and illustrated by Joe Cepeda; and Nothing Fits a Dinosaur written and illustrated by Jonathan Fenske. I have read all four of these and all are super cute! 

 

 

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award 

 for most distinguished informational book for children: The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art written by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Evan Turk, is the 2022 Sibert Award winner.  Five Sibert Honor Books were named: The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem written by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter; Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown written by Steve Sheinkin; We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know written by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frané Lessac; Summertime Sleepers: Animals That Estivate, written by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen; and Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group.

     

Pura Belpré Awards 

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

Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Award: Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge illustrated by Raúl Gonzalez, is the 2022 winner. The book was written and illustrated by Raúl Gonzalez (aka Raúl the Third); Elaine Bay colors the illustrations. Have I mentioned how much I love Raúl the Third? His books are amazing. So fun and vibrant! So full of cultural references! This is the third Little Lobo book - I highly recommend all of them plus everything else he has done.

Four Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Books were named: Boogie Boogie, Y’all illustrated and written by C. G. Esperanza; Bright Star illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales; De aquí como el coquí illustrated and written by Nomar Perez, translated by Farah Perez (there is also an English version titled Coquí in the City); and May Your Life Be Deliciosa  illustrated by Loris Lora, written by Michael Genhart.

     

Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award: The Last Cuentista written by Donna Barba Higuera, is the 2022winner. And yes - this also won the Newbery. Yuyi Morales' award winning Dreamers plays a central role in this book. Check them out together!

Three Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books were named: Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna written by Alda P. Dobbs; Child of the Flower-SongFlower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua written by Gloria Amescua, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh and De aquí como el coquí written and illustrated by Nomar Perez, translated by Farah Perez.

American Indian Youth Literature Awards  

are announced in even years and were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. Selected titles present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts. 

   

2022 Picture Book: Herizon written by Daniel W. Vandever [Diné], illustrated by Corey Begay [Diné]; 

2022 Middle Grade Book: Healer of the Water Monster written by Brian Young [Diné], cover art by Shonto Begay [Diné].

     

2022 American Indian Youth Literature Awards Honor titles include:

Picture Honor Books: Diné Bich’eekę Yishłeeh [Diné Bizaad]/Becoming Miss Navajo [English] by Jolyana Begay-Kroupa [Diné], designed by Corey Begay [Diné]; Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Gold Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell [Cherokee], illustrated by Natasha Donovan [Métis]; Learning My Rights with Mousewoman written and illustrated by Morgan Asoyuf [Ts’msyen]; I Sang You Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillet-Sumner [Cree and Trinidadian], illustrated by Michaela Goade [Tlingit & Haida], and We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell [Cherokee], illustrated by Frané Lessac.

       

Middle Grade Honor Books: Ella Cara Deloria: Dakota Language Protector by Diane Wilson [Dakota], illustrated by Tashia Hart [Red Lake Anishinaabe]; Indigenous Peoples’ Day by Katrina M. Phillips [Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe], illustrated by Tashia Hart [Red Lake Anishinaabe]; Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Used-to-Be Best Friend  by Dawn Quigley [Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe], illustrated by Tara Audibert [Wolastoqey]; Peggy Flanagan: Ogimaa Kwe, Lieutenant Governor by Jessica Engelking [White Earth Band of Ojibwe], illustrated by Tashia Hart [Red Lake Anishinaabe] ; and “The Sea in Winter,” by Christine Day [Upper Skagit], cover art by Michaela Goade [Tlingit and Haida].

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

The award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit. The award offers three youth categories including Picture Book, Children’s Literature and Youth Literature. The award is administered by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association. 

   

The 2022 Asian/Pacific American Award for Picture Book  is Watercress written by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin.  The Children’s Literature winner is “Amina’s Song," written by Hena Khan. 

  

The committee selected one Picture Book honor title A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi written and illustrated by James Yang.

The committee selected one Children’s Literature honor title: “Finding Junie Kim,” written by Ellen Oh.

A GATHERING OF GREAT READS

 BREAKING DOWN THE YOUTH MEDIA AWARD WINNERS FOR 2022

       

If you watched the awards on Monday morning, you will know that they start with the lesser known awards and work their way up to the Caldecott and Newbery. I'm reversing that process and starting with the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: 

Érase una vez - or, once upon a time, - there was a girl named Petra Peña who wanted  to be a storyteller just like her Lita (abuelita). She didn't want to be a botanist like her mom or a geologist like her dad - she wanted to tell stories. But first, she and her parents have to board a spaceship to escape the impending doom of the Earth by Halley's Comet. That is the premise for this year's Newbery winner - The Last Cuentista written by Donna Barba Higuera.I am a little over halfway through reading this and so far it is a compelling read! - apocalyptic sci-fi at its best. Sci-fi does not win the medal very often. A Wrinkle in Time by L'Engle, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead are the three that pop into my head.

Four (FOUR!) Newbery Honor Books were named: Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca; A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger; Too Bright to See written by Kyle Lukoff; and Watercress by Andrea Wang with illustrations by Jason Chin.  

     

Watercress, illustrated by Jason Chin, was also chosen as the 2022 Caldecott Medal winner. Hooray! As Chin said in an interview, winning the award means the book will find its way into more schools, libraries, and bookstores and ultimately into the hands and minds of more kids. Which is the important thing about all of these awards - they open doors and windows.

There were also four (FOUR!) Caldecott Honor Books. Have You Ever Seen a Flower? illustrated and written by Shawn Harris; Mel Fell  illustrated and written by Corey R. Tabor; Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre illustrated by Floyd Cooper, written by Carole Boston Weatherford, and Wonder Walkers illustrated and written by Micha Archer. 

I think everyone should read Watercress and Unspeakable. Both of these books (especially Unspeakable) face push back from people who do not want certain uncomfortable truths taught so you might have to purchase a copy if your local library does not order it. Then you can donate it to a school or public library! 

 

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre also won the Coretta Scott King Book Award which recognizes African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults. Three King Author Honor Books were selected: Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo; Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People written by Kekla Magoon; and The People Remember written by Ibi Zoboi and illustrated by Loveis Wise.  

      

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre illustrated by Floyd Cooper, is the King Illustrator Book winner.Three King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: Nina: A Story of Nina Simone illustrated by Christian Robinson; We Wait for the Sun illustrated by Raissa Figueroa; and Soul Food Sunday illustrated by C.G. Esperanza.

    

The Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award goes to Me (Moth) written by Amber McBride. The Me I Choose to Be illustrated by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt is the Steptoe illustrator award winner.And Nikki Grimes is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Grimes has been widely recognized for her distinguished contribution to children’s and young adult literature, winning numerous major awards. She has written more than 77 books including two of her most recent books - Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance and Off to See the Sea. She has sealed her own legacy by weaving poetry and novels in verse into an impressive body of work.

I highlighted the books that I have read in purple - if you have any questions!  

So many awards! I am just getting started - tomorrow I will talk about the Printz, the Geisel, and more!