It's Awards Season!

Monday was a big day in the children’s literature world -- the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards were announced!  The annual awards include not only the big two -- Caldecott and Newbery -- but a number of other awards recognizing a broad spectrum of children's and young adult literature.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal, which recognizes the most distinguished American picture book for children each year, was awarded to “Wolf in the Snow,” illustrated and written by Matthew Cordell.

The John Newbery Medal, which recognizes the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature each year, was awarded to “Hello, Universe” by Erin Entrada Kelly.

A full list of the awards is available here, and the books are available at the Somerville Public Library and through the Minuteman Library Network.

The awards are announced at the ALA’s Midwinter Meeting, which was held in Denver this year.  But you didn’t have to be in Denver to participate -- people tuned in from all over to watch the live webcast.  My own daughter emailed me from school (don’t tell her teacher!) to see who won.  Twitter lit up with discussion of the awards.  Classrooms and libraries planned awards-themed parties (these ideas might be better suited to an evening party, but hey, a book party is a book party).

If you want more Newbery love, you can get a free ticket to see the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the Boston Public Library in April.   And start reading -- books published in 2018 will be eligible for next year’s awards!