Every year librarians and other professionals gather at the ALA Midwinter Conference to celebrate the best of the best in children’s literature. Other stuff happens too but the shiny stickers are the most exciting part, for me at least! It’s like the Oscars of the kid book world. Check out some highlighted results below, click here for a full list, and seek out any of the award-winning titles at your nearest Heights Library!
John Newbery Medal – for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature ages 0-14
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Newbery Honors
Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdoch
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
Randolph Caldecott Medal – for the most distinguished American picture book for children
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Caldecott Honors
The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora
Pura Belpré Awards – presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
Pura Belpré Author Winner
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Pura Belpré Author Honor
They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems by David Bowles
Pura Belpré Illustrator Winner
Dreamers written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Pura Belpré Illustrator Honors
Islandborn illustrated by Leo Espinosa, written by Junot Díaz
When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana illustrated by Jose Ramirez, written by Michael Mahin
Coretta Scott King Awards – recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.
Coretta Scott King Author Winner
A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 by Claire Hartfield
Coretta Scott King Author Honors
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Winner
The Stuff of Stars illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Marion Dane Bauer.
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honors
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Alice Faye Duncan.
Hidden Figures illustrated by Laura Freeman, written by Margot Lee Shetterly.
Let the Children March illustrated by Frank Morrison, written by Monica Clark-Robinson.