Yesterday morning, at the American Library Association's Midwinter meeting in Philadelphia, the winners of some of the top prizes in children's literature were announced. Jerry Craft won the 2020 John Newbery Medal, for most outstanding contribution to children's literature, for New Kid (HarperCollins)--the first time a graphic novel has won the award. Kadir Nelson won the 2020 Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children for The Undefeated (HMH/Versify), written by Kwame Alexander; and A.S. King won the 2020 Michael L. Printz Award, which recognizes excellence in YA literature, for Dig (Dutton).
New Kid and The Undefeated also received Coretta Scott King awards, which recognize African-American authors and illustrators.
Four Newbery Honor Books were named: The Undefeated; Scary Stories for Young Foxes (Holt) by Christian McKay Heidicker, illustrated by Junyi Wu; Other Words for Home (Balzer + Bray) by Jasmine Warga; and Genesis Begins Again (Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum) by Alicia D. Williams.
Three Caldecott Honor Books were announced: Bear Came Along (Little, Brown), illus. by LeUyen Pham, written by Richard T. Morris; Double Bass Blues (Knopf), illus. by Rudy Gutierrez, written by Andrea J. Loney; and Going Down Home with Daddy (Peachtree), illus. by Daniel Minter, written by Kelly Starling Lyons.
Three King Author Honor Books were selected: The Stars and the Blackness Between Them (Dutton) by Junauda Petrus; Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Disney-Hyperion) by Kwame Mbalia; and Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks (Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum) by Jason Reynolds--this year's National Ambassador for Children's Literature.
The CSK-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement went to Mildred D. Taylor, and the CSK John Steptoe New Talent Award recipients are April Harrison (What Is Given from the Heart, illus. by Patricia McKissack; Schwartz and Wade) and Alicia D. Williams (Genesis Begins Again, Atheneum).
The event also included announcement of the Stonewall Book Award honor books and two winners: When Aidan Became a Brother (Lee & Low) by Kyle Lukoff, illus. by Kaylani Juanita; and The Black Flamingo (Balzer + Bray) by Dean Atta.
The Margaret A. Edwards Award, which "recognizes an author and a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature" was given to Steve Sheinkin.
Also announced were the winners of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature from the Asian/Pacific Librarians Association (APALA); the Sydney Taylor Book Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL); the American Indian Youth Literature Award presented by the American Indian Library Association (AILA); the Schneider Family Book Award, which recognizes authors and illustrators "for the excellence of portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth"; and the Pura Belpré Awards, honoring Latino writers and illustrators whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
For a full list of prizes and winners, as well as a recording of the event, click here.