The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators announced winners of the 2021 Crystal Kite Awards, which are peer-selected and voted on by SCBWI members from local regions. The prize recognizes excellence in the field of children's literature in 15 U.S. and international regions. This year's Crystal Kite regional division winners are:
Atlantic: Evelyn Del Ray Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez
Australia/NZ: How to Make a Bird by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Matt Ottley
California/Hawaii: Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
Canada: Night Walk by Sara O'Leary, illustrated by Ellie Arscott
Europe/Latin America/Africa: The Hungry Ghost by Helle Norup
Mid-South: The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora
Middle East/India/Asia: The Last Garden by Rachel Ip, illustrated by Anneli Bray
Midwest: Old Rock (is not boring!) by Deb Pilutti
New England: Let's Dance! by Valerie Bolling, illustrated by Maine Diaz
New York: The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer, illustrated by Cindy Derby
Southeast: The Little Blue Cottage by Kelly Jordan, illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Southwest: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley, illustrated by Xavier Bonet
Texas/Oklahoma: Dusk Explorers by Lindsay Leslie, illustrated by Ellen Rooney
U.K./Ireland: Boy, Everywhere by A.M. Dassu
Western: The Starkeeper by Faith Pray
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Finalists have been named for the £10,000 (about $14,195) Forward Prize for Poetry and the £5,000 (about $7,100) Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection, which were established to celebrate "new poetry in the U.K. and Ireland, honoring fresh voices alongside internationally established names." Winners will be announced in October. This year's shortlisted books are:
Best collection
A Blood Condition by Kayo Chingonyi
A God at the Door by Tishani Doshi
Men Who Feed Pigeons by Selima Hill
Notes on the Sonnets by Luke Kennard
Cheryl's Destinies by Stephen Sexton
First collection
Poor by Caleb Femi
Bird of Winter by Alice Hiller
Honorifics by Cynthia Miller
Comic Timing by Holly Pester
Rotten Days in Late Summer by Ralf Webb