The Children’s Book Review
Published: January 18, 2010
Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) awards the authors and illustrators who have delivered the most outstanding work. The two most prestigious and well known awards are the John Newbery Medal and the Randolph Caldecott Medal. However, there are also many other awards that offer recognition to the deserving and applaud excellence. Each award is carefully judged by a committee of librarians and children’s experts, whom never fail to provide us with a distinguished list of books that are sure to make an impact on our children.
“Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit the ALA Web site at www.ala.org.” ~ ALA Press Release
John Newbery Medal
Most outstanding contribution to children’s literature.
- When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
John Newbery Honor Books
- Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M Hoose
- The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
- Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
Randolph Caldecott Medal
Most distinguished American picture book for children.
- The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Randolph Caldecott Honor Books
- All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
- Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
Michael L. Printz Award
Excellence in literature written for young adults.
- Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Michael L. Printz Honor Books
- Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
- The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
- Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
- Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance 1973 by John Barnes
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award
Recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.
- Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal (Exceptional Social Studies Titles for Intermediate Grades) by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor Book
- Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award
- My People illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Honor Book
- The Negro Speaks of Rivers illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
- The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
“Walter Dean Myers is the winner of this first-ever Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. Myers’ books include: “Amiri & Odette: A Love Story,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “Fallen Angels,” published by Scholastic Press; “Monster,” published by Amistad and HarperTeen, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers; and “Sunrise Over Fallujah,” published by Scholastic Press.” ~ ALA
Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award
Honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
- Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros illustrated by Rafael López
Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Honor Books
- Diego: Bigger Than Life illustrated by David Diaz
- My Abuelita illustrated by Yuyi Morales
- Gracias / Thanks (English and Spanish Edition) illustrated by John Parra
Pura Belpré (Author) Award
- Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
Pura Belpré (Author) Honor Books
- Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
- Federico García Lorca by Georgina Lázaro
Schneider Family Book Award
Books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.
- Django by Bonnie Christensen (winner for young children—ages 0 to 10)
- Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin (winner for middle grades—ages 11-13)
- Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork (winner for teens—ages 13-18)
William C. Morris Award
Honors a book written by a first-time author for young adults.
- Flash Burnout by L. K. Madigan
Odyssey Award
For excellence in audiobook production.
- Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo and narrated by Barbara Rosenblat
Odyssey Honor Audiobooks
- In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack Adventures) by L.A. Meyer and narrated by Dion Graham
- Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson and narrated by Dion Graham
- We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson and narrated by Dion Graham
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
Most distinguished beginning reader book.
- Benny And Penny in The Big No-No (Toon Books) by Geoffrey Hayes
Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Books
- I Spy Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
- Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith
- Mouse & Mole, Fine Feathered Friends by Wong Herbert Yee
- Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day (Dial Easy-to-Read) by Kate McMullan
Margaret A. Edwards Award
Lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.
“Jim Murphy is the 2010 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793,” published by Clarion Books; “Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Great Fire,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Long Road to Gettysburg,” published by Clarion Books; and “A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy,” published by Clarion Books.” ~ ALA
Robert F. Sibert Medal
Most distinguished informational book for children.
- Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone
Robert F. Sibert Honor Books
- The Day-Glo Brothers by Chris Barton
- Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 (Richard Jackson Books (Atheneum Hardcover)) by Brian Floca
- Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M Hoose
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award
- Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
Andrew Carnegie Medal
Excellence in children’s video.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! written and illustrated by Willems, narrated by Willems and Jon Scieszka, animation by Pete List.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
Outstanding children’s book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States.
- A Faraway Island by Annika Thor and translated by Linda Schenck (originally published in Swedish in 1996 as “En ö i havet”)
Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Books
- Big Wolf and Little Wolf by Nadine Brun-Cosme and translated by Claudia Bedrick
- Eidi: The Children of Crow Cove by Bodil Bredsdorff and translated by Kathryn Mahaffy
- Moribito II: Guardian Of The Darkness by Nahoko Uehashi and translated by Cathy Hirano
Alex Awards
10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
- The Bride’s Farewell by Meg Rosoff
- Everything Matters!: A Novel by Jr., Ron Currie
- The Good Soldiers by David Finkel
- The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir by Diana Welch and Liz Welch with Amanda Welch and Dan Welch
- The Magicians by Lev Grossman
- My Abandonment by Peter Rock
- Soulless by Gail Carriger
- Stitches: A Memoir by David Small
- Tunneling to the Center of the Earth by Kevin Wilson
May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award
Recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site.
“Lois Lowry will deliver the 2011 lecture. The internationally acclaimed author’s career spans more than 30 years. She is a two-time recipient of the Newbery Medal, in 1990 for “Number the Stars,” set in Denmark during World War II, and in 1994 for the eerily dystopian “The Giver.” Both books are published by Houghton Mifflin.” ~ ALA