Oh MG News

American Library Association 2024 Youth Media Awards

By on February 3, 2024   /   Oh MG News  

On January 22, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young adults at its LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience conference in Baltimore. Among these awards are the Newbery, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King awards. Congratulations to the following winners and honorees! 

Newbery Medal

gold medal - newbery

Each year, the John Newbery Medal is given to a book selected as the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature. The 2024 medal went to Dave Eggers for The Eyes and the Impossible, the story of a free and fast dog named Johannes who runs daily and reports his observations to three ancient Bison known as the Keepers of the Equilibrium. Published simultaneously by Alfred A. Knopf and McSweeney’s, this book includes illustrations by Shawn Harris.

The Eyes and the Impossible book cover

Newbery Honors

Five Newbery Honor Books were also named: 

  • Eagle Drums, written and illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson and published by Roaring Book Press. 
  • Elf Dog and Owl Head, written by M.T. Anderson, illustrated by Junyi Wu and published by Candlewick Press 
  • Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir, written and illustrated by Pedro Martín and published by Dial Books for Young Readers“
  • Simon Sort of Says, written by Erin Bow and published by Disney-Hyperion, an imprint of Buena Vista Books, Inc.
  • The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, written by Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Daniel Miyares and published by Arthur A. Levine

Caldecott Medal

Caldecott Medal - gold

The Randolph Caldecott Medal is given annually to the most distinguished American picture book for children. The 2024 Caldecott Medal went to Big, illustrated and written by Vashti Harrison. Published by Little, Brown and Co., this book traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal.

Big book cover

Caldecott Honors

Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: 

  • In Every Life, illustrated and written by Marla Frazee and published by Beach Lane Books
  • Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter, illustrated by Molly Mendoza, written by Aida Salazar and published by Scholastic Press 
  • There Was a Party for Langston, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds and published by Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers 
  • The Truth About Dragons, illustrated by Hanna Cha, written by Julie Leung and published by Henry Holt and Co.

 

Coretta Scott King Awards

Coretta Scott King award

 

Coretta Scott King Book Award for Authors

The Coretta Scott King Book Award for Authors recognizes an African American author whose books for children and young adults “demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.” This year, the award went to Nigeria Jones, written by Ibi Zoboi about a girl who must look beyond the expectations of her revolutionary father to find how to make her own way in the world.. The book is published by Balzer + Bray.

Nigeria Jones cover

Coretta Scott King Honor Books (Authors)

Three Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books were selected: 

  • Big, written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison and published by Little, Brown and Co.
  • How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee, written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison and published by Candlewick Press 
  • Kin: Rooted in Hope, written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustrators

The Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustrators recognizes an African American illustrator whose books for children and young adults “demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.” This year, the award went to “An American Story,” illustrated by Dare Coulter. The book is written by Kwame Alexander and published by Little, Brown and Co., a division of Hachette Book, Inc.

An American Story cover

Coretta Scott King Honor Books (Illustrators)

Three Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: 

  • Big, illustrated and written by Vashti Harrison and published by: Little, Brown and Co., a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.; 
  • Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes, illustrated by Shannon Wright, written by Traci N. Todd and published by Orchard Books  
  • There Was a Party for Langston, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarret Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds and published by Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers

 

Other Coretta Scott King Awards

The Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award was given to There Goes the Neighborhood, written by Jade Adia and published by Hyperion.

The Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award went to We Could Fly, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, written by Rhiannon Giddens and published by Candlewick Press.

The Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement  pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. This year, the award went to Christopher Paul Curtis, a historical fiction novelist who writes in accessible ways for emerging readers to understand the world around them. His novels have received numerous starred reviews and awards throughout his career.

Congratulations to all winners and honorees of the 2024 American Library Association Awards!

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MIND THE MIDDLE!

By on December 4, 2023   /   Oh MG News  
Poster introducing the Mind the Middle Project

Still reeling from Goodreads’ elimination of Children’s & Middle Grade and Graphic Novels in their 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards?

Still upset about Barnes and Noble’s drastic reduction of hardcover middle grade books?

Still shaking your head about Scholastic’s off-again, on-again support of diverse books?

Then we have just what you need: some good news about middle grade books! Courtesy of School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox, we bring you the MIND THE MIDDLE PROJECT. The idea is to dedicate 2024 to highlighting middle grade and young teen literature.

Why is this important?

Well, beyond the obvious reasons, let’s take a look at some data. According to SLJ, “test scores for this age group are falling, and youth are reporting that they read less for fun.” Noting a powerful correlation between those two data points, an emphasis on the promotion of books for this age group is a genuinely great idea.

And the best news is that YOU are invited to become a part of the MIND THE MIDDLE PROJECT. Authors are invited to share book cover reveals, participate in interviews, and talk about the writing process. The idea is to connect kids and their gatekeepers with the books they’re looking for.

Teachers and librarians are invited to participate as well, by sharing themed book lists, book club information, and any ideas that inspire reading among this age group. 

How can you get involved?

Would you like to sign up to make a guest post on the Teen Librarian Toolbox? Visit this link and find out how!

Ready to sign up? There’s a Google Form for that!

Let’s give our support to SLJ and the Teen Librarian Toolbox as they promote books and inspire readers with the 2024 MIND THE MIDDLE PROJECT.

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Congratulations, Dan Santat!

By on November 19, 2023   /   Oh MG News  

The National Book Awards, founded in 1950, are given annually to recognize the year’s highest quality literature written by American authors and published by American publishers. In addition to a prestigious list of awards and recognitions for authors, publishers, and booksellers, one work each year receives the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. This year, that award went to A First Time for Everything, a middle grade book by author and illustrator Dan Santat.Dan Santat headshot

A First Time for Everything is Dan Santat’s graphic memoir that chronicles a life-changing trip to Europe during his awkward middle school years. Praised as both humorous and poignant, this coming-of-age story is relatable, honest, and beautifully illustrated by former Caldecott recipient Santat. 

 

Accepting his award, Santat recognized the short list of finalists: “I’d like to thank everyone at the National Book Award Committee, and especially this year’s judges for selecting such a diverse range of books from young adults to middle grade and picture books and graphic novels, which demonstrate that a wide variety of stories can be worthy of such high praise.” Other finalists included Kenneth M. Cadow’s Gather, Huda Fahmy’s Huda F Cares?, Vashti Harrison’s Big, and Katherine Marsh’s The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine.

 

Santat also made a heartfelt expression of gratitude to his mother, “who saw her young, insecure child endure the struggles of growing up through the tumultuous years of adolescence, and gently pushed him out the door to show his young innocent mind that despite the awkward and awful experiences we can sometimes experience in life, that the world is immense. And that within that vast world, there’s also great kindness and love.”

Book cover A First Time for Everything

A First Time for Everything received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly, and it was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection. Now, this middle grade graphic memoir can add a National Book Award to its list of honors. Everyone at the Mixed Up Files sends a big CONGRATULATIONS to Dan Santat!

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