Award Winning Books for Kids and Teens
From GRPLpedia
The Newbery Medal
The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. For a complete list of past winners, visit Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922-present.
2008 Winner - Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
"Maidens, monks, and millers’ sons — in these pages, readers will meet them all. There’s Hugo, the lord’s nephew, forced to prove his manhood by hunting a wild boar; sharp-tongued Nelly, who supports her family by selling live eels; and the peasant’s daughter, Mogg, who gets a clever lesson in how to save a cow from a greedy landlord. There’s also mud-slinging Barbary (and her noble victim); Jack, the compassionate half-wit; Alice, the singing shepherdess; and many more. With a deep appreciation for the period and a grand affection for both characters and audience, Laura Amy Schlitz creates twenty-two riveting portraits and linguistic gems equally suited to silent reading or performance. Illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings by Robert Byrd — inspired by the Munich-Nuremberg manuscript, an illuminated poem from thirteenth-century Germany — this witty, historically accurate, and utterly human collection forms an exquisite bridge to the people and places of medieval England." -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
Honor Books
The Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. For a complete list of past winners, visit Caldecott Medal Winners and Honor Books, 1938-present.
2008 Winner - The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
"Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery." -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
Honor Books
The Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association. For a complete list of past winners, visit Previous Michael L. Printz Winners.
2008 Winner - The White Darkness, by Geraldine McCaughrean
"I have been in love with Titus Oates for quite a while now—which is ridiculous, since he's been dead for ninety years. But look at it this way. In ninety years I'll be dead, too, and the age difference won't matter." Sym is not your average teenage girl. She is obsessed with the Antarctic and the brave, romantic figure of Captain Oates from Scott's doomed expedition to the South Pole. In fact, Oates is the secret confidant to whom she spills all her hopes and fears. But Sym's uncle Victor is even more obsessed—and when he takes her on a dream trip into the bleak Antarctic wilderness, it turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival that will challenge everything she knows and loves. In her first contemporary young adult novel, Carnegie Medalist and three-time Whitbread Award winner Geraldine McCaughrean delivers a spellbinding journey into the frozen heart of darkness." -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
Honor Books
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, established in 2004, is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers. The winner(s) receive a bronze medal for their creativity and imagination and ability to "engage children in reading." The award is named for Theodor Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss, who championed children's literacy and told the world, "a person's a person, no matter how small."
2008 Medal Winner - There is a Bird on Your Head, by Mo Willems
Author Honor Books
Coretta Scott King Awards
Given to African American authors and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions, the Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream. The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood. For a complete list of past winners, visit Past Winners.
2008 Author Award - Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
"Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He’s best known in his hometown as the boy who made a memorable impression on Frederick Douglass. But things change when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the thief, and he discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled—a life from which he’ll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home." -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
Author Honor Books
2008 Illustrator Award - Let it Shine by Ashley Bryan
"With a kaleidoscope of color and cut paper, Hans Christian Anderson Award nominee and two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Ashley Bryan celebrates three favorite spirituals: "This Little Light of Mine," "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." The power of these beloved songs simply emanates through his joyous interpretations. Come, sing, and celebrate!" -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
Illustrator Honor Books
2008 John Steptoe New Talent Award - Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It by Sundee T. Frazier
"Ten-year-old tae kwon do blue belt and budding rock hound Brendan Buckley keeps a "Confidential" notebook for his top-secret scientific discoveries. And he's found something totally top secret. The grandpa he's never met, who his mom refuses to talk about or see, is an expert mineral collector and lives nearby! Secretly, Brendan visits Ed DeBose, whose skin is pink, not brown like Brendan's, his dad's, or that of Grampa Clem's, who recently died. Brendan sets out to find the reason behind Ed's absence, but what he discovers can't be explained by science, and now he wishes he'd never found him at all." -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
The Pura Belpré Award
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented 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. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA), an ALA Affiliate. The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. For a complete list of past winners, visit The Pura Belpré Award Winners.
2008 Narrative Award - The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano written by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sean Qualls
"A lyrical biography of a Cuban slave who escaped to become a celebrated poet. Born into the household of a wealthy slave owner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own. Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry. His verses reflect the beauty of his world, but they also expose its hideous cruelty.Powerful, haunting poems and breathtaking illustrations create a portrait of a life in which even the pain of slavery could not extinguish the capacity for hope." -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
Narrative Honor Books
2008 Illustration Award - Los Gatos Black on Halloween, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Marisa Montes
"Follow los monstruos and los esqueletos to the Halloween partyUnder October's luna, full and bright, the monsters are throwing a ball in the Haunted Hall. Las brujas come on their broomsticks. Los muertos rise from their coffins to join in the fun. Los esqueletos rattle their bones as they dance through the door. And the scariest creatures of all aren't even there yet!This lively bilingual Halloween poem introduces young readers to a spooky array of Spanish words that will open their ojos to the chilling delights of the season." -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
Illustration Honor Books
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award
This award, established in 1966, is a citation awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. The award honors Mildred L. Batchelder, a former executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children, a believer in the importance of good books for children in translation from all parts of the world. For a complete list of past winners, visit ALSC Mildred L. Batchelder Award Winners 1968-Present.
2008 Award Winner - VIZ Media for Brave Story, written by Miyuki Miyabe and translated from the Japanese by Alexander O. Smith
"Young Wataru Mitani’s life is a mess. His father has abandoned him and his mother has been hospitalized after a suicide attempt. Desperately he searches for some way to change his life—a way to alter his fate. To achieve his goal, he must navigate the magical world of Vision, a land filled with creatures both fierce and friendly. And to complicate matters, he must outwit a merciless rival from the real world. Wataru’s ultimate destination is the Tower of Destiny where a goddess of fate awaits. Only when he has finished his journey and collected five elusive gemstones will he possess the Demon’s Bane—the key that will unlock his future. Charity, bravery, faith, grace and the power of darkness and light: these are the provinces of each gemstone. Brought together, they have the immeasurable power to bring Wataru’s family back together again." -- BOOK DESCRIPTION
Honor Books
Michigan Library Association's Thumbs Up Award
The Thumbs Up! Award was established in 1986 to recognize the excellence, and to celebrate the uniqueness of Teen/Young Adult literature. A committee, consisting of Teen Librarians, meets several times during the year to determine the winner. Beginning in 2001, the Thumbs Up! Committee has included a teen vote. The Thumbs Up! Award is given annually by the Teen Services Division to an author for an outstanding contribution to teen literature having both literary quality and teen appeal. "Teen" for the award's purpose is someone between 12-18 years of age. The book must appeal to this age group, both in respect to its characters and setting, as well as in terms of subject and theme. Books may be hardcover or original paperback. Books may be either fiction or nonfiction. For a complete list of past winners and award guidelines, visit the Thumbs Up award page.
2007 Award Winner - Rash by Pete Hautman
"In Rash, Hautman has crafted a chilling satire which tells the story of Bo, a struggling teenager. In the year 2076 it's illegal to litter or verbally assault another person in the Safer States of America. Bo has five family members in jail, and due to his temper he is sent to a remote work camp where he has to make fast food pizzas, play the dangerous and illegal game of football, and battle the bears that live in the cold north. The committee praised Hautman for his work, noting his creation of an exciting adventure story that works on a multitude of levels".
Honor Books
Michigan Library Association's Mitten Award
The Mitten Award is an annual award presented through the Michigan Library Association's Children's Services Division. The mission of the Mitten Award is "To recognize one children's book published in the United States within the calendar year that has captured the attention of the children's librarians throughout the State of Michigan for its ability to communicate through literature to an intended audience." For a list of past award winners and award guidelines, visit the Mitten Award page.
2007 Award Winner - Rules by Cynthia Lord
"RULES is a funny, poignant, thoughtful look at sibling relationships and the intrinsic value of a person. Twelve-year-old Catherine has created a list of rules to help her younger brother, David, navigate the world. David has autism, and Catherine experiences a range of emotions with him, from frustration to protectiveness to a wry appreciation for his point of view. A typical middle-grade girl, Catherine also explores the rules of friendship in her own life, with Kristi, the new girl she'd like to impress, and Jason, a non-verbal paraplegic young man who shares her sense of humor. Sensitive, realistic, and humorous, this first novel by Cynthia Lord is great for discussion."
Honor Books
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
The Sibert Medal, established in 2001, is named for Robert Sibert, long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books. It recognizes the distinguished nonfiction, informational book of the year, the one that does best to "present, organize and interpret documentable, factual material for children."
2008 Award Winner - The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
Honor Books
