Youth Media Award Winners 2022 | Texas Talking Books Blog

Presented by the American Library Association on January 24, 2022

“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 ala.org/yma” -From the American Library Association

Titles with a * next to them won multiple awards this year.

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

*THE LAST CUENTISTA by Donna Barba Higuera

DB 105729 BR 23967 in process

Petra Peña’s world is ending, and only the chosen few will journey to a new planet. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to discover that she alone remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity’s past.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

*WATERCRESS illustrated by Jason Chin; written by Andrea Wang

(Not yet available from NLS- nominated for print Braille production)

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

*UNSPEAKABLE: THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

DB 103676 BR 23732 in process

An award-winning author recounts the 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma, race massacre——one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation’s history.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award

*UNSPEAKABLE: THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE illustrated by Floyd Cooper; written by Carole Boston Weatherford

DB 103676 BR 23732 in process

An award-winning author recounts the 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma, race massacre——one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation’s history.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent (Author) Award

ME (MOTH) by Amber McBride

DB 105871 in process

Moth, who lost her family in an accident, and Sani, who is battling ongoing depression, take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors, which helps them move forward in surprising and unforgettable ways. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent (Illustrator) Award

THE ME I CHOOSE TO BE illustrated by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt; written by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

(Not yet available from NLS)

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:

Nikki Grimes is the winner of the 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. Grimes has been widely recognized for her distinguished contribution to children’s and young adult literature, winning numerous major awards. After more than 77 books, she has sealed her legacy by weaving poetry and novels in verse into an impressive body of work. Grimes currently resides in Corona, California, where she continues her powerful writing.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

*FIRE KEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley

DB 102762

Daunis, who is part Ojibwe, defers attending the University of Michigan to care for her mother. When Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, she reluctantly agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source of a new drug. Unrated. Commercial audiobook

Schneider Family Book Awards for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:

Young Children ages 0 to 8:

MY CITY SPEAKS by Darren Lebeuf, illustrated by Ashley Barron

(Not yet in NLS-nominated for print Braille production)

Middle Grades ages 9 to 13:

A BIRD WILL SOAR by Alison Green

(TITLE IN PRODUCTION. NOT AVAILABLE YET- BR and DB)

Teens ages 14-18:

WORDS IN MY HANDS written and illustrated by Asphyxia

(TITLE IN PRODUCTION. NOT AVAILABLE YET- BR and DB)

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS by Ryka Aoki

DB 105930 in process

Shizuka has made a deal with the devil to deliver the souls of violin prodigies, and when she meets a talented young transgender runaway, she knows she’s found her final candidate. But when Shizuka meets retired starship captain Lan Tran, her plans are soon derailed. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT by Marianne Cronin

DB 103815

Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson lives on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though told she’s dying, Lenni still has plenty of living to do. Joining the hospital’s arts and crafts class, she meets the magnificent Margot, an 83-year-old rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

WITCH’S HEART by Genevieve Gornichec

DB 102781

A punishment from Odin leaves witch Angrboda injured and powerless. She flees into a remote forest and meets a man who reveals himself to be the trickster god Loki. They fall in love and have three children, but Angrboda has visions that her family will be present at Ragnarok. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

LIBRARY OF THE DEAD by T.L Huchu

DB 103872

A dropout, Ropa carries messages for ghosts to make a living on the streets of Edinburgh. When the dead begin to whisper about missing and bewitched children, Ropa investigates. Meanwhile, she discovers an occult library, gains a magical mentor, and uncovers dark secrets. Unrated. Commercial audiobook

HOW LUCKY by Will Leitch

(Not yet in NLS)

WINTER’S ORBIT by Everina Maxwell

DB 102298

Jainan, the widower of the Imperial Prince is rushed into an arranged marriage with his dead husband’s cousin to avert war. When Jainan is suspected of the Prince’s murder, he must solve the mystery, prevent interplanetary war, and deal with his growing feelings for his new husband. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn

DB 102559

1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Debutante Osla, self-made Mab, and local spinster Beth become friends, until rumors circulate of a traitor at Bletchley. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

CROSSING THE LINE: A FEARLESS TEAM OF BROTHERS AND THE SPORT THAT CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOREVER by Kareem Rosser

DB 102745

In this memoir, the author describes growing up in a West Philadelphia neighborhood devastated by poverty and violence. He and his brothers stumble upon a stable run by Lezlie Hiner, who offers to teach them to ride, leading the author to become part of the first all-Black national interscholastic polo championship team. Unrated. Commercial audiobook

LORE OLUMPUS, VOL. 1by Rachel Smythe

(Not yet in NLS)

MALICE by Heather Walter

(Not yet in NLS)

Children’s Literature Legacy Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences.

The 2022 winner is Grace Lin. Since the publication of her first book, “The Ugly Vegetables,” in 1999, Lin has written and/or illustrated more than 40 books for children.

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:

The 2022 winner is A.S. King whose books include: “SW/TCH,” “Still Life with Tornado,” “Ask the Passengers,” “Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future” and “Please Ignore Vera Dietz,” among other titles.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States:

TEMPLE ALLEY SUMMER; originally published in Japanese as Kimyōji Yokochō no Natsu by Sachiko Kashiwaba, illustrated by Miho Satake, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa

(Not yet in NLS)

Odyssey Award for the best audiobooks produced for children and young adults, available in English in the United States:

Children:

BOOGIE BOOGIE, Y’ALL; written and narrated by C. G. Esperanza

(Not yet in NLS)

Young Adults:

WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US by Pamela N. Harris and narrated by Preston Butler III

DB 103824

After his sister Nicole disappears, Jay and a friend from church try to piece together what happened to his sister, because he knows the Newport News police department won’t help search for a missing Black girl from public housing. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latinx writers and illustrators whose children’s and young adult books best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

Youth Illustration Award winner:

¡VAMOS! LET’S CROSS THE BRIDGE illustrated and written by Raúl Gonzalez

DB 101952

After lunch requests come in, Little Lobo, a Mexican American, and Bernabé, his dog, gather tacos, frutas picadas, cuernos, and more. They must deliver them to los luchadores at el Coliseo. Commercial audiobook.

Children’s Author Award winner:

*LAST CUENTISTA by Donna Barba Higuera

DB 105729 BR 23967 in process

Young Adult Author Award winner:

HOW MOON FUENTEZ FELL IN LOVE WITH THE UNIVERSE by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

(Not yet in NLS)

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

THE PEOPLE’S PAINTER: HOW BEN SHAHN FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE WITH ART by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Evan Turk

(Not yet in NLS)

Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience:

Children’s Award:

TOO BRIGHT TO SEE by Kyle Lukoff

DB 105462

In the summer before middle school, eleven-year-old Bug must contend with best friend Moira suddenly caring about clothes, makeup, and boys; a ghostly haunting; and the truth about Bug’s gender identity. Commercial audiobook.

Young Adult’s Award:

*LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB by Malinda Lo

DB 104015

1954. McCarthyism and the Red Scare are genuine threats to Lily’s family; her father is already at risk of deportation despite his valid citizenship. Lily, who is Chinese American, could lose everything just for dating anyone white——let alone another girl——but she could lose herself if she isn’t true to her feelings. Includes supplemental material. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

FOX AT NIGHT written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor

(Not yet in NLS)

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:

*FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley

DB 102762

YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:

AMBUSHED!: THE ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST PRESIDENT GARFIELD by Gail Jarrow

(Not yet in NLS)

American Indian Youth Literature Awards are announced in even years and were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. Selected titles present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts. This year’s winners include:

Picture Book:

HERIZON by Daniel W. Vandever [Diné]

(Not yet in NLS)

Middle Grade Book:

HEALER OF THE WATER MONSTER by Brian Young [Diné]

DB 104419

When Nathan visits his grandma, Nali, at her mobile summer home on the Navajo reservation, he knows he’s in for a pretty uneventful summer. But things change after he meets a water monster that needs his help. Commercial audiobook.

Young Adult Book:

APPLE (SKIN TO THE CORE) by Eric Gansworth [Onondaga]

DB 101947 BR 23594 in process

Memoir-in-verse by award-winning author and artist, Eric Gansworth, a member of the Onondaga Nation, tells his story of growing up at the Tuscarora Nation. He covers his family’s history and struggles, the impact of boarding schools, racism, and poverty. Strong language. Commercial audiobook.

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature The award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit. The award offers three youth categories including Picture Book, Children’s Literature and Youth Literature. The award is administered by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association. This year’s winners include:

Picture Book:

*WATERCRESS written by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin

(not yet in NLS- nominated for print Braille production)

Children’s Literature:

AMINA’S SONG by Hena Khan

DB 103070

Feeling pulled between two cultures after a month with family in Pakistan, Amina shares her experiences with her Wisconsin classmates through a class assignment and a songwriting project with new student Nico. Sequel to Amina’s Voice (DB 87659). Commercial audiobook.

Youth Literature:

*LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB by Malinda Lo

DB 104015

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature. This year’s Gold Medalists include:

Picture Book:

PASSOVER GUEST written by Susan Kusel, illustrated by Sean Rubin

(Not yet in NLS)

Middle Grades:

HOW TO FIND WHAT YOU’RE NOT LOOKING FOR by Veera Hiranandani

DB 105195

Eleven-year-old Ariel Goldberg must find her own voice and define her own beliefs after her big sister elopes with a young man from India, following the Supreme Court decision that strikes down laws banning interracial marriage. Commercial audiobook

Young Adult:

CITY BEAUTIFUL by Aden Polydoros

(Not yet in NLS)

The Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award recognizes an author or entity who has made a substantial contribution over time to the genre of Jewish children’s literature.

This year’s winner is Jane Yolen.