Award winning picture books written by the Hobbit on 1/27/21. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Every January the ALA (American Library Association) presents a number of prestigious awards in literature for children (early childhood through teen). We wanted to take a quick look at the 2021 Youth Media Awards, including the Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, Printz Award, and Coretta Scott King Awards. We can’t go through all of the winners today, but we highly suggest checking out all the winners right here on the ALA website!
Under normal circumstances, launching a book is quite a feat and big process. But especially under the years abnormal circumstances- it has been hard for authors to launch their new books. Although I will say that it has been wonderful to see the creativity of so many doing wonderful online events!! And it allowed us to release our own pandemic activity book, introducing our Max and AJ characters.
Here are 10 plus award winning picture books (and YA novels!) that we’re excited about sharing! We hope that it gives you some fun titles to add to your library or book To Be Read lists!!
The John Newbery Medal Winner from the ALA Awards 2021
This award goes to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children of the whole year.
When You Trap A Tiger, by Tae Keller
It is based on Korean folktales. It is about a girl who moves in with her grandmother. But there are secrets in her family’s past… and it might even be a little dangerous to explore. A celebration of story and family. It was released later in 2020 and is suggested for readers 9+.
A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat
There were several Newbery Honor Books, one that caught our eye was this one. It is loosely based on Les Miserables, but is in a Thai-inspired fantasy setting. How can you shine, or live, in a world without light? One man controls all the light and a band of revolutionaries wants to do away with the darkness. It was released in early 2020 and is suggested for readers 8+.
Randolph Caldecott Medal winner from the ALA Awards 2021
This award is giving to the most distinguished American picture book for children of the year.
We Are Water Protectors, written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade
This beautiful picture book won this year. Carole Lindstrom wrote the text. Goade is an indigenous American and is the first BIPOC illustrator to win the Caldecott- which is a big win! The book is based on movements across North America to protect water supplies. The illustrations and text pack a motivational punch and are beautifully woven together. Released in early 2021 it is suggested for ages 3+.
The Cat Man of Aleppo, written by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham and illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
Of the several Honor Books, one that caught our eye was by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham, the true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, who cared for his cities abandoned cats in the middle of a war.
The Coretta Scott King Awards winners from the ALA Awards 2021
These awards commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King. They are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that display a love of both African American culture and universal human values.
Before the Ever After written by Jaqueline Woodson
This year’s author winner is a novel in verse. Which is so fun to read! It emphasizes the harm of football injuries and the cost of fame and sports in the Black community in general. From all the reviews- it is a really engaging read! that explores the cost of sports in the black community. Released later in 2020 and suggested for ages 10+
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, illustrated by Frank Morrison and written by Carole Boston Weatherford.
Written about the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin in a fun rythmical way- explaining important words and events in her life. The illustrations are, of course, beautiful! But I also love that it has a whole page with biography information and her chart topping songs as well. Released in August and a little more than 45 pages, it is suggested for ages 4+.
Michael L. Printz winner from the ALA Awards 2021
This is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story), written by Daniel Nayeri
It is the true story of a boy named Khosrou (everyone calls him Daniel) trying to get his middle school classmates in Oklahoma. He ends up going back centuries to tell the story. Released later in 2020, it is suggested for readers 10+.
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang, Color by Lark Pien
Dragon Hoops was an honor book in this category and we wanted to highlight it because we’re big fans of Gene Luen Yang’s work. Even if you are not a sports fan, this creative story will rope you in! Published in March, t’s recommended for ages 14+.
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winning Picture Books
This award is giving to the most distinguished American book for beginning readers.
See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
This picture book is an early reader that is a spoof on the classic early readers, like Spot and Bob Books. In this book instead of ‘Bob sees the Snake’, you’ll get ‘the mad snake is going to bite the dog’. It’s one that kids would enjoy being read or reading- and those make the best readers. Suggested for readers 3+, although I would absolutely read this to my 2 yr old.
There were four honor books named in this category that are worth grabbing for your new reader: The Bear in My Family, Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom!, What About Worms!? (most excited about this one- we are big Mo Willems and Elephant & Piggie fans!), and Where’s Baby.
The Robert F. Sibert Medal ALA Awards 2021 Winner
This award is for the most distinguished informational book published this year for kids and teens.
Honeybee: the Busy LIfe of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
This year that book is about a honeybee! Her busy and exciting life make an entertaining and informational story. It was released in February and is suggested for readers 6+.
Special mention: Odyssey Award Honor Book
The Odyssey Book Awards are for the best audiobooks produced for kids and teens that are available in English. And we just published our review of this awesome graphic novel!
When Stars are Scattered written by Omar Mohamed, written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and illustrated by Iman Geddy
You can find our full review of this graphic novel with discussion questions and more right here!! It’s amazing that a graphic novel won an award for being an amazing audiobook!! That just tells you how powerful the story is. Released in April we suggest it for readers 8+ (with an adult).
We hope you’ve added some of these awesome titles to your TBR library or bookstore lists!
Before you leave…
We hope this very brief overview gives you some book ideas, and inspires you to go check out all of the award winners! You can find the full list on the ALA website right here!
Thanks to the awesome children’s librarian who brought this to our attention. You can find her book reviews right here at IshkabibbleBooks.com
Don’t forget to check out our full review of When Stars are Scattered here! It’s a really well-done graphic novel based on a true story.
Take a second to share this post and tell us what your favorite award winning book is?!
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