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2019 Youth Media Awards facts for kids

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The 2019 Youth Media Awards were held by the American Library Association on January 28, 2019. The awards recognize books written for children and young adults and the authors and illustrators who create them.

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture

The Arbuthnot Lecture recognizes an author, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children's literature. The 2020 lecturer is Neil Gaiman whose work creating modern comics and as a proponent of intellectual freedom was cited.

Alex Awards

The Alex Awards are given to books written for adults which have appeal to teenagers.

2019 Recipients
Book Author Publisher
The Black God's Drums P. Djèlí Clark Tor Books
The Book of Essie Meghan MacLean Weir Knopf
Circle Madeline Miller Little, Brown and Company
Educated: A Memoir Tara Westover Random House
The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil Crown Publishing Group
Green Sam Graham-Felsen Random House
Home After Dark David Small Liveright & Company
How Long 'Til Black Future Month N. K. Jemisin Orbit Publications
Lawn Boy Jonathan Evison Algonquin Books
Spinning Silver Naomi Novik Del Rey Books

American Indian Youth Literature Award

This award, given biannually in even years, will be announced as part of the Youth Media Awards for the first time in 2020.

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

This award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture in books. The picture book winner was Drawn Together by Minh Lê and illustrated by Dan Santat, the children's literature winner was Front Desk by Kelly Yang, and the Young Adult literature winner was Darius the Great is Not Okay.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award

The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is given to children's books published in a language other than English and then translated into English for publication in the United States.

2019 Batchelder Award awardees
Awarded Publisher Title Author Translator Language Recognition
Thames & Hudson The Fox on the Swing Evelina Daciūtė Translation Bureau Lithuanian Winner
Yonder Run for Your Life Silvana Gandolfi Lynne Sharon Schwartz Italian Honoree
Graphic Universe My Beijing: Four Stories of Everday Wonder Nie Jun Edward Gauvin French Honoree
Enchanted Lion Books Jerome by Heart Thomas Scotto Claudia Zoe Bedrick and Karin Snelson French Honoree

Pura Belpré Awards

The Pura Belpré Award is given to Latinx writers and illustrators of children's books.

2019 Pura Belpré Medal winners and honors
Work Recipient Title Citation
author Elizabeth Acevedo The Poet X Winner
author David Bowles They Call Me Güero Honor
illustrator Yuyi Morales Dreamers / Soñadores Winner
illustrator José Ramírez When Angels Sing Honor
illustrator Leo Espinosa Island Born Honor

Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal is given to the most distinguished American picture book

Caldecott Medal winners and honors
Illustrator Title Award
Sophie Blackall Hello Lighthouse Winner
Juana Martinez-Neal Alma and How She Got Her Name Honor
Grace Lin A Big Mooncake for Little Star Honor
Brian Lies The Rough Patch Honor
Oge Mora Thank You, Omu! Honor

Children's Literature Legacy Award

The Children's Literature Legacy Award is given as a lifetime achievement award to an author or illustrator of children's books. The award was given for the first time under this name after being renamed from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. Walter Dean Myers was given the award, with Somewhere in the Darkness and Monster specifically cited.

Corretta Scott King Book Awards

The Coretta Scott King Awards are given to African American authors and illustrators that "demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values."

2019 Coretta Scott King Award Recipients
Award Type Recipient Title Citation
author Claire Hartfield A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Winner
author Liesa Cline-Ransome Finding Langston Honor
author Varian Johnson The Parker Inheritance Honor
author Kekla Magoon The Season of Styx Malone Honor
illustrator Ekua Holmes The Stuff of Stars Winner
illustrator Laura Freeman Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race Honor
illustrator Frank Morrison Let the Children March Honor
illustrator R. Gregory Christie Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop Honor
John Steptoe New Talent Author Award Tiffany D. Jackson Monday's Not Coming Winner
John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award Oge Mora Thank You, Omu! Winner
Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Pauletta Brown Bracy Winner

Margaret Edwards Award

The Margaret Edwards Award is a lifetime achievement award for young adult writers. The 2019 recipient was M.T. Anderson who was cited for his work on Feed, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party and The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves.

Geisel Award

The Geisel Award recognizes beginner reader books.

Geisel Award Winners and Honors
Author Illustrator Title Citation
Corey Tabor Corey Tabor Fox the Tiger Winner
David Milgrim David Milgrim The Adventures of Otto: See Pip Flap Honor
Butler Nancy Meyers King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth Honor
Sergio Ruzzier Sergio Ruzzier Fox + Chick: The Party and Other Stories Honor
Emily Tetri Emily Tetri Tiger vs. Nightmare Honor

William C. Morris Award

The Moriss Award is given to a first-time teen author.

Morris Award winners and finalists
Author Book Citation
Adib Khorram Darius the Great is Not Okay Winner
Joy McCullough Blood Water Paint Finalist
Ngozi Ukazu Check, Please!: #Hockey Finalist
Tomi Adeymi Children of Blood and Bone Finalist
Vesper Stamper What the Night Sings Finalist

Newbery Medal

The Newbery Medal is given to the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.

Winners and Honor Books
Author Book Award
Meg Medina Merci Suárez Changes Gears Winner
Veera Hiranandani The Night Diary Honor
Catherine Gilbert Murdock The Book of Boy Honor

Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award

Given for the first time in 2019, this award is given to a digital media resource for early learners. The 2019 recipient was Play and Learn Science by PBS Kids. The two honor recipients were Coral Reef by Tinybop and Lexi's World by Pop Pop Pop.

Odyssey Award

The Odyssey Award is given to the best audiobook for children or young adults.

Odyssey Award winners and honor audiobooks
Title Producer Narrator Author Citation
Sadie Macmillan Audio Rebecca Soler, Fred Berman, Dan Bittner, Gabra Zackman, and more Courtney Summers Winner
Du Iz Tak Weston Woods Studio Eli D’Amico, Sebastian D’Amico, Burton Fott, Galen Fott, Laura Fott, Sarah Hart, Bella Higginbotham, Evelyn Hipp, and Brian Hull Carson Ellis Honor
Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist Live Oak Media Brian Amador Susan Wood Honor
The Parker Inheritance Scholastic Audiobooks Cherise Booth Varian Johnson Honor
The Poet X' HarperAudio Elizabeth Acevedo Elizabeth Acevedo Honor

Printz Award

The Printz Award is given to excellence in young adult literature.

2019 Books
Author Book Citation
Elizabeth Acevedo The Poet X Winner
Elana K. Arnold Damsel Honor
Deb Caletti A Heart in a Body in the World Honor
Mary McCoy I, Claudia Honor

Schenider Family Book Award

The Schnieder Family Book Award is given to a book that shows the disability experience.

2019 Awardees
Award Type Author Illustrator Title Citation
Young Children Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes Scott Magoon Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship Award
Young Children Jessie Oliveros Dana Wulfekotte The Remember Balloons Honor
Middle Grades Leslie Connor The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle Award
Middle Grades Jacqueline Woodson The Collectors Honor
Teens Mark Oshiro Anger is a Gift Award
Teens Kelly Jensen (editor) (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health Honor

Sibert Award

The Sibert Award is given to the most distinguished informational book for children.

2019 Robert F. Sibert Medal and Honor Books
Writer Illustrator Title Citation
Sidman, JoyceJoyce Sidman The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science Winner
Thimmesh, CatherineCatherine Thimmesh Camp Panda: Helping Cubs Return to the Wild Honor
Jarrow, GailGail Jarrow Spooked!: How a Radio Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America Honor
Brown, DonDon Brown Brown, DonDon Brown The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees Honor
Sorell, TraciTraci Sorell Lessac, FranéFrané Lessac We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga Honor
Mahin, MichaelMichael Mahin Ramirez, JoseJose Ramirez When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana Honor

Stonewall Book Award

The Stonewall Book Award is given to children's and young adult books relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience.

Stonewall Book Awards Winners
Category Recipient Title Award
Children's and Young Adult Jessica Love Julian is a Mermaid Winner
Children's and Young Adult Kheryn Callender Hurricane Child Winner
Children's and Young Adult Ashley Herring Blake Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World Honor
Children's and Young Adult Kelly Loy Gilbert Picture Us in the Light Honor

Sydney Taylor Book Award

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is given to children's and young adult books that portray the Jewish experience. The younger reader winner was All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, the older reader winner was Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier, and the teen reader winner was What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults was given to The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees written and illustrated by Don Brown. Four books were given honors: The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor, by Sonia Sotomayor, Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam, by Elizabeth Partridge, The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler, written and illustrated by John Hendrix, and Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction, written and illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka.

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