Every year at this time, the kidlit world geeks out over our very own version of the Oscars - namely the American Library Association awards for Youth Literature. So many people crowded around the ALA live feed that it couldn't take any more viewers and the rest of us had to scramble to keep up. All of the writer boards have been active with people talking about the winners. Every year the librarians give everyone a big "huh?" with a couple of the nominations, when they seemingly pull some things out of left field. Not left field to them mind you, but left field to us readers. Like last year, when The Invention of Hugo Cabret won the Caldecott - big "huhs" all around (well, it was a split decision). This year there wasn't anything major, but a few favorites were left out and several won that I've barely heard of, let alone read.
I know I have a lot of non-industry types who read this blog, so let's break down the majors:
Caldecott: For the best illustrated American book (really for the illustrator, not the author) - The House in the Night illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson
Newbery: For best Mid-Grade novel - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Printz: For best Young Adult novel - Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchette
William C. Morris Award: For First Young Adult Novel - A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce (A big shout out to her because she is my cousin-by-agent!)
The only disappointments for me were that Frankie Landau Banks didn't win the Printz, but it did get an honor(although I haven't read Jellicoe Road), and that Hunger Games was missing altogether - maybe because the didn't really know where to put it.
If you want to geek out too, the complete list of all of the awardees is at MSNBC.
On this date: In 1950, the Republic of India was born.
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