Celebrating Imagination: Honoring the Best in 2024 Children’s & YA Literature Awards
The American Library Association (ALA) in the United States has revealed the recipients of its Youth Media Awards. This prestigious lineup includes the Newbery and Caldecott medals, along with the Printz Award.
The John Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal, given annually, honors the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.
In 2024, the medal was awarded to Dave Eggers for his novel The Eyes and the Impossible, a testament to his exceptional storytelling and contribution to the genre. The announcement of this award, a highlight of the Youth Media Awards, celebrates the enduring impact and creativity found in children's literature.
John Newbery Honor Books
- Eagle Drums by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson
- Elf Dog and Owl Head by M.T. Anderson, illustrated by Junyi Wu
- Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín
- Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
- The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Daniel Miyares
The Randolph Caldecott Medal
The Randolph Caldecott Medal, revered in children's picture books, was awarded in 2024 to Vashti Harrison for her book Big.
This medal recognizes the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States. Harrison's win is significant, making her the first Black woman to receive this honor.
Randolph Caldecott Honor Books
- In Every Life by Marla Frazee
- Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by Molly Mendoza, written by Aida Salazar
- There Was a Party for Langston by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds
- The Truth About Dragons by Hanna Cha, written by Julie Leung
The Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award for 2024 was announced with great anticipation, honoring excellence in literature written for young adults. This year's recipient was A.S. King for The Collectors: Stories, a compilation that showcases profound storytelling and innovative narratives.
The Printz Award, known for highlighting the best in young adult literature, continues to recognize and celebrate books that significantly impact the genre and its readership. The announcement of this award underscores the importance of young adult literature in shaping the perspectives and experiences of young readers.
Michael L. Printz Honor Books
- Fire from the Sky by Moa Backe Åstot, translated by Eva Apelqvist
- Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow
- The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption by Shannon Gibney
- Salt the Water by Candice Iloh
The Margaret A. Edwards Award
The Margaret A. Edwards Award is a distinguished honor recognizing an author's significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. It celebrates the author's entire body of work, acknowledging their profound impact on the genre and its readership.
This award underscores the importance of young adult literature in addressing complex themes and resonating with its audience.
In 2024, Neal Shusterman was honored with this award, a testament to his exceptional talent in crafting stories that captivate and engage young adult readers.
The Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
The Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement is a prestigious accolade bestowed upon a practitioner for their exemplary contributions to children's literature, mainly focusing on diversity and inclusivity.
This award recognizes an individual's lifelong dedication to producing literature that reflects a wide range of human experiences and cultural perspectives.
Christopher Paul Curtis, known for his historical fiction, was the esteemed recipient of this award in 2024, highlighting his significant role
The Children's Literature Legacy Award
The Children's Literature Legacy Award honors an author or illustrator whose books have made a significant and lasting contribution to literature for children.
It recognizes the enduring value of an individual's work in shaping the minds and imaginations of young readers.
The recipient of this award has typically created a body of work with a timeless quality, resonating across generations.
In 2024, Pam Muñoz Ryan was awarded this honor, acknowledging her exceptional contribution to children's literature with works like Esperanza Rising and The Dreamer.
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is an important recognition in the world of literary translation, awarded to a book translated into English and published in the United States that demonstrates exceptional quality and storytelling.
This award highlights the crucial role of translation in making stories from around the globe accessible and relatable to a broader audience, thus promoting cross-cultural understanding.
Houses with a Story by Seiji Yoshida, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash, received this accolade in 2024, exemplifying the art of translation in bridging language barriers.
Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Books
- The House of the Lost on the Cape by Sachiko Kashiwaba, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa
- Later, When I'm Big by Bette Westera, translated by Laura Watkinson
- Pardalita by Joana Estrela, translated by Lyn Miller-Lachmann
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are prestigious honors given to African American authors and illustrators for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions in literature for children and young adults.
These awards recognize works that reflect the African American experience and promote an understanding of racial issues and social justice.
In 2024, the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award went to Dare Coulter for An American Story, and the Coretta Scott King Author Award was given to Ibi Zoboi for Nigeria Jones, celebrating their remarkable contributions to the field.
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books
- Big by Vashti Harrison
- How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison
- Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books
- Big by Vashti Harrison
- Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes, illustrated by Shannon Wright, written by Traci N. Todd
- There Was a Party for Langston, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarret Pumphrey, written by Jason Reynolds
The Robert F. Sibert Award
The Robert F. Sibert Award is given for the most distinguished informational book published for children within a calendar year. This award acknowledges the importance of nonfiction in children's literature, celebrating books that effectively combine in-depth research, engaging writing, and clear presentation of facts and ideas.
In 2024, The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Brett Helquist, was honored with this award, recognizing its excellence in bringing information to young readers in an engaging way.
Robert F. Sibert Honor Books
- The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Matt Patterson
- Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Shannon Wright
- Jumper: A Day in the Life of the Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan
- Shipwrecked!: Diving for Hidden Time Capsules on the Ocean Floor by Martin W. Sandler
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a calendar year.
It emphasizes the importance of factual writing that appeals to the interests and needs of young adults, encouraging them to explore and understand the world around them.
Accountable by Dashka Slater, the 2024 recipient exemplifies the power of nonfiction to engage young adult readers with compelling, thought-provoking content.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalists
- America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History by Ariel Aberg-Riger
- Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham
- From Here by Luma Mufleh
- Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a calendar year.
It emphasizes the importance of factual writing that appeals to the interests and needs of young adults, encouraging them to explore and understand the world around them.