The American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, audio books, and media for children and young adults, including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards at its virtual Midwinter Conference today.
A list of 2021 award winners follows:
- John Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature - When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
- Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children - We Are Water Protectors illustrated by Michaela Goade and written by Carole Lindstrom
- Mildred L. Batchelder Award to the publisher of the outstanding translated book - Telephone Tales is the 2021 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Italian as “Favole al Telefono,” the book was written by Gianni Rodari, illustrated by Valerio Vidali, translated by Antony Shugaar and published by Enchanted Lion Books
- Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader book - See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog written by David LaRocelle & illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka.
- Pura Belpré Author Award (cosponsored by REFORMA) for outstanding writing by a Latino author - Efrén Divided :a novel written by Ernesto Cisneros
- Pura Belpré Illustrator Award (cosponsored by REFORMA) for outstanding illustration by a Latino artist - ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat illustrated and written by Raúl Gonzalez
- Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award (cosponsored by REFORMA) for outstanding young adult writing by a Latino author - Furia written by Yamile Saied Méndez
- Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children - Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera written by Candace Fleming
- Michael L. Printz Award for literary excellence in young adult literature - Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story) written by Daniel Nayeri
- YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction - The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh written by Candace Fleming
- Odyssey Award for outstanding audio book - Kent State produced by Paul R. Gagne for Scholastic Audio, written by Deborah Wiles and narrated by Christopher Gebauer, Lauren Ezzo, Christina DeLaine, Johnny Heller, Roger Wayne, Korey Jackson, and David de Vries. Available from OverDrive.
- Coretta Scott King Author Award for outstanding writing by an African American author - Before the Ever After written by Jacqueline Woodson
- Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for outstanding illustrations by an African American artist - R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul illustrated by Frank Morrison and written by Carole Boston Weatherford.
- Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience - I Talk Like a River written by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith wins the award for young children (ages 0 to 10); Show Me a Sign written by Ann Clare LeZotte is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13); This Is My Brain in Love written by I.W. Gregorio is the winner for teens (ages 13-18).
- Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award for English-language children's and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience - We Are Little Feminists: Families written by Archaa Shrivastav
- William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens - If These Wings Could Fly written by Kyrie McCauley
- 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 - Mildred D. Taylor
- Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award is given to a digital media producer that has created distinguished digital media for an early learning audience - The Imagine Neighborhood podcast produced by the Committee for Children
Newest awards:
- American Indian Youth Literature Award presented by the American Indian Library Association (AILA) - was added to the ALA Youth Media Awards Announcement in 2020.
- Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature presented by the Asian/Pacific Americans Librarians Association (APALA) - Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist written by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sasaki wins the award for Picture Book; When You Trap a Tiger written by Tae Keller is the winner for Children's Literature; and This Light Between Us: A Novel of World War II written by Andrew Xia Fukuda is the Young Adult Literature winner.
- Sydney Taylor Award presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) - Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail by Lesléa Newman and illustrated by Susan Gal wins the Picture Book category; Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein wins the Middle Grade category and Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir written and illustrated by Tyler Feder
View all 2021 winners and honors on the American Library Association website.