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The recent announcement of the Newbery and Caldecott awards, the pinnacle of recognition in children’s literature, highlighted significant literary achievements during the American Library Association’s annual Youth Media Awards. The winners were revealed on Monday morning.
This year, the Newbery Medal was awarded to The First State of Being, authored by Erin Entrada Kelly. Set against the backdrop of 1999, the story follows a young boy named Michael Rosario as he navigates his anxieties about the new millennium and encounters a time traveler from the future. This accolade marks Kelly’s second Newbery Medal; she previously received the honor in 2018 for her book, Hello, Universe.
In parallel, Chooch Helped, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz and authored by Andrea L. Rogers, secured the Caldecott Medal, which celebrates excellence in illustration for children’s picture books. This charming narrative captures the experiences of a young girl, Sissy, who finds herself growing increasingly exasperated with her lively 2-year-old brother, Chooch. The book garnered acclaim upon its release for its engaging storytelling. A review in Kirkus highlights the emotional depth of the narrative and praises Kunz’s striking collage illustrations that beautifully depict the richness of family life and cultural connections.
The awards ceremony also recognized numerous other exceptional literary works and authors. Notably, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards acknowledged significant contributions by African American creators. Jayson Reynolds received the author award for his compelling work, Twenty-Four Seconds from Now…, while C.G. Esperanza was honored with the illustrator award for My Daddy is a Cowboy.
Additions to the accolades included the Stonewall Book Awards, which celebrate impactful LGBTQIA+ literature. This year, the children’s literature category was awarded to Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo, while Jonny Garza Villa’s Canto Contigo was honored in the young adult category.
Readers interested in comprehensive details about the achievements of this year’s award winners can access the full list here.
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