Poetry among the ALA Awards

I was in Philadelphia last year for the American Library Association midwinter conference and was in the room on Monday when they announced all the big awards-- such a fun, electric morning! And as usual, I like to celebrate the works of poetry that are among the award winners. So, here you go: 

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

Newbery Honor Books: 

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins Publishers)

Randolph Caldecott Medal is given to the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award Winner:

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Michael L. Printz Award is for excellence in literature written for young adults

Printz Honor Book: 

Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir by Nikki Grimes (Wordsong/Boyds Mills & Kane)

Odyssey Award goes to the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.

Odyssey Honor Audiobooks:

Redwood and Ponytail produced by Hachette Audio, written by K.A. Holt and narrated by Cassandra Morris and Tessa Netting

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga produced by Live Oak Media, written by Traci Sorell and narrated by Lauren Hummingbird, Agalisiga (Choogie) Mackey, Ryan Mackey, Traci Sorell, Tonia Weavel

The Pura Belpré Awards honor a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
The Pura Belpré Illustrator Award

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael López (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award is for the most distinguished informational book for children.
Sibert Winner:

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (Roaring Brook Press) 

Sibert Honor Book:

Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir by Nikki Grimes (Wordsong/Boyds Mills & Kane)

The American Indian Youth Literature award is announced in even years and established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. The award is administered by the American Indian Library Association (AILA), an affiliate of the American Library Association. 

Picture Book Honors: 

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard (Seminole Nation, Mekusukey Band), illustrated by Juana Martínez-Neal (Peruvian-American) (Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan)

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell (Cherokee), illustrated by Frané Lessac (Charlesbridge) 
At the Mountain’s Base by Traci Sorell (Cherokee), illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre (Tongva/Scots-Gaelic) (Kokila/Penguin Random House)

[This one is NOT poetry, but I have to include it, because this is the award committee that I was fortunate to chair this year. I had a lovely committee and we are so pleased with our choice.] 

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. The 2020 winner is Kevin Henkes, whose award-winning works include Kitten’s First Full Moon which won the Caldecott Award in 2005 and The Year of Billy Miller, recipient of a Newbery Honor in 2014. In addition, Henkes has received two Geisel honors, two Caldecott honors and a second Newbery honor.

Now head on over to Jone's place where she is gathering all the Poetry Friday goodness.