The American Library Association has revealed the winners of its prestigious John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals, given annually to outstanding works of children’s literature.
Renée Watson won the Newbery Medal, given to “the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature,” for All the Blues in the Sky, a verse novel that follows Sage, a 13-year-old girl who enters group therapy after the death of her best friend. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called the book “a heartfelt portrait of the complexities of grief and the indomitable human spirit.” Watson received a Newbery Honor in 2018 for Piecing Me Together.
This year’s Newbery Honor books are The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli, written and illustrated by Karina Yan Glaser; A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila; The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri; and The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, written by Aubrey Hartman and illustrated by Marcin Minor.
The Caldecott Medal, given to an illustrator for “the most distinguished picture book,” went to Cátia Chien for Fireworks, written by Matthew Burgess. The book follows two children celebrating the Fourth of July. The book also received a starred review from Kirkus, with a critic calling it “a radiant celebration of all things summer.”
The ALA named four Caldecott Honor books: Every Monday Mabel, illustrated and written by Jashar Awan; Our Lake, illustrated and written by Angie Kang; Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave, illustrated and written by Drew Beckmeyer; and Sundust, illustrated and written by Zeke Peña.
The other winners and honorees of the ALA’s Youth Media Awards will be posted on the organization’s website. Winning authors and illustrators will be recognized at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 25-29.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
