ALA Awards 2008

Categories: In the News , Award Winners , Children's Books

The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults - including the Caldecott, King, Newbery, and Printz awards - at its Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.

The following is a list of all ALA Youth Media Awards for 2008:

The John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature was awarded to Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village, written by Laura Amy Schlitz.

Three Newbery Honor Books were named: Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis; The Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt and Feathers, by Jacqueline Woodson.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children was awarded to The Invention of Hugo Cabret, illustrated by Brian Selznick,. 

Four Caldecott Honor Books were named: Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Ellen Levine; First the Egg, illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, illustrated and written by Peter Sís, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, illustrated and written by Mo Willems.

The Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults was awarded to The White Darkness, by Geraldine McCaughrean.  

Four Printz Honor Books were named: Dreamquake: Book Two of the Dreamhunter Duet, by Elizabeth Knox, One Whole and Perfect Day, by Judith Clarke, Repossessed, by A. M. Jenkins, and Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath, by Stephanie Hemphill 

The Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults was awarded to Elijah of Buxton, written by Christopher Paul Curtis.  

Two King Author Honor Books were selected: November Blues, by Cincinnati’s own Sharon M. Draper and Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali, written by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Let it Shine, illustrated and written by Ashley Bryan, is the King Illustrator Book winner.

Two King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: The Secret Olivia Told Me, by N. Joy, illustrated by Nancy Devard (copies currently on order), and Jazz On A Saturday Night, by Leo and Diane Dillon.

The Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award honored Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It, written by Sundee T. Frazier.

The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers was awarded to There Is a Bird on Your Head! written and illustrated by Mo Willems.

Four Geisel Honor Books were named: First the Egg, written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Hello, Bumblebee Bat, written by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne; Jazz Baby, written by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, and Vulture View, written by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins.

The Robert F. Sibert Medal for most distinguished informational book for children was awarded to  The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, written and illustrated by Peter Sís.