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2024 ALA Youth Media Awards Announced

2024 ALA Youth Media Awards

The American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults, including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards at LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience in Baltimore today.

A list of 2024 award winners follows:

  • John Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature - The Eyes and the Impossible, written by Dave Eggers
  • Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children - Big, illustrated and written by Vashti Harrison
  • Mildred L. Batchelder Award to the publisher of the outstanding translated book - Houses with a Story: A Dragon’s Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore. Originally published in Japanese as “Houses with a Story,” the book was written by Seiji Yoshida, illustrated by Seiji Yoshida, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash and published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams.
  • Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader book - Fox Has a Problem, written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor
  • Pura Belpré Author Award (cosponsored by REFORMA) for outstanding writing by a Latino author - Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir, written and illustrated by Pedro Martín. Also available in Spanish
  • Pura Belpré Illustrator Award (cosponsored by REFORMA) for outstanding illustration by a Latino artist - Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir, illustrated and written by Pedro Martín. Also available in Spanish
  • Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award (cosponsored by REFORMA) for outstanding young adult writing by a Latino author - Saints of the Household, written by Ari Tison
  • Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children - The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity, written by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Brett Helquist.
  • Michael L. Printz Award for literary excellence in young adult literature - The Collectors: Stories, edited by A.S. King, written by M.T. Anderson, e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, A.S. King, David Levithan, Cory McCarthy, Anna-Marie McLemore, G. Neri, Jason Reynolds, Randy Ribay and Jenny Torres Sanchez.
  • YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction - Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, written by Dashka Slater. 
  • Odyssey Award for outstanding audio book - El Deafo, produced by Matie Argiropoulos for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio, written by Cece Bell and narrated by a full cast, is the 2024 Odyssey Award winner for children.  Promise Boys, produced by Macmillan Young Listeners, a Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company, written by Nick Brooks and narrated by a full cast is the 2024 Odyssey Award winner for young adults. 
  • Coretta Scott King Author Award for outstanding writing by an African American author - Nigeria Jones, written by Ibi Zoboi.
  • Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for outstanding illustrations by an African American artist - An American Story, illustrated by Dare Coulter and written by Kwame Alexander.
  • Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience - Henry, Like Always, written by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song and published by Chronicle Books wins the award for young children (ages 0 to 8); The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn, written by Sally J. Pla and published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers is the winner for middle grades (ages 9 to 13); Forever Is Now, written by Mariama J. Lockington and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, is the winner for teens (ages 14-18).
  • 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 - Cross My Heart and Never Lie, written and illustrated by Nora Dåsnes and translated by Matt Bagguley is the 2024 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s Literature Award.  Only This Beautiful Moment, written by Abdi Nazemian is the 2024 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award.
  • William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens - Rez Ball, written by Byron Graves
  • 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 - Pam Muñoz Ryan.
  • 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 - Work It Out Wombats, produced by GBH Kids and Pipeline Studios
  • American Indian Youth Literature Award presented by the American Indian Library Association (AILA) - are announced in even years (e.g. 2022, 2024, 2026) and were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. Selected titles present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts - Picture Book winners include: Forever Cousins, written by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian), illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné) and A Letter for Bob, written by Kim Rogers (Wichita & Affiliated Tribes), illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné). This year’s Middle Grade winner is: We Still Belong, written by Christine Day (Upper Skagit), cover art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation). This year's Young Adult winner is: Rez Ball, written by Byron Graves (Ojibwe), jacket art by Natasha Donovan (Métis).
  • Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature presented by the Asian/Pacific Americans Librarians Association (APALA) - The Truth About Dragons, written by Julie Leung, illustrated by Hanna Cha wins the award for Picture Book; Ruby Lost and Found, written by Christina Li is the winner for Children's Literature; and I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom, written by Shannon C. F. Rogers is the Young Adult Literature winner.
  • Sydney Taylor Award presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) - Two New Years, written by Richard Ho, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield wins the Picture Book category; The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman, by Mari Lowe wins the Middle Grade category and The Blood Years, by Elana K. Arnold wins the Young Adult category.

Read more about all 2024 winners and honors in the American Library Association press release.

Jan 22, 2024