Awards (Books & Media)

YALSA announces 2017 Alex Awards

ATLANTA – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has selected 10 adult books with special appeal to teen readers to receive the 2017 Alex Awards. The awards, sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust and Booklist, were announced today at the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 20 - 24.

The 2017 Alex Award winners are:

“The Queen of Blood,” by Sarah Beth Durst, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. (9780062413345).

Nikki Grimes wins 2017 Wilder Award

ATLANTA – Nikki Grimes is the winner of the 2017 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honoring an author or illustrator, published in the United States, whose books have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. Her numerous works include “Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman”  and “Danitra Brown, Class Clown.”

John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell win 2017 Sibert Medal

ATLANTA – John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, authors and illustrator of “March: Book Three,” were named the winners of the 2017 Robert F. Sibert Medal for the most distinguished informational book for children published in 2016. The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Jan. 20 – 24, in Atlanta, Georgia.

'March: Book Three' wins 2017 Printz Award

ATLANTA – “March: Book Three,” created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, has won the 2017 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) today announced the winner during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Jan. 20 -24, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Listening Library wins 2017 Odyssey Award for Anna and the Swallow Man

Atlanta – Listening Library, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Groups, producer of the audiobook, “Anna and the Swallow Man,” has won the 2017 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production. The award announcement was made today during the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Jan. 20 – 24 in Atlanta, Georgia.

'The Serpent King' wins 2017 William C. Morris Award

ATLANTA– “The Serpent King” written by Nashville writer Jeff Zentner and published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a Penguin Random House Company, has been named the 2017 winner of the William C. Morris Award, which honors a book written for young adults by a previously unpublished author. The award was presented by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) at the American Library Association’s (ALA) Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Jan. 20-24 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sarah Dessen wins the 2017 Edwards Award for 'Dreamland,' 'Keeping the Moon,' 'Just Listen,' 'The Truth About Forever,' 'Along for the Ride,' 'What Happened to Goodbye?,' and 'This Lullaby'

ATLANTA –  Sarah Dessen is the recipient of the 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens for “Dreamland”, “Keeping the Moon”, “Just Listen”, “The Truth About Forever”, “Along for the Ride”, “What Happened to Goodbye?”, and “This Lullaby” all published by Viking Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a Penguin Random House Company.

Ryan Swenar wins 2017 Carnegie Medal for Drum Dream Girl

ATLANTA – Ryan Swenar of Dreamscape Media, LLC, producer of “Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music” is the 2017 recipient of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children’s video. The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Jan. 20 – 24, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Raúl Gonzalez, Juana Medina win Pura Belpré Awards

ATLANTA – Raúl Gonzalez, illustrator of “Lowriders to the Center of the Earth,” and Juana Medina, author of “Juana & Lucas,” are the 2017 winners of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award and Author Award, honoring Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books.

2017 Batchelder Award honors Enchanted Lion Books for 'Cry, Heart, But Never Break'

ATLANTA – Enchanted Lion Books is the winner of the 2017 Mildred L. Batchelder Award for “Cry, Heart, But Never Break.” The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Jan. 20 – 24, in Atlanta.