Awards (Books & Media)

American Library Association announces 2016 youth media award winners

BOSTON - The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Boston.

A list of all the 2016 award winners follows:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

Matt de la Peña, Sophie Blackall win Newbery, Caldecott Medals

BOSTON - Matt de la Peña, author of “Last Stop on Market Street,” and Sophie Blackall, illustrator of “Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear,” are the 2016 winners of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals, the most prestigious awards in children’s literature.

David A. Adler, Sam Ricks win Geisel Award for “Don’t Throw It To Mo!”

BOSTON – Author David A. Adler and illustrator Sam Ricks are the 2016 recipients of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for “Don’t Throw It To Mo!” published by Penguin Young Readers, an Imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC. 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 & Exhibition held Jan. 8 – 12, in Boston.

Jerry Pinkney wins 2016 Wilder Award

BOSTON – Author and Illustrator Jerry Pinkney is the winner of the 2016 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. His numerous works include [Julius Lester’s] “John Henry” (Dial Books for Young Readers, 1994) and [Patricia C. McKissack’s] “Mirandy and Brother Wind (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009).

Weston Woods Studios, Willems win 2016 Carnegie Medal for “That Is NOT a Good Idea!”

BOSTON – Weston Woods Studios, Inc., and author/illustrator Mo Willems, producers of “That Is NOT a Good Idea!” are the 2016 recipients 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. 8 – 12, in Boston.

Duncan Tonatiuh wins the 2016 Sibert Medal

BOSTON – Duncan Tonatiuh, the author / illustrator of “Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras,” is the winner of the 2016 Robert F. Sibert Medal for the most distinguished informational book for children published in 2015. 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. 8 – 12, in Boston.

2016 Batchelder Award honors Enchanted Lion Books for “The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy”

BOSTON – Enchanted Lion Books is the winner of the 2016 Mildred L. Batchelder Award for “The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy.” 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. 8 – 12, in Boston.

Jacqueline Woodson to deliver 2017 Arbuthnot Honor Lecture

BOSTON – Author Jacqueline Woodson will deliver the 2017 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. The announcement was made 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. 8 – 11, in Boston.

Rafael López y Margarita Engle ganan premios Pura Belpré

BOSTON – Rafael López, ilustrador de Drum Dream Girl; y Margarita Engle, autora de Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir, fueron seleccionados como los ganadores del Premio de Ilustración Pura Belpré 2016 y el Premio al Autor Pura Belpré 2016, respectivamente, que rinden homenaje a los escritores e ilustradores hispanos cuyas obras constituyan el mejor reflejo, afirmación y celebración de la experiencia cultural hispana en la literatura infantil.

Rafael López, Margarita Engle win Pura Belpré Awards

BOSTON – Rafael López, illustrator of “Drum Dream Girl,” and Margarita Engle, author of “Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir," are the 2016 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.