2024 Schneider Family Book Awards recipients named

BALTIMORE – “Henry, Like Always,” “The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn” and “Forever is Now” are the three winners of the 2024 Schneider Family Book Awards, which honor an author or illustrator for the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. The award winners were announced today during the American Library Association’s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience held Jan. 19-22 in Baltimore. 

“Henry, Like Always,” was written by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song and published by Chronicle Books, LLC, won the award for best young children’s title.

Henry, who is autistic, starts to unravel when Share Time, which usually takes place on Fridays, changes to make way for a special parade. With the gentle and understanding support of his teachers and classmates, Henry works with the change to find his own way.

Henry’s story captivated the committee with its soft, muted illustrations and quiet text, which convey Henry’s reactions to the rhythms of a typical school day, said award co-chairs Susan Hess and Mary-Kate Sableski.

The committee selected two young children’s honor books: 

• “Dancing Hands,” written by Joanna Que and Charina Marquez, illustrated by Fran Alvarez, translated by Karen Llagas and published by Chronicle Books in partnership with Room to Read and Adarna House.
• “What Happened to You?”, written by James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

The award winner for best middle grades, “The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn,” was written by Sally J Pla and published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Maudie, who is autistic, loves spending summers with her dad in California. When a wildfire forces an evacuation, they move to a trailer on the beach. Burdened by secrets and her mother’s expectations, Maudie seeks affirmation by learning to surf. Her bravery broadens and transforms her sense of self-worth.

Readers will ride the waves of Maudie’s emotional journey of self-acceptance and self-advocacy in this moving book, which addresses critical issues in a layered narrative, said award co-chairs Susan Hess and Mary-Kate Sableski.

The committee selected two middle grades honor books:

• “Good Different” by Meg Eden Kuyatt and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.  
• “Simon Sort of Says” written by Erin Bow and published by Disney-Hyperion, an imprint of Buena Vista Books, Inc.

The award winner for teens is “Forever is Now,” written by Mariama J. Lockington and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group.

Sadie is an Oakland, California, activist who shares her passion for social justice online. After witnessing a violent incident of police brutality, her chronic anxiety deepens into agoraphobia. Distinctive poetry and lyrical narrative convey Sadie’s emotional journey of self-advocacy that inspires the change she imagines for her world.

Using poetry and prose to weave together a complex narrative, Forever is Now will speak to today’s teens as Sadie navigates relevant and timely issues, said award co-chairs Susan Hess and Mary-Kate Sableski.

The committee selected two teen honor books:

• “Where You See Yourself” written by Claire Forrest and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.
• “Tilly in Technicolor” written by Mazey Eddings and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group

Members of the 2024 committee are Susan Hess, co-chair, New York City School Librarian, retired, Osprey, Florida; Mary-Kate Sableski, co-chair, associate professor, University of Dayton, Ohio; U. Chinedu Amaefula, Special Collections Department, Nashville Public Library, Tennessee; Patricia Bandre’, reading instructional specialist, Salina Public Schools, Kansas; Angela Carstensen, independent school library director, retired, Croton-on-Hudson, New York; Susannah Goldstein, Upper Division Librarian, Horace Mann School, Bronx, New York; Erin Lankford, assistant director, Tennessee Library for Accessible Books and Media, Nashville; Sandy Wee, library services manager, San Mateo County Libraries, California; Nakenya Lewis-Yarbrough, youth services librarian, Belleville Area District Library, Michigan; and Alyson Beecher, ex-officio, educator, Glendale Unified School District, California.

For more information on the Schneider Family Book Award and other ALA Youth Media Awards, visit www.ala.org/yma.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

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