Biggest Awards in Children's Literature Announced!

Well, well, well, it's time for the ALA Youth Media Awards announcements, which are kind of like the "Oscars" of children's literature.  Among the awards:
The Caldecott,  for best American children's book illustration;
The Newbery, for best American children's book writing;
The Sibert, for best children's nonfiction/informational books (I always love these); 
The Pura Belpré Award, for best portrayal of Latino experience in children's literature by a Latino/Latina author and illustrator;
The Coretta Scott King Award, for best portrayal of African-American experience in children's literature by an African American author and illustrator.
There are many other lovely prizes awarded, such as The Geisel in honor of Dr. Seuss given to best beginning reader books and the cool Batchelder Award for best translated children's book, which feature works originally written in other countries and languages.  You can check out all of the American Library Association's Association for Library Service to Children (ALA ALSC for short, or not-very-short) award-winners here.  Please click the links to see the titles, authors and book covers!  Congrats to all the winners and notables!

Naturally, we already have many of the award-winners either here or on order in our dear school library as (ahem) I apparently have the fortune-telling prowess of Miss Cleo (not to mention that a lot of the winners seem to be perennial favorites, just like in the Oscars), and we welcome and appreciate donations.  At out school, our students learn lots and lots about children's book awards of all sorts in fifth grade specifically, and experience library read-alouds of several award-winners across the grade levels throughout their elementary career.  Though I respect the great history and prestige of the ALSC awards, over the years have come to really appreciate our state awards in which the intended audience of children also serve as the judges (which is why we have gotten on board with The Rebecca Caudill Award). You can also check out my own personal, biased and fabulous favorite books from the past year on Pinterest.

Do you know what makes a book a real winner?  The fact that your child LOVES it!  Happy reading...