PHILADELPHIA
— 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 in Philadelphia.
A list of all the 2014 award winners follows:
** John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:
“Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,” written by Kate
DiCamillo, is the 2014 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by
Candlewick Press.
Four Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Doll Bones,” written by
Holly Black and published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; “The Year of Billy
Miller,” written by Kevin Henkes and published by Greenwillow Books, an
imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “One Came Home,” written by Amy
Timberlake and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House
Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.; and “Paperboy,”
written by Vince Vawter and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of
Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
** Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
“Locomotive,” illustrated by Brian Floca, is the 2014 Caldecott Medal
winner. The book was written by Brian Floca and published by Atheneum
Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s
Publishing.
Three Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Journey,” written and
illustrated by Aaron Becker and published by Candlewick Press; “Flora
and the Flamingo,” written and illustrated by Molly Idle and published
by Chronicle Books LLC; and “Mr. Wuffles!” written and illustrated by
David Wiesner and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
** Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:
“P.S. Be Eleven,” written by Rita Williams-Garcia, is the King Author
Book winner. The book is published by Amistad, an imprint of
HarperCollins Publishers.
Three King Author Honor Books were selected: “March: Book One,”
written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell, and
published by Top Shelf Productions; “Darius & Twig,” written by
Walter Dean Myers and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins
Publishers; and “Words with Wings,” written by Nikki Grimes and
published by WordSong, an imprint of Highlights.
** Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:
“Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me,” illustrated by Bryan Collier,
is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Daniel
Beaty and published by Little, Brown and Company, Hachette Book Group.
One King Illustrator Honor Book was selected: “Nelson Mandela,”
illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson and published by Katherine Tegen
Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
** Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award:
“When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop,”
illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, is the Steptoe winner. The book is
published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing
Holdings Limited Partnership.
** Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:
Authors Patricia and Researcher Fredrick McKissack are the winners of
the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime
Achievement. The award is presented in even years to an African American
author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of his or her
published books for children and/or young adults, and who has made a
significant and lasting literary contribution.
Patricia McKissack and her late husband Fredrick McKissack, both
natives of Tennessee, began their writing and research partnership in
the 1980’s.Their subject matter from family-based folklore to nonfiction
titles, are scholarly researched and written with accurate, authentic
text, creating a cultural transmission of history. Their immense range
of topics are informative, readable and enjoyable, covering accounts
from slavery days to biographical studies of noted men and women in
African American history past and present.
** Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
“Midwinterblood,” written by Marcus Sedgwick, is the 2014 Printz
Award winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint
of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Eleanor & Park,”
written by Rainbow Rowell and published by St. Martin’s Griffin
(Macmillan); “Kingdom of Little Wounds,” written by Susann Cokal and
published by Candlewick Press; “Maggot Moon,” written by Sally Gardner,
illustrated by Julian Crouch and published by Candlewick Press; and
“Navigating Early,” written by Clare Vanderpool and published by
Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s
Books, a division of Random House LLC, Penguin Random House Company.
** Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:
“A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin,” written by Jen
Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet and published by Alfred A. Knopf,
an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House,
Inc. wins the award for children ages 0 to 10.
“Handbook for Dragon Slayers,” written by Merrie Haskell and
published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins
Publishers, is the winner of the middle-school (ages 11-13) award.
The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Rose under Fire,” written by
Elizabeth Wein and published by Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book
Group.
** Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:
“Brewster,” written by Mark Slouka and published by W. W. Norton & Company
“The Death of Bees,” written by Lisa O’Donnell and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
“Golden Boy: A Novel,” written by Abigail Tarttelin and published by ATRIA Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
“Help for the Haunted,” written by John Searles and published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
“Lexicon: A Novel,” written by Max Barry and published by The Penguin Group, Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
“Lives of Tao,” written by Wesley Chu and published by Angry Robot, a member of the Osprey Group
“Mother, Mother: A Novel,” written by
Koren Zailckas and published by Crown Publishers, an imprint of the
Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.
“Relish,” written by Lucy Knisley and
published by First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division
of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership
“The Sea of Tranquility: A Novel,” written
by Katja Millay and published by ATRIA Paperback, a division of Simon
& Schuster, Inc.
“The Universe Versus Alex Woods,” written
by Gavin Extence and published by Redhook Books, an imprint of Orbit, a
division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
** Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video:
Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly Ellard of Weston Woods Studios,
Inc., producers of “Bink & Gollie: Two for One,” are the Carnegie
Medal winners. The video’s cast is anchored by Kate Micucci and Riki
Lindhome, with music by David Mansfield. Tony Fucile’s artwork is
brilliantly brought to life by Chuck Gammage Animation.
** Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:
Markus Zusak is the 2014 Edwards Award winner. His books include:
“The Book Thief” and “I Am the Messenger,” published by Alfred A. Knopf,
an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, and “Getting the Girl” and
“Fighting Ruben Wolfe,” published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of
Scholastic.
** May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award
recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of
children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host
site:
Brian Selznick will deliver the 2015 lecture.
Author and illustrator Brian Selznick graduated from Rhode Island
School of Design intending to be a set designer for the theater, but a
stint at Eeyore’s children’s bookstore in New York City changed his mind
and his first book was published while working there. He left to pursue
a full-time career in children's book illustration, but he still
designs theater sets and is a professional puppeteer. Among his
award-winning works are illustrations for two Sibert Honor Books and a
Caldecott Honor Book. His groundbreaking “The Invention of Hugo Cabret”
was awarded the 2008 Caldecott Medal.
** Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding
children's book originally published in a language other than English in
a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated
into English for publication in the United States:
“Mister Orange” is the 2014 Batchelder Award winner. Originally
published in Dutch in 2011 as “Mister Orange,” the book was written by
Truus Matti, translated by Laura Watkinson, and published by Enchanted
Lion Books.
Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “The Bathing Costume or the Worst
Vacation of My Life,” written by Charlotte Moundlic, illustrated by
Olivier Tallec, translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick, and published by
Enchanted Lion Books; “My Father’s Arms Are a Boat,” written by Stein
Erik Lunde, illustrated by Øyvind Torseter, translated by Kari Dickson,
and published by Enchanted Lion Books; and “The War Within These Walls,”
written by Aline Sax, illustrated by Caryl Strzelecki, translated by
Laura Watkinson, and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
** Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:
“Scowler,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random
House Audio Publishing Group, is the 2014 Odyssey Award winner. The book
is written by Daniel Kraus and narrated by Kirby Heyborne.
Four Odyssey Honor Recordings also were selected: “Better Nate Than
Ever,” produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, written and narrated by Tim
Federle; “Creepy Carrots!” produced by Weston Woods Studios, Inc., and
written by Aaron Reynolds; “Eleanor & Park,” produced by Listening
Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written
by Rainbow Rowell, and narrated by Rebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhotra;
and “Matilda,” produced by Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group
(USA) Inc., written by Roald Dahl, and narrated by Kate Winslet.
** Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:
“Niño Wrestles the World,” illustrated by Yuyi Morales, is the Belpré
Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Yuyi Morales and
published by Roaring Brook Press.
Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were selected: “Maria Had a
Little Llama / María Tenía una Llamita,” illustrated and written by
Angela Dominguez and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC; “Tito
Puente: Mambo King / Rey del Mambo,” illustrated by Rafael López,
written by Monica Brown and published by Rayo, an imprint of
HarperCollins Publishers; and “Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s
Tale,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by
Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.
** Pura Belpré (Author) Award honoring a Latino writer whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:
“Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass,” written by Meg Medina, is the
Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.
Three Belpré Author Honor Books were named: “The Lightning Dreamer:
Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist,” written by Margarita Engle and published
by Harcourt, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company;
“The Living,” written by Matt de la Peña and published by Delacorte
Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random
House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company; and “Pancho Rabbit and the
Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale,” written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.
** Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:
“Parrots over Puerto Rico,” written by Susan L. Roth and Cindy
Trumbore, and illustrated by Susan L. Roth, is the Sibert Award winner.
The book is published by LEE & LOW BOOKS, Inc.
Four Sibert Honor Books were named: “A Splash of Red: The Life and
Art of Horace Pippin,” written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa
Sweet and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House
Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.; “Look Up!
Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard,” written and illustrated by Annette
LeBlanc Cate and published by Candlewick Press; “Locomotive,” written
and illustrated by Brian Floca and published by Atheneum Books for Young
Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; and
“The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius,” written by Jan
Greenberg and Sandra Jordan and published by Roaring Brook Press, a
division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.
** Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award
given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for
children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
experience:
“Beautiful Music for Ugly Children,” written by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
and published by Flux, an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd; and “Fat
Angie,” written by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo and published by Candlewick
Press, are the winners of the 2014 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult
Literature Award.
Three Honor Books were selected: “Better Nate Than Ever,” written by
Tim Federle and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young
Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Division; “Branded by the Pink Triangle,” written by Ken Setterington
and published by Second Story Press; and “Two Boys Kissing,” written by
David Levithan and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random
House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
** Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers:
“The Watermelon Seed,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, is
the Geisel Award winner. The book is published by Disney Hyperion Books,
an imprint of Disney Book Group.
Three Geisel Honor Books were named: “Ball,” written and illustrated
by Mary Sullivan and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children,
an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company; “A Big Guy
Took My Ball!” written and illustrated by Mo Willems and published by
Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group; and “Penny
and Her Marble,” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes and published
by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
** William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:
“Charm & Strange,” written by Stephanie Kuehn, is the 2014 Morris
Award winner. The book is published by St. Martin’s Griffin, an imprint
of St. Martin’s Press, a division of Macmillan.
Four other books were finalists for the award: “Sex & Violence,”
written by Carrie Mesrobian and published by Carolrhoda LAB, an imprint
of Lerner Publishing Group; “Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets,” written
by Evan Roskos and published by Houghton Mifflin, an imprint of Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company; “Belle Epoque,” written by
Elizabeth Ross and published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an
imprint of Random House Children’s Books; and “In the Shadow of
Blackbirds,” written by Cat Winters and published by Amulet Books, an
imprint of ABRAMS.
** YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:
“The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the
World’s Most Notorious Nazi,” written by Neal Bascomb, is the 2014
Excellence winner. The book is published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an
imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Four other books were finalists for the award: “G
o: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design,” written by Chip Kidd and published by Workman Publishing Company; “
Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II,” written by Martin W. Sandler and published by Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.; “C
ourage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers,” written by Tanya Lee Stone and published by Candlewick Press; and “The
President Has Been Shot! The Assassination of John F. Kennedy,” written by James L. Swanson and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards
guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best
materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and
other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative
work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables,
please visit
www.ala.org/yma .
Couldn't make it to our "Raising 'App-y' Readers" presentation tonight to learn about the best apps for pre-readers ages 2 and up? Don't worry! A list of the apps presented as well as the slides, and tips on using technology with young children are available on our "Apps for Kids" page! 
