HOORAY for Amos McGee, more like it!

I am ecstatic about the ALA Youth Media Awards this year! Not only did the much deserved, but possible dark horse debut Sick Day for Amos McGee win the Caldecott, another debut author, Clare Vanderpool won the Newbery Medal! It's so very satisfying to see new talent get such respect and attention that the ALA award bestow. Certainly, well established authors and artists should be recognized for their skills, but if the award helps a kid connect with a book she might not otherwise have found, I'm all for the wild card new talent.

The Caldecott Medal: Sick Day for Amos McGee, written by Philip Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead
Caldecott Honors: Dave The Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, written by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier; and Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein.



The Newbery Medal: Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Newbery Honors: Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm; Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus; Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen; and One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia.



The Printz Medal: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Printz Honors: Stolen by Lucy Christopher; Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King; Revolver by Marcus Sedgick; and Nothing by Janne Teller.





For a complete list of the awards, the ALA website has a press release.

Congratulations to all the winners and honorees!