I didn’t attend LibLearnX this year, so I tuned in at 8amET to hear all the winners. Probably like many others, I was maintaining several backchannel conversations, sharing insights about books, authors, and publishers. It was a good feeling of being in community, something that was really redefined through Covid and Twitter’s transformation to X.

I think maybe the first time I started blogging about the YMAs, I did it to bring attention to the youth awards that are given by the ALA Affiliates. Now, they’re embedded into the Monday morning event. The awards have become much more inclusive, but in the spirit of stewardship, I’ve culled a list mostly MG and YA award winners that are written or illustrated by BIPOC creators. I did include Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners because they are so significant. And, I can’t miss noting that Vashti Harrison, author of Big (Little, Brown) is the first African American woman to win the award. Check your calendars; yes, it is 2024.  

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

Honor books

Eagle Drums written and illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson (tribally enrolled Inupiaq); Roaring Book Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing

Elf Dog and Owl Head written by M.T. Anderson, illustrated by Junyi Wu (Chinese/Taiwanese); Candlewick Press

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir written and illustrated by Pedro Martín (Mexican American) and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House

The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams written by Daniel Nayeri (Iranian American), illustrated by Daniel Miyares; Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children

winner

Big illustrated and written by Vashti Harrison (African American) Little, Brown and Co., a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Honor books

 Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter illustrated by Molly Mendoza (Mexican/Irish American), written by Aida Salazar (Mexican American); Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

There Was a Party for Langston illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey (African American) written by Jason Reynolds (African American); Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

The Truth About Dragons illustrated by Hanna Cha (Korean American) written by Julie Leung (Chinese American); Henry Holt and Co., an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group

American Indian Youth Literature Awards are announced in even years, and were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives

Winners

 Middle Grade

We Still Belong written by Christine Day (Upper Skagit), cover art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation); Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

young adult

Rez Ball written by Byron Graves (Ojibwe), jacket art by Natasha Donovan (Métis); Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Honor titles

middle grade

Eagle Drums written and illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson (Iñupiaq); Roaring Brook Press

Mascot written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) and Charles Waters, jacket illustration by Nicole Neidhardt (Navajo); Charlesbridge

Jo Jo Makoons: Fancy Pants written by Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe), illustrated by Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey); Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Jo Jo Makoons: Snow Day written by Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe), illustrated by Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey); Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

She Persisted: Maria Tallchief written by Christine Day (Upper Skagit), illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint; Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House

She Persisted: Wilma Mankiller written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint; Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House

She Persisted: Deb Haaland written by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian), illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint; Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House

young adult

Warrior Girl Unearthed written by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), jacket illustrations by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation) and published by Henry Holt and Company, a trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group

Funeral Songs for Dying Girls written by Cherie Dimaline (Métis); Tundra Books, an imprint of Tundra Book Group, a division of Penguin Random House of Canada Limited

Man Made Monsters written by Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Jeff Edwards (Cherokee Nation); Levine Querido

Running with Changing Woman written by Lorinda Martinez (Diné), cover design by Brittany Gene (Navajo); Salina Bookshelf

Heroes of the Water Monster written by Brian Young (Navajo Nation), jacket art by Shonto Begay (Diné); Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit

children’s literature winner

Ruby Lost and Found written by Christina Li (Chinese American); Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins

children’s literature honor

Parachute Kids: A Graphic Novel written and illustrated by Betty C. Tang (Taiwanese American); Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

young adult literature winner

 I’d Rather Burn Than Bloom written by Shannon C. F. Rogers (Filipinx/white); Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group

young adult literature honor title

In Limbo written by Deb JJ Lee (Korean American); First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults

King author book

Nigeria Jones written by Ibi Zoboi (Haitian American) Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

There Goes the Neighborhood written by Jade Adia (African American), Hyperion, an imprint of Buena Vista Books, Inc

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement Christopher Paul Curtis (African American)

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults

 The Collectors: Stories edited by A.S. King, written by M.T. Anderson, e.E. Charlton-Trujillo (Mexican American), A.S. King, David Levithan, Cory McCarthy, Anna-Marie McLemore (Mexican American), G. Neri (mixed race), Jason Reynolds (African American),, Randy Ribay (Filipino American) and Jenny Torres Sanchez (Guatemalan/Salvadoran American), Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Honor Books

 The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption written by Shannon Gibney (Mixed race; Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Salt the Water written by Candice Iloh (Nigerian American); Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience

Teen winner

Forever Is Now written by Mariama J. Lockington (African American); Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences

winners

Bad Cree written by Jessica Johns (nehiyaw/Sucker Creek First Nation); Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House

Chain-Gang All-Stars written by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Ghanaian American); Pantheon Books, a division of Penguin Random House

Chlorine written by Jade Song (Chinese American); William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

 I Will Greet the Sun Again written by Khashayar J. Khabushani (Iranian American); Hogarth Press, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House

Maame written by Jessica George (Ghanaian American); St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group

The Talk written by Darrin Bell (African American/Jewish American); Henry Holt & Co., a division of Macmillan Publishing Group

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Children’s Literature Legacy Award

Pam Muñoz Ryan (Mexican American)

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

winner

Houses with a Story:  A Dragon’s Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore Originally published in Japanese as Houses with a Story written and illustrated by Seiji Yoshida (Japanese), translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash and published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams

honors

The House of the Lost on the Cape written by Sachiko Kashiwaba (Japanese), illustrated by Yukiko Saito (Japanese) and translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa (Japanese American); published by Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books,

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latinx writers and illustrators whose children’s and young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience

Youth Illustration Award winner

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir, written and illustrated by Pedro Martín (Mexican American); Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Children’s Author Award winner

“Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir,” written and illustrated by Pedro Martín (Mexican American); Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House

author honor books

Alebrijes written by Donna Barba Higuera (Mexican American/white); Levine Querido

Aniana del Mar Jumps In written by Jasminne Mendez (Afro-Latine); Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Benita y las Criaturas Nocturnas written by Mariana Llanos (Peruvian American), illustrated by Cocoretto; Barefoot Books

Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock written by Jesús Trejo (Mexican American), illustrated by Eliza Kinkz (Tejano); Minerva, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, a division of Astra Publishing House

Something Like Home written by Andrea Beatriz Arango (Puerto Rican); Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House

young adult author award

Saints of the Household written by Ari Tison (Bribri); Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group

young adult author honor book

The Prince and the Coyote written by David Bowles (Mexican American), illustrated by Amanda Mijangos (Mexican American); Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido

Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey written and illustrated by Edel Rodriguez (Cuban American) Metropolitan Books; an imprint of Henry Holt and Co

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children

Honor Books

Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes written by Traci N. Todd (African American), illustrated by Shannon Wright (African American); published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc

Stonewall Book Awards – 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

Honor Books

Desert Queen written by Jyoti Rajan Gopal (Indian American), illustrated by Svabhu Kohli (Indian American); Levine Querido

honor books for young adult literature

Only This Beautiful Moment written by Abdi Nazemian (Iranian American); Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Ander & Santi Were Here written by Jonny Garza Villa (Mexican American); Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens

winner

Rez Ball written by Byron Graves (Ojibwe); Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

finalists

All the Fighting Parts written by Hannah V. Sawyerr (Sierra Leonean American); Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams

Once There Was written by Kiyash Monsef (Iranian American); Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Saints of the Household written by Ari Tison (Bribri); Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group

She Is a Haunting written by Trang Thanh Tran (Vietnamese American); Bloomsbury YA, a division of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

finalists

Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam written and illustrated by Thien Pham (Vietnamese American); First Second Books, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing

From Here written by Luma Mufleh (Arab American); Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself written by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge (African American); Zest Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.