Honors African-American authors and illustrators:

New Talent Award:

Jimi and Me by Jaime Adoff.

Illustrator Award:

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier.  (Yes!)

Illustrator Honor Book:

Brothers in Hope by Mary Williams, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

Author Award:

Day of Tears by Julius Lester.  (Perfect choice!)

Author Honor Books:

Dark Sons by
Maritcha by Tonya Bolden.
Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson

This is the biggie for young adults! 

Winner:

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Honors:

Black Juice by Margo Lanagan
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
John Lennon:  All I Want Is the Truth by Elizabeth Partridge
Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson

Amazing that all of these got so much buzz this year.  Often I find books I haven’t heard of, but not this time!

Honors lifetime contribution to books for teens:

Jacqueline Woodson

(Great cheers of joy from the audience for this one!)    I completely agree!  What a wonderful choice. 

Artistic expression of disability experience:

Childrens:  Dad, Jackie and Me by Myron Uhlberg, illustrated by Colin Bootman.

Middle School:  Tending to Grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco (Wonderful!)

Teen:  Under the Wolf, Under the Dog by Adam Rapp (Hurray!  This one got gasps of joy and great applause from the audience.)

The online interface seems to be working wonderfully, so I should be able to post as the awards are announced!

The Newbery and Caldecotte Medals (along with many others) are being announced today.  This article is a nice prelude to the Awards with some predictions of what might win.  I won’t be making predictions.  I am always, always wrong, though I sometimes get my pick for winner chosen as an honor.  I will be posting the award winners as soon as I find out, though I must say I am not at ALA Mid-winter and will not be posting live from the awards floor.  🙂