The NAACP gives two Image Awards each year for outstanding literary work for youth. One is for children’s books and the other for teens. I admit to being cranky that Undefeated and New Kid didn’t make their nomination lists!

Here are the winners in each of those categories along with the titles that were nominated:

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – CHILDREN

WINNER – Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison

NOMINEES

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Parker Looks Up by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry, illustrated by Brittany Jackson

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – YOUTH/TEENS

WINNER – Around Harvard Square by C.J. Farley

NOMINEES

The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown

Her Own Two Feet: A Rwandan Girl’s Brave Fight to Walk by Meredith Davis and Rebeka Uwitonze

Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers

I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones