The 2021 Rainbow Book List celebrates quality LGBTQIA+ books for readers from birth to age 18. The project is done by the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association. There were 600 eligible titles this year and 129 have been selected. Beautifully, the Rainbow Book List has two Top Ten lists this year, one for young readers and one for teens. Here are both Top Ten Lists:
The 2021 Notable Children’s Books list has been announced by ALSC (Association of Library Service to Children). The list is broken into age categories. Here are the books selected for Older Readers, grades 6-8 and ages 11-14. I’ve also included the All Ages category at the end of the post.
The 2021 Notable Children’s Books have been announced by ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children). The notable titles are listed by age. Here are the selected books for Middle Readers, grades 3-5, ages 8-10.
The Notable Children’s Books list has been announced by ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children.) This annual list contains books that are notable. According to their website, “notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways.” The list is large and has several age categories. Here are the included titles for the Younger category that covers Preschool through Grade 2, including easy readers.
The winners of the 2020 National Jewish Book Awards have been announced by the Jewish Book Council. Awards are given in a variety of categories, including several which are focused on books for young readers. Here are the winners and finalists in those categories:
The nominees for the 2021 NAACP Image Awards have been announced. The awards have a very broad range of categories from movies and TV to music to literary. They offer two awards for books for youth. Here are the nominees in those categories:
OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – CHILDREN
I Promise by LeBron James, illustrated by Nina Mata
Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Rise: A Feminist Book Project announced their Top Ten List for their 2021 RISE List. The list is a project of the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association and includes books for ages 0-18. Here is the 2021 Top Ten:
The Mystery Writers of America have announced their nominees for the 2021 Edgar Awards which honor the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television published or produced in 2020. Here are the nominees in the youth categories:
YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association, has released their 2021 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list. The list has 64 titles on it selected from 81 nominations. The list is specifically aimed at titles that encourage reading among teens who dislike reading for any reason. I find that this list contains titles you won’t see on other award lists that teens will love and read. Here is the selected Top Ten:
Waking Brain Cells 