2021 RISE List

January 28, 2021January 25, 2021 | Tasha

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:

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect and Being in Charge of You by Rachel Brian

Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh

It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Julie Morstad

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Red Hood by Elena K. Arnold

Ritu Wed Chandni by Ameya Narvankar

Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott

2021 Edgar Awards Nominees

January 27, 2021January 25, 2021 | Tasha

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:

BEST JUVENILE

Coop Knows the Scoop by Taryn Souders

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor

My and Banksy by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

Nessie Quest by Melissa Savage

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

YOUNG ADULT

The Companion by Katie Alender

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Silence of Bones by June Hur

They Went Left by Monica Hesse

YALSA 2021 Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers

January 26, 2021January 18, 2021 | Tasha

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:

Be Not Far from Me by Mindy McGinnis

Found by Joseph Bruchac

Golden Arm by Carl Deuker

Heartstopper Vol. 1 by Alice Oseman

Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff

The Loop by Ben Oliver

#NoEscape by Gretchen McNeil

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yuself Salaam

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

2021 Walter Dean Myers Awards

January 26, 2021January 25, 2021 | Tasha

We Need Diverse Books has announced the winner and honor books for the 2021 Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children’s Literature. The awards are given in two categories: Teen (ages 13-18) and Younger Readers (ages 9-13). Each category has one winner and two honor books:

TEEN WINNER

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

TEEN HONOR BOOKS

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

YOUNGER READERS WINNER

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

YOUNGER READERS HONOR BOOKS

Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

Newbery Medal

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021 | Tasha

HONOR BOOKS

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team Cover

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat

Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Michele Wood

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

WINNER

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Caldecott Medal

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021 | Tasha

HONOR BOOKS

A Place Inside of Me by Noa Denmon, written by Zetta Elliott

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Yuko Shimizu, written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha

Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Outside In by Cindy Derby, written by Deborah Underwood

WINNER

We Are Water Protectors by Michaela Goade, written by Carole Lindstrom

Geisel Award

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021 | Tasha

The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.

HONOR BOOKS

The Bear in My Family by Maya Tatsukawa

Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Nina Mata

What About Worms!? (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!) Cover

What About Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins

Where’s Baby? by Anne Hunter

WINNER

See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Children’s Literature Legacy Award

January 25, 2021 | Tasha

Mildred D. Taylor

Sibert Medal

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021 | Tasha

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.

HONOR BOOKS