Outstanding Beginning Reader Award:  This is the first year for this award!

Honor Books:

Hi Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (Yes!)
A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne Bloom (Yes!)
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman
Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day by Jean Van Leeuwen.

Winner:

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas by Cynthia Rylant (How wonderful!)

Outstanding Children’s Video:

Man Who Walked Between the Towers

Outstanding Latino Writer:

Honor Books:

Cesar:  Si, Se Puede: Yes We Can! by Carmen Bernier-Grand.
Dona Flor by Raul Colon, written by Pat Mora.
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan. (Yes!!)

Winner:

Tequila Worm by Viola Canales.

(Nicely mirrored in Spanish as well.)

Outstanding Latino Writer/Illustrator:

Illustrator Honor Books:

Arrorro, Mi Nino by Lulu Delacre.
Cesar:  Si, Se Puede: Yes We Can! by David Diaz.
My Name is Celia by Rafael Lopez.

Illustrator Winner:

Dona Flor by Raul Colon, written by Pat Mora. (Yes!!!)

Information book for children:

(This was a crowded field this year)

Honor:

Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti.

Winner:

Secrets of a Civil War Submarine by Sally M. Walker

(Interesting, no John Lennon!  Maybe it was considered for too old an audience?)

Foreign Language/Foreign Publisher Award:

Honor Books:

Nicholas by Rene Goscinny
When I Was a Soldier by Valerie Zenatti

Winner:

An Innocent Soldier by Josef Holub.

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.