Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books and media for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards --- including the Newbery, Caldecott, Sibert and Coretta Scott King Book Awards --- guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for children. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.  

This year, I was lucky enough to be in Denver at the ALA Convention the morning that the awards were announced. The atmosphere outside had the contained but apparent excitement that precedes events like rock concerts, Harry Potter first night parties and surprise birthday bashes. When I got to the Denver Convention Center at 7:15 AM, there already was a huge line winding around in the front of the closed doors of the auditorium where the event was being held. All weekend people had been buzzing about the possible winners, but since the voting is so secretive, there was no way to know who would win.  

Once we got into the ballroom, I walked to the front and got a seat in the first row on the righthand side where I clearly could see the stage and the committees who had selected the winners, who were sitting at tables near the front. As each award was announced, there were accompanying shouts, cheers and lots of clapping. I have to say it was fun to see everyone this excited about...books! The committees spend a lot of time making these decisions and clearly get very close as they work together. As each was introduced, they would stand and wave to the crowd. One group waved woolen scarves. Another group wore t-shirts that had the initial MAE '09 for Margaret Alexander Edwards Award. 

It was a great morning...and I happily share the winners with you now....
 
Carol Fitzgerald for Kidsreads.com

The John Newbery Medal honors the author of the year's most outstanding contribution to children's literature. Presented every year since 1922, the Medal is named for 18th-century British bookseller John Newbery. Henrik Van Loon won the first Newbery Medal in 1922 for THE STORY OF MANKIND. Receiving the Newbery Medal virtually guarantees that the winning book will remain in print and on library and bookstore shelves for years to come.

-This year's winner of the John Newbery Medal is THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman. 

-Four Newbery Honor Books were named: AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER by Jacqueline Woodson, SAVVY by Ingrid Law, THE SURRENDER TREE: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle and THE UNDERNEATH written by Kathi Appelt and illustrated by David Small.

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal was awarded for the first time in 2001 to Marc Aronson for SIR WALTER RALEIGH AND THE QUEST FOR EL DORADO. It is given to honor the authors, illustrators and/or photographers of the most distinguished informational book published for children in the preceding year. Informational books are defined as those written and illustrated to present, organize and interpret documentable factual material. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois.

-This year's winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

The Coretta Scott King Award is given to an African American author and an African American illustrator for an outstandingly inspirational and educational contribution. The books promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream. The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

-This year's winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award is WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

-Three Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books were named: BECOMING BILLIE HOLIDAY written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Floyd Cooper, THE BLACKER THE BERRY written by Joyce Carol Thomas and illustrated by Floyd Cooper, and KEEPING THE NIGHT WATCH written by Hope Anita Smith and illustrated by E.B. Lewis.

-This year's winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award is THE BLACKER THE BERRY written by Joyce Carol Thomas and illustrated by Floyd Cooper.

-Three Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books were named: BEFORE JOHN WAS A JAZZ GIANT: A Song of John Coltrane written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Sean Qualls, THE MOON OVER STAR written by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, and WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

-The winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Author Talent Award is Shadra Strickland, illustrator of BIRD, written by Zetta Elliott.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, established in 1954, honors an author or illustrator whose books are published in the U.S. and have, over a period of years, made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. The award is named in honor of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the popular Little House series of books, which later became the basis for a television series. Wilder's first book, LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS (1932), was published when she was 65, and she received the first award in 1954.

The Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production is presented to the producer of the best audiobook produced for youth available in English in the United States. The first Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production was given in January 2008. Honor titles may also be selected. The award is jointly administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), divisions of ALA, and is sponsored by Booklist magazine.

-This year's winner of the Odyssey Award is THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN written and narrated by Sherman Alexie.

-Five Odyssey Honor Books were named: CURSE OF THE BLUE TATTOO: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady written by L.A. Meyer and narrated by Katherine Kellgren, ELIJAH OF BUXTON written by Christopher Paul Curtis and narrated by Mirron Willis, I’M DIRTY! written by Kate and Jim McMullan and narrated by Steve Buscemi, MARTINA THE BEAUTIFUL COCKROACH: A Cuban Folktale written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy, and NATION written by Terry Pratchett and narrated by Stephen Briggs.