The latest round of books you'll be seeing in your kid's backpack and waiting for at the library was announced Monday. That is, the American Library Association announced the winners of its annual youth media awards, including its oldest and best-known prizes, the Newbery and Caldecott medals.
The Newbery Medal went to "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate. It's a fictional story about Ivan, a real-life gorilla who lived for years in a cage in a circus-themed mall before moving to Zoo Atlanta in 1994.
In its 75th years, the Caldecott Medal went to "This Is Not My Hat," written and illustrated by Jon Klassen. It's the story of a little fish who tries to get away with the hat of a much larger fish. Klassen also illustrated the Caldecott honor book, "Extra Yarn."
"Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon," by Steve Sheinkin and "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Sáenz also received multiple honors from the library association on Monday. Katherine Paterson, author of "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Jacob Have I Loved," received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for "substantial and lasting" contributions to children's literature. Tamora Pierce, author of "The Song of the Lioness," won the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.
The award announcements lit up Twitter as teachers and librarians streamed the awards ceremony live, and classes watched to see how their mock Caldecott and Newbery votes held up.
The awards are big business, too, meaning prominent placement for winners on bookstore and library displays.
"Receiving a Caldecott Medal practically guarantees that the winning title will remain in print and on library and bookstore shelves for decades to come," the library association posted on its website.
Here's the list of winners:
John Newbery Medal for "most outstanding contribution to children's literature":
"The One and Only Ivan," written by Katherine Applegate
Honor books
"Splendors and Glooms," by Laura Amy Schlitz
"Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon," by Steve Sheinkin
"Three Times Lucky," by Sheila Turnage
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the "most distinguished American picture book for children":
"This Is Not My Hat," illustrated and written by Jon Klassen
Honor books
"Creepy Carrots!" illustrated by Peter Brown and written by Aaron Reynolds
"Extra Yarn," illustrated by Jon Klassen and written by Mac Barnett
"Green," illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
"One Cool Friend," illustrated by David Small and written by Toni Buzzeo
"Sleep Like a Tiger," illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski and written by Mary Logue
Coretta Scott King awards for an African-American author and illustrator:
Author award: "Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America," written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Illustrator award: "I, Too, Am America," illustrated by Bryan Collier with text by Langston Hughes
Honor books
Author: "Each Kindness," by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Author: "No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller," by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Illustrator: "H. O. R. S. E.," illustrated and written by Christopher Myers
Illustrator: "Ellen's Broom," illustrated by Daniel Minter and written by Kelly Starling Lyons
Illustrator: "I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr.," illustrated by Kadir Nelson, with text by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Pura Belpré awards for a Latino writer and illustrator "whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience":
Illustrator: "Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert," illustrated by David Diaz and written by Gary D. Schmidt
Author: "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe," written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Honor book
Author: "The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano" by Sonia Manzano
Stonewall Book Award, the Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award for "books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience":
"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe," written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Honor books
"Drama," written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
