The American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting continues Monday in sunny San Diego, certainly a long way from the frozen wastelands of upstate New York. I’ve never been to an ALA conference, but I look forward to this particular meeting each year, because Midwinter is when all of the children’s and young adult book awards are announced.
Award announcements begin bright and early on Monday morning @ 7:45 PST — fortunately for those of us on the East Coast, we’ll be watching beginning at 10:45am. Live coverage will be provided via webcast — more details are available at the Youth Media Awards Press Center.
Some of the awards we are looking forward to are:
- Alex Awards — given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults
- Coretta Scott King Book Awards — honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults that communicate the African American experience
- John Newbery Medal — honors the author of the year’s most outstanding contribution to children’s literature
- Margaret A. Edwards Award — honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature
- Michael L. Printz Award — honors excellence in literature written for young adults
- Randolph Caldecott Medal — honors the illustrator of the year’s most distinguished American picture book for children
- Stonewall Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award — honors exceptional merit in English-language works relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered experience
- William C. Morris Award — honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens
- YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults — honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults
In addition, I am particularly looking forward to the titles on the Young Adult Library Services Association’s list of Best Fiction for Young Adults (formerly part of the Best Books For Young Adults). This list will be made available shortly after the close of the Midwinter Meeting. A list of nominated titles is available here. I am happy to say that most of the nominated titles are already a part of the CA Library collection.
The list of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers will also be made available after the Midwinter Meeting. See the list of nominated titles here.
Will this be as closely watched as say, the Academy Awards, or even the MTV Music Awards? Sadly, no…but school librarians, and others who appreciate books and media for young people, can’t wait for those envelopes to be opened!