On January 27, 2020 at 5:00 AM PST (!) the Association for Library Services to Children, a division of the American Library Association, announced its annual Youth Media Award Winners. Not only can you read and listen to these amazing books in print, but you can also enjoy them as eBooks and eAudiobooks, too!
Keep on reading to learn more about the awards and this year's winners and honor books and how you can access them from your library's eMedia collection. Not only can check them out from home, but you do not have to return them either. eBooks return themselves!
Note: There are just a few instances where we do not have the eBook available for honors eBooks. You'll find a link to the print version instead in these cases. These eBooks and eAudiobooks are available in either Overdrive or Hoopla, which you can access with your library card.
The 2020 Newbery Medal Award Winner
New Kid by Jerry Craft
The Newbery Medal celebrates the greatest achievement in children's literature for the year, specifically books originally published in the USA. In a first for the Newbery, a graphic novel won this year's most distinguished prize! In Jerry Craft's New Kid, Jordan Banks is enrolled in a private middle school by his well-meaning parents, even though his wish is to go to an art school. Though the private school is renowned for its students' grades, Jordan must grapple with feeling of being stuck between two worlds.
You can also enjoy the eAudiobook on Overdrive.
2020 Newbery Honor Books
The 2020 Caldecott Medal Award Winner
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, ill. by Kadir Nelson
The Caldecott Medal recognizes the year's greatest use of illustrations in a picture book published in America aimed towards children 14 and younger. You may remember The Undefeated listed in the Newbery Honor Books above. Not only did Kwame Alexander's story and text win an Honor achievement, but Kadir Nelson's illustration won the top Caldecott medal! The Undefeated combines Alexander's poem and Nelson's illustrations into a stunning tribute to black Americans'contributions to American history, as well as tragedies faced.
2020 Caldecott Honor Books
Even More Awards!
Though the Newbery and Caldecott are two of the best known awards given out during this time, there are many more awards announced, too. Make sure to read the release of award winners to learn more about each category and the top winners, then dive right into some of the eBook and eAudiobooks that you can borrow. For brevity, the award categories where we own the most eBook copies most are shown below, but always feel free to ask us to help you locate any winners from the above list that you are interested in!
The Michael L. Printz Award for Young Adult Literature
The Coretta Scott King Author Awards
The Odyssey Award for Best Children's & YA Audiobooks
San Jose Public Library's Mock Caldecott and Mock Printz Awards
San Jose Public Library staff can participate in training exercises where we simulate the experience of deliberating and selecting top honor books for the Caldecott award and Printz award. You can learn more about the process, and our chosen books, on the Library blog!
On a Personal Note
When I was in elementary school, my classmates and I were always excited to see our favorite books of the year win, or had fun arguing when our one true favorite did not get a medal or an honor. If we hadn't read the books yet, we would rush to the school or public library to ask our librarian for them so we could read and talk about them with others.
Now, working at a library, I understand the excitement that teachers and librarians felt when given the chance to offer these extraordinary books to students and all readers. We share these outstanding books with students, as well as parents and teachers, to enjoy and discuss like many of us did as kids.
Now, libraries have access to eBooks and eAudiobooks, making it easier to get these top books and audiobooks. If you can't make it into the library, or if you appreciate the accessibility of reading books digitally, why not give our eResources a try?
Don't forget, we're always here to help!
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