American Library Association 2013 Youth Media Awards

This morning the ALA announced the winners of the Youth Media Awards, and you can find the entire list on their website.  Here are some of the highlights, starting with my personal favorites:

• Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin received awards from several committees.  It won the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults,  the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, and a Newbery Honor.  I didn't review this book, but I have been talking about it to anyone who will listen -- one of my favorite books of the year.  I've been cheering it on for months.
• Extra Yarn illustrated by Jon Klassen received a Caldecott Honor.  This is another of my favorite books from 2012.  Mr. Klassen's other excellent book from this year, This Is Not My Hat won the Caldecott Medal.  I'll bet he's celebrating big.
• Pamela Zagarenski received a Caldecott Honor for Sleep Like a Tiger.  I can hardly wait to see what she does next.
• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate won the Newbery Medal.  Even though Ivan didn't make my personal favorites list this year, I did vote for it in the Mock Newbery because I think it is distinguished writing for children.  I love Ivan's voice and the characters are well-drawn -- really, a beautiful book.

Other interesting award information:

• The Caldecott committee recognized five honor books this year.  Yep, FIVE!  Count 'em:  Creepy Carrots! illustrated by Peter Brown, written by Aaron Reynolds; Extra Yarn illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett; Green illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger; One Cool Friend illustrated by David Small, written by Toni Buzzeo; and Sleep Like a Tiger illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue. 
• The Newbery Honors went to Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz, Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin, and Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage.
• The disappointing news, at least in my opinion, is that Kevin Henkes wasn't recognized for his excellent Penny books.  I would have loved to see either Penny and Her Song or Penny and Her Doll (or both) recognized by the Geisel Award committee this year.  Ah well, there is always next year.
• And finally, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award which "honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children" was given to Katherine Paterson.  Her books include The Great Gilly Hopkins, Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob Have I Loved, The Master Puppeteer, The Day of  the Pelican, and many others -- definitely "a substantial and lasting contribution."