Award Winners to add to your list!

The American Library Association announced the Award Winners for 2012 in January. Most of them arrived in our library last week and, boy, are they good. Below is the winner and honor books for each category I promote in the library. The descriptions are taken from the ALA website.


First Graders are introduced to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award given to the best beginning reader of the year. Yes, it was named in honor of Dr. Seuss.
"The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, established in 2004, is given annually (beginning in 2006) to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children’s literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States during the preceding year."

is the winner.

There are three honor books as well. I Broke My Trunk by Mo Willems; I Want My Hat Back by John Klassen, and See Me Run by Paul Meisel

Second graders are introduced to the Caldecott Award. " The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children." 

The winner is this wordless book.

There are three honor books as well.  

Blackout, illustrated and written by John Rocco

Grandpa Green, illustrated and written by Lane Smith

Me...Jane, illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell

Third Graders are introduced to the Coretta Scott King Award which is "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, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience."

Kadir Nelson won the author award and
an honor award for his illustrations for this book!
(I should mention he is one of my favorite illustrators)

Shane Evans won the Illustrator award.

Fourth Graders are introduced the Newberry Award. "The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."

Jack Gantos is the winner.

Kindergarteners and Fifth Graders are welcome to enjoy all of these books, but no specific award is shared during their library time.