A Newbery First!

This was the first year I waited with true excitement to find out who won the Newbery Medal. Sure, I've read a TON of Newbery and Caldecott books over the years, but this was the first year I felt a personal connection to the awards. Because I'm writing these kind of books now (MG, not Newbery winners. Puh-leaze.).

And I can imagine everything it took for these books to make it onto the page, into print, onto the shelves, and into readers' hands. Wow. What an astounding accomplishment. I offer my sincere congratulations to all of the winners today, and to every writer out there walking the path, putting words to paper every day.

2013 John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

2013 Newbery Honors go to:

• 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

2013 Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

This Is Not My Hat illustrated and written by Jon Klassen

2013 Caldecott Honors go to:

• 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
• Sleep Like a Tiger illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue

2013 Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

In Darkness by Nick Lake

2013 Printz Honors go to:

• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
• Dodger by Terry Pratchett
• The White Bicycle by Beverley Brenna

2013 Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

• Caring is Creepy by David Zimmerman
• Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman
• Juvenile in Justice by Richard Ross
• Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
• My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
• One Shot at Forever by Chris Ballard
• Pure by Julianna Baggott
• The Round House by Louise Erdrich
• Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
• Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

2013 Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:

The Fault in Our Stars produced by Brilliance Audio.  The book is written by John Green and narrated by Kate Rudd.

2013 Odyssey Honors go to:

• Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian produced by Listening Library, written by Eoin Colfer and narrated by Nathaniel Parker;
• Ghost Knight produced by Listening Library, written by Cornelia Funke and narrated by Elliot Hill; and
• Monstrous Beauty produced by Macmillian Audio, written by Elizabeth Fama and narrated by Katherine Kellgren.

2013 Pura Belpré (Author) Award:

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

2013 Pura Belpre’ Honors go to:

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano

2013 Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award:

Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert  illustrated by David Diaz, written by Gary D. Schmidt

2013 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

2013  Sibert Honors go to:

• Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin written and illustrated by Robert Byrd
• Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 by Phillip M. Hoose
• Titanic: Voices from the Disaster written by Deborah Hopkinson

2013 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

Up, Tall and High! written and illustrated by Ethan Long

2013 Geisel Honors go to:

• Let’s Go for a Drive! written and illustrated by Mo Willems
• Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, created and illustrated by James Dean
• Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover written and illustrated by Cece Bell

2013 William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman