By Ann Niederkorn, G&P Librarian
I love sharing book recommendations with staff and families. Here are a few highlights from the American Library Association Youth Media Awards, which were announced recently. In conjunction with the ALA program, G&P second graders held their own Mock Caldecott vote. The G&P Library already has some of the award-winning books and we encourage you to look for these books and others at your local Cambridge Public Library!
G&P Mock Caldecott Award Winner:
Another by Christian Robinson
Clearly, many of our second graders loved this book, but it wasn't an ALA award-winner.
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
This book won FOUR major awards (Caldecott Medal for illustration, Coretta Scott King Awards for writing AND illustration, and a Newbery Silver Medal for writing,) as well as being the runner-up for the G&P Mock Caldecott. I don't know of another book that has gotten this many awards and IMHO, it deserves every one of them. Kwame Alexander's writing and Kadir Nelson's artwork are stunning. It's an amazing tribute to African American resilience and resistance.
New Kid by Jerry Craft
Winner of the Newbery Medal for writing, this book by Jerry Craft about the transition to middle school is the first graphic novel ever to win. Very popular with G&P students.
Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael Lopez
Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award "for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience," by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael Lopez. A story normalizing and celebrating all kinds of differences, based on Sotomayor's personal experience.
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff and illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
Winner of the Stonewall Award for "books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experiene," this was also an earlier Book Joy share.
Dancing Hands by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Winner of the Pura Belpre Award "honoring a Latino...illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience."