Childrens

DPI Teen Internship Applications Open

Youth Services Shout Out -


The Department of Public Instruction has opened the competitive application process for $2,500 grants for up to seven Wisconsin Libraries to fund library internships for local high school juniors or seniors to be completed between June 1st, 2025, and August 31st, 2025.

This grant has multiple goals: 
  1. The goal for the Wisconsin Teen Internship, based on the PLA Inclusive Internship Initiative (III), is for libraries to offer paid, mentored internships to high school-aged students from diverse backgrounds, allowing them to experience the work of librarianship firsthand and explore how to use their talents and perspectives to impact their communities.
  2. Teen interns will increase skills working on a connected learning project. They will also more fully understand the scope of library work and be able to identify how their interests and skills match that work.
  3. Library mentors will develop leadership, communication, and coaching skills.
  4. Participating libraries will better understand how to engage and support students while also creating career and programmatic pathways to increase diversity in the field.
Each library will be awarded up to $2,500 to recruit and hire an intern, in compliance with applicable nondiscrimination laws and minor workers laws, and in collaboration with the library’s human resources and finance staff.The application period is now open and will close at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 21st. The informational webinar presentation slides and scoring rubric are available for your review and can also be found on the DPI Youth Services webpage under the Teen Inclusive Internship Program dropdown menu.

Jeni Schomber 

Public Library Consultant 

Library Services Team 

Division for Libraries and Technology 

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 

608-266-2749 

jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov 

Tips and Info from DPI's Feb 6, 2025 Youth Services Newsletter

Youth Services Shout Out -


Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is chockfull of great resources. If you are a WI youth library staffer and you don't receive this weekly missive in your email inbox, please contact Jeni 
(jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov) to be placed on the list! 

Here are some of the highlights from the February 6, 2025 edition:

Money Smart Week (April 5-12, 2025) Kids Read Program
  • The Money Smart Week Kids Read program, targeted at kids ages 5 to 8 years old, is an enjoyable way to introduce financial responsibility to youth through programming at your library. Each family attending a Money Smart Week program gets to take home a FREE copy of this year's book Deena's Lucky Penny, written by Barbara deRubertis and illustrated by Joan Holub.
  • The deadline to order books is Friday, February 28, 2025. To order your FREE copies, visit https://tinyurl.com/mthdpzrz
  • Visit Money Smart Wisconsin for more information. 

Free for All documentary celebrates public libraries (WebJunction)

  • Imagine having an easy way to engage your library patrons in a conversation about the importance of your library. That’s the idea behind Free For All: The Public Library, an exciting new documentary premiering on PBS Indie Lens this April.
  • Libraries across the country are invited to screen this film in their libraries and take advantage of turnkey educational resources, including booklists, an engagement guide, and more. Librarians can watch an informational webinar and complete this form to host a screening event in your community. You can also watch a preview here

Jeni Schomber 

Public Library Consultant 

Library Services Team 

Division for Libraries and Technology 

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 

608-266-2749 

jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov 

Great Lakes Literacy Initiative Seeks Feedback

Youth Services Shout Out -

Illinois-Indiana and Wisconsin Sea Grants are collaborating to create engaging, place-based activities aimed at enhancing Great Lakes literacy among elementary students in grades 3-5. 

We are in the early stages of development for this endeavor and want to ensure that what we develop meets your needs. As such, we are seeking feedback from 3rd-5th grade educators (formal or non-formal) and school librarians on what resources would best help them seamlessly incorporate Great Lakes literacy into their classrooms and programs. 

Our goal is to develop a standards-aligned product or program that integrates science, social studies, or art with literature.

If you are interested in joining us for a one-hour virtual feedback session in late February or early March, please fill out this Google form. If you know an elementary teacher or librarian who might be interested, please forward this message on.

Thanks for considering!

Anne Moser

 

 

Anne Moser
Senior Special Librarian, Wisconsin Water Library

Education Coordinator, Wisconsin Sea Grant
University of Wisconsin-Madison

608-262-3069
seagrant.wisc.edu | wri.wisc.edu | wiscwaterlib

Two IFLS Webinars, Open to All!

Youth Services Shout Out -

A Community for All: Disability Inclusion in Libraries
with Shelley Harris

Wednesday, February 19, 1:00-2:30 pm

REGISTER HERE

 

“When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.” (Rudine Sims Bishop)

This is also true for community settings! To best serve patrons with disabilities, we need to understand their community, culture, and needs. Together, we will

  • build a foundation of disability knowledge
  • explore disability experiences,
  • learn how to provide safe and inclusive spaces,
  • consider how to serve patrons through our collections without causing harm.

Although the examples are youth focused, they can be adapted for any age.

Please contact Leah (langby@ifls.lib.wi.us) with requests for accommodation by January 30. 

 


A Community for All:  Building Lifelong Community Connections Through Programming 

with Shelley Harris

Wednesday, March 12, 1-2:30 pm

REGISTER HERE

 

77% of people with multiple disabilities don’t engage in community activities, per a 2005 study. How can we reach this beautiful, vibrant community, gain their trust, and create programming and services that include and welcome them? We will

  • discuss ways to make all of your programming more inclusive of people with disabilities
  • share examples of ways to build upon the work you already do
  • discuss ways libraries can support and amplify disability culture and identity, an important aspect of creating a welcoming environment.

Please contact Leah (langby@ifls.lib.wi.us) with requests for accommodation by February 26.

 

Both webinars will be recorded, captioned, and available on the IFLS website and IFLS Staff Academy.  Each will provide 1.5 contact hours for public library directors certification.

 

Presenter: Shelley Harris, MLIS, is a children’s librarian in Oak Park, IL with a passion for early literacy, serving and celebrating the disability community, and exploring technology. She has a younger brother with a rare genetic syndrome who has used AAC for almost 30 years, which inspired her to earn a Bachelors in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She previously worked as a 1:1 paraprofessional with deaf and autistic children and has helped program her brother’s communication devices for decades. Everything she has learned from these experiences is funneled into creating inclusive and engaging library services and spaces for disabled kids and tweens, and helping families connect with services in the community. She can often be found practicing storytime songs with her black lab, Bingo.

 

Charlotte Zolotow Awards and Honors Announced

Youth Services Shout Out -

The winner of the 2025 Charlotte Zolotow Award is I Know How to Draw an Owl, written by Hilary Horder Hippely, illustrated by Matt James, and published by Neal Porter/ Holiday House in 2024
The committee also selected two Honor Books and ten Highly Commended titles. 
Visit the CCBC website for the full list and Charlotte Zolotow Award press release here: Charlotte Zolotow Award - Cooperative Children's Book Center. 
We are planning for an in-person Charlotte Zolotow Award event at the CCBC on Saturday, May 3. The time is yet to be determined. 
Thank you to the members of the 2025 Charlotte Zolotow Award committee: Marissa Gehrke (Community Engagement Librarian, Verona Public Library, Verona, Wisconsin); Nancy Engle (Library Media Technology Specialist, Dr. Virginia Henderson Elementary School, Madison, Wisconsin); Merri Lindgren (Librarian, Cooperative Children's Book Center, UW-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin); and Paula Zipperer (former Director, Eagle's Wing Child Care and Education Programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin); 
Madeline Tyner Freimuth, Chair, 2025 Charlotte Zolotow Award CommitteeLibrarian, Cooperative Children's Book Center, UW-Madison, Madison WI

About the Award
The Charlotte Zolotow Award is given annually to the author of the best picture book text published in the United States in the preceding year. Established in 1998, the award is named to honor the work of Charlotte Zolotow, a distinguished children’s book editor for 38 years with Harper Junior Books, and author of more than 70 picture books, including such classic works as Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present (Harper, 1962) and William’s Doll (Harper, 1972). Ms. Zolotow attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison on a writing scholarship from 1933-36 where she studied with Professor Helen C. White.
Award Administration

The award was established and is administered by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, a children’s literature library of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Any picture book for young children (birth through age seven) originally written in English and published by a U.S. or Canadian publisher in 2024 will be eligible for consideration for the 2025 Zolotow Award. The book may be fiction, nonfiction or folklore, as long as it is presented in picture book form for children in the birth through age seven range. Translated books, poetry collections, and easy readers are not eligible.

Share Your Dia Plans

Youth Services Shout Out -


El día de los niños/El dia de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30.

Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It is a daily commitment to linking children and their families to diverse books, languages, and cultures. The common goals of all Día programming are to:

  • Celebrate children and connect them to the world of learning through books, stories and libraries.
  • Nurture cognitive and literacy development in ways that honor and embrace a child’s home language and culture.
  • Introduce families to community resources that provide opportunities for learning through multiple literacies.
  • Recognize and respect culture, heritage and language as powerful tools for strengthening families and communities.
Share Your Día Plans!Submit your programming to the National Día Program Registry

 

Are you hosting a 2025 program to celebrate Día? We’d love to hear about it!

ALSC invites libraries, schools, and community organizations to register their upcoming programs in the National Día Program Registry. By using the registry, program planners help build a searchable database that showcases all types and sizes of programs that celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) and Diversity In Action. The Día Program Registry also is a space where planners can share diversity programming ideas and practices with colleagues around the country.SUBMIT YOUR PROGRAM

Tips and Info from DPI's Jan 30, 2025 Youth Services Newsletter

Youth Services Shout Out -

Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is chockfull of great resources. If you are a WI youth library staffer and you don't receive this weekly missive in your email inbox, please contact Jeni (jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov) to be placed on the list! 

Here is the January 30, 2025 edition:

 ALA Youth Media Awards

  • In case you missed it, check out the winners and honors from this year's ALA Youth Media Awards announced on Monday, January 27, 2025. Press Release

Color Our World 2025 CSLP Pinterest Board
  • Check out the CSLP Pinterest Board for inspiration for the Color Our World summer program. Decorating ideas! Craft ideas! Displays! Programming for children, teens, and adults! And so much more!
STARNet webinar: Summer Fun for All Ages with GLOBE Citizen Science
  • Tuesday, March 4 at 12:00 p.m. 
  • Join STARnet and the NASA Earth Science Education Collaborative (NESEC) to round out planning for your 2025 summer library programs. Discover hands-on STEAM activities that can support either the Collaborative Summer Library Program (Color Our World) or iREAD (Level up at your Library with games and puzzles). These can be used in active and passive library programs to inspire and prepare patrons of all ages – from kids to seniors - to participate in NASA GLOBE Observer citizen science. This webinar will take place at 11:00 am Mountain Standard Time.
  • Register Today
Children's Book Week
  • As part of the longest-running national celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading, schools, libraries, and bookstores will celebrate Children’s Book Week on May 5-11 and on November 3-9 from coast to coast in all 50 states.
  • Sign up to participate and receive two free posters. 
WebJunction
  • WebJunction equips library staff with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to power strong libraries that are the heart of vibrant communities. WebJunction is FREEE and open to all libraries to use. 
  • Check out the Course Catalog. You will need to create a free account to enroll in a course.

Tips to Make Storytime More Accessible

Youth Services Shout Out -


In a recent ALSC blog post, Anna Melvin shared some suggestions on simple ways to make your storytimes more inclusive for children with disabilities.

Anna writes: "To aid other public librarians who may be interested in this topic, I compiled a list of three tips to make story time programming just a bit more inclusive! It is my hope that with simple actionable steps, library staff will be able to include all kiddos in their programs without needing to completely revamp their programming models. While the tips listed below are specifically for story time aged kiddos, they can also be applied to a variety of programs and across age ranges."
Please stop here to read the full post. [Accessible Storytimes in 3 Easy Steps. Melvin, Anna. ALSC blog. January 10, 2025.]

How All Staff Can Support Storytime

Youth Services Shout Out -

Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayRecently Jaime Eastman, writing at the ALSC blog, shared some wise words about how all library staff (not just the staff who actually do the storytimes) can support and advocate for storytimes with families. 

Jaime writes:"While our patrons may only see one or two faces in storytime, the reality is that it takes an entire team for our storytimes to succeed. Over the years, there have been many iterations of what supporting storytime looks like. We’ve learned that for it to work, staff must be all in for storytime. How does that work? Let me tell you more."

To check out her tips, please stop here. [All In for Storytime: Tips for Library Staff at Every Level. Eastman, Jaime. ALSC blog. January 2, 2025.]


And the 2025 YMA Winners Are..

Youth Services Shout Out -

Today, the American Library Association announced their youth media award winners and honors at a press conference in Phoenix at the ALA's LibLearn X conference.


PHOENIX — The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience held January 24-27 in Phoenix.

A list of all the 2025 award winners and honor selections follows:

John Newbery Medal

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: “The First State of Being,” written by Erin Entrada Kelly, is the Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Newbery Honor Books

Four Newbery Honor Books also were named: "Across So Many Seas," written by Ruth Behar and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All," written and illustrated by Chanel Miller and published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "One Big Open Sky," written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and published by Holiday House; and "The Wrong Way Home," written by Kate O’Shaughnessy, A Borzoi Book, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

Randolph Caldecott Medal

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: “Chooch Helped,” illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz and written by Andrea L. Rogers, is the Caldecott Medal winner. The book was published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.

Caldecott Honor Books

Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: "Home in a Lunchbox," illustrated and written by Cherry Mo and published by Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "My Daddy Is a Cowboy," illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, written by Stephanie Seales and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; "Noodles on a Bicycle," illustrated by Gracey Zhang, written by Kyo Maclear and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; and "Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains," illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, written by Anita Yasuda and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Coretta Scott King Author Book

Coretta Scott King Book Awards recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.

“Twenty-four Seconds from Now...,” written by Jason Reynolds, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

King Author Honor Books

Three King Author Honor Books were selected: “Black Girl You Are Atlas,” written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House;

“Black Star, written by Kwame Alexander and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group; and “One Big Open Sky,” written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and published by Holiday House.

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book

“My Daddy Is a Cowboy,” illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Stephanie Seales and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

King Illustrator Honor Books

Three King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: "Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King," illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds and published by Godwin Books, an imprint of Henry Holt and Company; "Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava," illustrated by E.B. Lewis, written by Gary Golio and published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers; and "Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller," illustrated by April Harrison, written by Breanna J. McDaniel and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

“Kwame Crashes the Underworld," written by Craig Kofi Farmer, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award

“Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin,” illustrated by Jamiel Law, is the Steptoe illustrator award winner. The book is written by Michelle Meadows and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

Carolyn L. Garnes is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. Garnes has spent over 30 years as a practitioner championing books for Black children as a public and school library director and as the founder of the nonprofit Aunt Lil’s Reading Room.

Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

The Printz Award is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

“Brownstone,” written by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia and co-published by Versify and HarperAlley, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers.

Four Printz Honor Books

“Bright Red Fruit,” written by Safia Elhillo and published by Make Me a World, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; “Compound Fracture,” written by Andrew Joseph White and published by Peachtree Teen, an imprint of Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.; “The Deep Dark,” written by Molly Knox Ostertag and published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and “Road Home,” written by Rex Ogle and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company Inc.

Schneider Family Book Award

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:

“A Little Like Magic,” written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel and published by Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, wins the award in the Younger Children’s category (ages 0 to 8).

Schneider Honor Books

“Monster Hands,” written by Karen Kane and Jonaz McMillan, illustrated by Dion MBD and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House;

“You’re So Amazing!,” written by James and Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Schneider Middle Grade Award

“Popcorn,” written and illustrated by Rob Harrell and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is the winner in the Middle Grade category (ages 9 to 13).

Schneider Middle Grade Honor Books

“Louder Than Hunger,” written by John Schu and published by Candlewick Press; and “Shark Teeth,” written by Sherri Winston and published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Schneider Young Adult Award

“Chronically Dolores,” written by Maya Van Wagenen and published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is the winner in the Young Adult category (ages 14-18).

Schneider Middle Grade Honor Books

"Light Enough to Float,” written by Lauren Seal and published by Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House;

“On the Bright Side,” written by Anna Sortino and published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

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

“Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability,” by Melissa Blake, published by Hachette Go, an imprint of Hachette Books;

“Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined,” written by David F. Walker, illustrated by Marcus Kwame Anderson, published by Ten Speed Graphic, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House;

“Daughters of Shandong,” by Eve J. Chung, published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House;

“Dead Cat Tail Assassins,” by P. Djèlí Clark, published by Tordotcom, an imprint of Tor Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan;

“How to Solve Your Own Murder: A Novel,” by Kristen Perrin, published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House;

“I Feel Awful, Thanks,” written and illustrated by Lara Pickle, published by Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group;

“I Was a Teenage Slasher,” written by Stephen Graham Jones, published by Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster;

“The Witch of Colchis,” by Rosie Hewlett, published by Sourcebooks Landmark, an imprint of Sourcebooks;

“The Witchstone,” by Henry H. Neff, published by Blackstone Publishing;

“Woman, Life, Freedom,” created by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Una Dimitrijević, published by Seven Stories Press.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Children's Literature Lecture

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Children's Literature Lecture is an annual event featuring an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature. Author Cynthia Leitich Smith will deliver the 2026 ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture. Smith is The New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books for children and young adults. Her 2018 book “Hearts Unbroken” won the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award.

Children’s Literature Legacy Award

Children’s Literature Legacy Award 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 through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences. This year’s winner is Carole Boston Weatherford. Her award-winning works include "Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre," which won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 2022, and "BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom," recipient of the Newbery Medal Honor in 2021, among others.

The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award

The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award is given to a digital media producer that has created distinguished digital media for an early learning audience. The winner is “Carl the Collector,” produced by Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures.

The committee selected two honor titles

"Lyla in the Loop," produced by Mighty Space Picnic and Pipeline Studios;

"The Plate Show," produced by The WNET Group and PRX.

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults

The winner is Tiffany D. Jackson, whose books include: “Allegedly,” “The Awakening of Malcolm X,” “Grown,” “Let Me Hear a Rhyme,” “The Long Walk” from “Blackout,” “Monday’s Not Coming” and “White Smoke.”

Mildred L. Batchelder Award

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States: “John the Skeleton” is the Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Estonian as “Luukere Juhani juhtumised,” the book was written by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats, translated by Adam Cullen and published by Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books for Young Readers.

Batchelder Honor Books

Batchelder Honor Books also were selected:

"Home," published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., written and illustrated by Isabelle Simler and translated by Vineet Lal;

"Johnny, the Sea, and Me," published by Enchanted Lion Books, written by Melba Escobar, illustrated by Elizabeth Builes and translated by Sara Lissa Paulson;

"Mr. Lepron’s Mystery Soup," published by Candlewick Studio, an imprint of Candlewick Press, written by Giovanna Zoboli, illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio and translated by Denise Muir;

"A Sleepless Night," published by Transit Children’s Editions, an imprint of Transit Books, written by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Joaquín Camp and translated by Jordan Landsman.

Odyssey Awards

Odyssey Award for the best audiobooks produced for children and young adults, available in English in the United States: “A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen,” produced by Andy T. Jones for Dreamscape Audio, written by Erin Frankel, illustrated by Paola Escobar and narrated by Luis Carlos de La Lombana, is the Odyssey Award winner for children.

“How the Boogeyman Became a Poet,” produced by Abigail Marks for HarperAudio, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, written by Tony Keith Jr. and narrated by Tony Keith Jr. is the Odyssey Award winner for young adults.

Odyssey Honor Audiobooks

“Black Girl You Are Atlas," produced by Brian Ramcharan for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House, written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and narrated by Renée Watson;

"Dispatches from Parts Unknown," produced by Almeda Beynon for HarperAudio, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, written by Bryan Bliss and narrated by Joy Nash;

"Girls Like Her," produced by Abigail Marks for HarperAudio, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, written by Melanie Sumrow and narrated by Melanie Sumrow and January LaVoy;

"You Are Brave: A Book About Trying New Things," produced by Paul Gagne and John Pels for Scholastic Inc., written by Margaret O’Hair and Sofia Sanchez, illustrated by Sofia Cardoso and narrated by Sofia Sanchez.

Pura Belpré Awards

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latino writers and illustrators whose children's and young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

“The Dream Catcher,” illustrated by Marcelo Verdad, is the Pura Belpré for Illustration Award winner. The book was written by Marcelo Verdad and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Belpré Illustration for Honor Books

"Abuelo, the Sea, and Me, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, written by Ismée Williams and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing;

"A Maleta Full of Treasures," illustrated by Juana Medina, written by Natalia Sylvester and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Belpré Children’s Author Award

“Lola,” written by Karla Arenas Valenti, is the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner. The book is published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books

"Cruzita and the Mariacheros," written by Ashley Granillo and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group Inc.;

"Ultraviolet," written by Aida Salazar and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Belpré Young Adult Author Award

"Shut Up, This Is Serious," written by Carolina Ixta, is the Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award winner. The book is published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Books

"Libertad," written by Bessie Flores Zaldívar and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House;

"Wild Dreamers," written by Margarita Engle and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: “Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall,” written by Lynn Brunelle and illustrated by Jason Chin, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Neal Porter Books, Holiday House.

Sibert Honor Books

"Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos," written by Nathalie Alonso, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez and published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers;

"The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II," written by Candace Fleming and published by Scholastic Focus, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.;

"The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival," written by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, illustrated by Sammy Savos and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing;

"Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills," written by Billy Mills and Donna Janell Bowman, illustrated by S. D. Nelson and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Stonewall Book Awards

Stonewall Book Awards - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

“Lunar Boy,” written and illustrated by Jes and Cin Wibowo and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, is the recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s Literature Award.

Stonewall Honor Books for children’s literature

"Marley’s Pride," written by Joëlle Retener, illustrated by DeAnn Wiley and published by Barefoot Books;

"Murray Out of Water," written by Taylor Tracy and published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

"The Flicker," written by H.E. Edgmon and published by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group;

"What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice," written by Jay Leslie, illustrated by Loveis Wise and published by Hillman Grad Books, an imprint of Zando.

Stonewall Young Adult Literature

“Canto Contigo,” written by Jonny Garza Villa and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, is the recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award.

Stonewall Honor Books for Young Adult Literature

Four Honor Books for young adult literature were selected: "Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix," written by Gabe Cole Novoa and published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group;

"Navigating with You," written by Jeremy Whitley, illustrated by Cassio Ribeiro and published by Maverick, Mad Cave Studios;

"Road Home," written by Rex Ogle and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.;

"Time and Time Again," written by Chatham Greenfield and published by Bloomsbury YA, Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., part of Bloomsbury Publishing.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book

“Vacation” written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Mark Teague, is the Geisel Award winner. The book is published by Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Geisel Honor Books

"Fox versus Fox," written and illustrated Corey R. Tabor and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

"Towed by Toad," written and illustrated by Jashar Awan and published by Tundra Books, an imprint of Tundra Book Group, a division of Penguin Random House of Canada.

William C. Morris Award

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: "Not Like Other Girls," written by Meredith Adamo, is the Morris Award winner. The book is published by Bloomsbury YA, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., part of Bloomsbury Publishing.

William C. Morris Award finalists

“Aisle Nine,” written by Ian X. Cho and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers;

“Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear,” written by Robin Wasley and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing;

“Shut Up, This Is Serious,” written by Carolina Ixta and published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

"The Wilderness of Girls,” written by Madeline Claire Franklin and published by Zando Young Readers, an imprint of Zando.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

“Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire,” written by Paula Yoo. The book is published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company Inc.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalists

“A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond” written by Elizabeth Rusch and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

“Homebody,” written by Theo Parish and published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;

“Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away,” written by Candy J. Cooper and published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, a division of Astra Publishing House;

“The Unboxing of a Black Girl,” written by Angela Shanté and published by Page Street Publishing Co.

Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature.

The award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit. The award offers three youth categories including Picture Book, Children’s Literature and Young Adult Literature. The award is administered by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association.

This year’s winners include:

The Picture Book winner: “Aloha Everything,” written by Kaylin Melia George, illustrated by Mae Waite and published by Red Comet Press.

Picture Book honor title: “The Rock in My Throat,” written by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Jiemei Lin and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group Inc.

The Children’s Literature title: “Continental Drifter,” written and illustrated by Kathy MacLeod and published by First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

Children’s Literature honor titles: “Mabuhay!,” written and illustrated by Zachary Sterling and published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and Clairboyance, written by Kristiana Kahakauwila and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

The Young Adult Literature winner: “Everything We Never Had,” written by Randy Ribay and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Young Adult Literature honor titles: “Lunar New Year Love Story,” written by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham and published by First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing; and “Dragonfruit,” written by Makiia Lucier and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature.

Gold Medalists

Picture Book: “An Etrog from Across the Sea," written by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen and published by Kar-Ben Publishing, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group Inc.

Middle Grade: "The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival," written by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos with Bethany Strout, illustrated by Sammy Savos and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing;

Young Adult: “Night Owls,” written by A.R. Vishny and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalists

Picture Book: "Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan's Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants," written by Norman H. Finkelstein, illustrated by Vesper Stamper and published by Holiday House; "Joyful Song: A Naming Story," written by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; "Rising," written by Sidura Ludwig, illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy and published by Candlewick Press; and "The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World, written by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Alianna Rozentsveig and published by Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Middle Grade: "Across So Many Seas," written by Ruth Behar and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop," written by Joshua S. Levy and published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and "Just Shy of Ordinary," written by A.J. Sass and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

Young Adult: "The Forbidden Book," written by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; and "Trajectory," written by Cambria Gordon and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit www.ala.org/yma .



Take Your Child to the Library Day - Feb 1

Youth Services Shout Out -

Begun in Connecticut in 2011 by a children's librarian, this advocacy effort supports a strong informational webpage with a video, information and tips you can use in encouraging families to come to the library. Whether celebrating the day or not, the information is great!  If not in your programming plans this year, keep this in mind for next year! The following is from the project's website:
Take Your Child to The Library Day - February 1, 2025

On the first Saturday in February*, thousands of libraries across the world celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day by offering free, fun, fabulous activities for families. Your local library is an ideal place for children to play, discover, make friends, and have fun. And Take Your Child to the Library Day is the perfect time to discover some library magic. From magicians to craft programs, ice cream socials to storytimes, each library offers something unique and delightful.

Visit your library’s website or give them a call to see what they have planned. Then mark your calendar for Take Your Child to the Library Day. Stop in for a visit. Enjoy the activities. Get a library card (they're free!), meet your children's librarian, and explore all the wonders that your local library has to offer your family. And be sure to stop in again soon – because every day is a great day to take your child to the library.

*Your library may choose to celebrate on an alternate day in February.