This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
For those passionate about youth literature, the annual Youth Media Awards presented by librarians who are part of the American Library Association are like the Grammys, the Emmys, and the Oscars all at once. Over the course of the last year, librarians have dedicated their time and energy to reading a LOT of books. They engage in lively discussions about the requirements of the award for which they’re reading in order to determine which books deserve to be crowned the best of the best.
This year’s Youth Media Awards were presented on January 27, 2024. Here are the winners in a number of categories. Below the name of the award is a short description of what that award honors.
John Newbery Medal
This award honors the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children in a given year.
Randolph Caldecott Medal
This award is given to the artist/illustrator for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Michael L. Printz Award
This award honors the most distinguished work of young adult literature in a year.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
This award honors the author and illustrator of the best American book for beginning readers. It must be published in English in the US
Children’s Literature Legacy Award
This award honors an author or an illustrator whose work has made a lasting contribution to literature for children.
ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture Award
This honors a writer, critic, researcher, or other devotee of children’s literature with the opportunity to prepare a paper considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature.
Margaret A. Edwards Award
This award is presented for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.
Robert F. Sibert Medal
This award honors the author and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in the US in English.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
This award goes to the publisher for a book published for children considered to be an outstanding contribution to translated literature.
- Winner: John the Skeleton, published by Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books for Young Readers, written by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats, and translated by Adam Cullen
- Honors: Home published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 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 and written by Giovanna Zoboli, illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio and translated by Denise Muir; and A Sleepless Night published by Transit Children’s Editions, written by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Joaquín Camp and translated by Jordan Landsman.
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature
These awards honor the best in children’s literature about Asian American and Pacific Islander American culture and heritage.
The Sydney Taylor Book Awards
These awards honor the best in Jewish literature, highlighting the Jewish experience, for young readers.
Pura Belpré Awards
These awards honors Latine authors and illustrators whose work celebrates the Latine experience.
Coretta Scott King Book Awards
These awards honor the best books by African American authors and illustrators.
Schneider Family Book Awards
These awards honor the best books representing the disability experience.
Stonewall Book Awards
These awards are for excellence in LGBTQ+ books published in English.
William C. Morris Award
This award is given to the best debut young adult book.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
This award honors the best in nonfiction written for young adults.
Alex Awards
These awards honor the best books published for adults but with excellent appeal to young adults.
Odyssey Awards
These are given to outstanding audiobooks for children and young adults.
- Odyssey Award Winner for Children’s Literature: 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
- Odyssey Award Winner for Young Adult Literature: 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.
- Odyssey Award Honors: 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; and 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.