Sponsored by Lerner Books.
Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation’s history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa’s Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community. News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future.
Hi Kid Lit Friends!
Oh my goodness, last Monday was WILD! It was the day of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards, and I was having heart palpitations at seeing so many of my favorite books published in 2020 getting awards! And not to pat myself on the back, but a lot of the books I recommended last year were given awards. I’m feeling quite satisfied with myself! 🙂
Let’s take a look at some of the winners!
All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat
Okay, first off can we just recognize that the incredible Christina Soontornvat got not just one Newbery Honor, but TWO! You probably got very tired of me talking last year about how much I loved A Wish in the Dark and All Thirteen. You know when you get that feeling when you open a book and read the first paragraph and know that you’re going to love it? That’s exactly how I felt about those two books, and I could not be happier for Christina! (Disclaimer: We are friends and yes, she is the nicest person!)
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
I loved this book way back in 2019, months before it was published. I knew it was special from the very beginning. Michaela Goade’s luminescent illustrations are a sight to behold. I could not be more thrilled that she won the Caldecott!
When You Trap A Tiger by Tae Keller
This gorgeous book was released in January 2020, so readers had an entire year to fall in love with it! It was awarded the Newbery Medal and is a gorgeous story based on Korean folklore. A young girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother, and along the way she learns more about her family history and her own strength. Hooray, Tae!
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Woodson does it again with a middle grade novel in verse about a young boy and his father, a professional football player who is suffering from the many concussions he sustained over the course of his career. I read this book in one sitting, and I cannot recommend it enough. This book was awarded the Coretta Scott King Author Award!
¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat by Raúl the Third
I am so thrilled that the ¡Vamos! books are going to be a big long series because they are so fun and full of incredible illustrations and colors. Let’s Go Eat is the second book in the series, with more to come! Peppered with easy-to-remember Latin-American Spanish vocabulary, this glorious celebration of food is sure to leave every reader hungry for lunch!
There were so many incredible books that were given awards – check the full list on the American Library Association website. There were a few other books that I absolutely loved that didn’t get awards, but I cannot wait to see more from those authors and illustrators in the future! Whew, what will 2021 bring? I can’t wait to see!
What books were you excited to see win awards? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.
Until next time!
Karina
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