Your Guide to the 2022 ALA Youth Media Awards

Originating in 1922 with the creation of the John Newbery Medal, the American Library Association annually honors notable books, videos and other media aimed at children and teens. The ALA Youth Media Awards are internationally renowned and the distinction is an incredible resource to parents, educators, librarians and readers looking for the best books that the past year has to offer.

Though the 2022 ALA Youth Media Awards had to be held virtually, even COVID couldn’t dampen the joyful mood of the event. Featuring prestigious awards such as the Newbury, Caldecott and Stonewall medals, the ceremony was a celebration of the talent and dedication that these authors, illustrators and media creators have put into their craft.

Let’s take a look at the various reads highlighted by the ALA committees!

Randolph Caldecott Medal

This esteemed award, named after the 19th-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The 2022 Caldecott Medal went to Jason Chin, the illustrator of Watercress. Written by Andrea Wang and published by Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, Watercress tells the story of reaching across the generational divide between immigrant parents and second-generation children. The Caldecott is bestowed by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

John Newbery Medal

Named in honor of the 18th-century British bookseller John Newbery, this award recognizes the author who has written the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. This year the Newbery Medal was awarded to Donna Barba Higuera for her book The Last Cuentista, published by Levine Querido. This stunning middle grade novel marries science fiction and Mexican folklore to create a brand-new tale of family, community and the endurance of hope.

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Dedicated to Coretta Scott King for her tireless work in preserving Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of justice, the Coretta Scott King Book Award annually recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults. Typically the author and the illustrator awards recognize separate books, but this year both awards were given to the same book. This year’s winner was Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by the late Floyd Cooper and published by Carolrhoda Books. Through its heart-wrenching portrayal of the historic tragedy, this children’s book educates this generation on the past and appeals for a better future.

Michael L. Printz Award

The Michael L. Printz Award, dedicated to a beloved and tireless librarian of Topeka, Kansas, honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit. This year the winner was Firekeeper’s Daughter, written by Angeline Boulley and published by Henry Holt and Company. This tour de force of a debut novel tells the story of Daunis Fontaine, an Ojibwe teen who risks everything to find the origins of corruption before it tears her community apart. (Read our roundup of this and other books by Indigenous authors here.)

Schneider Family Book Award

The Schneider Family Book Award celebrates books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience, from children’s books to middle grade and young adult reads. This year’s winner of The Schneider Family Book Award for children (ages 0 to 8) was My City Speaks, written by Darren Lebeuf, illustrated by Ashley Barron and published by Kids Can Press Ltd. This book tells the story of a visually impaired young girl and her father as they walk through the city they call home.

The winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for middle grades (ages 9 to 13) is A Bird Will Soar. This heartfelt book is written by Alison Green Myers and published by Dutton Books for Young Readers. A Bird Will Soar introduces us to Axel, a young autistic boy who loves birds and is determined to help a nearby family of eagles after their nest is destroyed in a tornado.

The winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for teens is Words in My Hands, written and illustrated by Asphyxia and published by Annick Press, Ltd. This multimedia read, told in text, collage and illustration, tells the story of Piper, a Deaf teenager living through food scarcity, environmental collapse and political corruption. Both a coming-of-age story and an all-too-realistic dystopian story, Words in My Hands is a call to reject the close-mindedness of current society and to strive for something better.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award

This award is dedicated to Mildred L. Batchelder, a former children’s librarian as well as executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children and member of the ALA. She spent her life working “to eliminate barriers to understanding between people of different cultures, races, nations, and languages.” This award goes to 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.

This year’s winner was Temple Alley Summer (originally published in Japanese as Kimyōji Yokochō no Natsu), written by Sachiko Kashiwaba, illustrated by Miho Satake, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa and published by Yonder: Restless Books for Young Readers. This whimsical book tells the tale of Kazu, a boy on a mission to unearth the truth about the strange ghost girl who has joined his classmates. This adventurous romp weaves fantasy and reality together into a truly one-of-a-kind story.

Odyssey Award

The Odyssey Award is given to the audiobooks produced for children and young adults available in English in the United States, and this year’s children’s book winner was Boogie Boogie, Y’all, written and narrated by C. G. Esperanza. Produced by HarperAudio / Katherine Tegen Books, this energetic story is read in fast-paced verse over accompanying music, making for a listening experience that is sure to have everyone boogying.

The winner of the Odyssey Award for young adults is When You Look Like Us, written by Pamela N. Harris, narrated by Preston Butler III and produced by HarperAudio / Quill Tree Books. Butler’s narration perfectly matches the tone of this heart-pounding novel as the main character searches for his missing sister.

Pura Belpré Awards

Named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library, the Pura Belpré Awards honor Latinx writers and illustrators whose stories portray and celebrate the Latino cultural experience. This year’s Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Award winner is ¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge, written and illustrated by Raúl Gonzalez and published by Versify. Part of the beloved World of ¡Vamos! series, this book depicts the characters holding an impromptu party on the bridge that connects two different countries — bringing a story of joy and compassion to children’s bookshelves.

This year’s Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner is The Last Cuentista, written by Donna Barba Higuera and published by Levine Querido.

The Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award winner is How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe, written by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. This book beautifully blends romance and magical realism in a coming-of-age story that is sure to enchant readers.

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award

Named in honor of the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award celebrates the most distinguished informational book for children. This year’s winner is The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art, written by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Evan Turk and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers. This book tells the true story of Ben Shahn, a prominent Jewish artist and activist of the 20th century, and inspires us to come together as a united front for justice. (Read our list featuring The People’s Painter and other notable children’s books here.)

Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award

The Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award is given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. This year’s winner of the Children’s Literature Award is Too Bright to See, written by Kyle Lukoff and published by Dial Books for Young Readers. Set in the liminal summer between elementary school and middle school, this story entwines grief, gender identity and ghosts to create a hauntingly beautiful story of self-discovery.

The winner of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award is Last Night at the Telegraph Club, written by Malinda Lo and published by Dutton Books for Young Readers. This historical fiction novel, set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1954, tells the story of two girls’ first love in the uncertain and turbulent times of the Red Scare.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

Named for the legendary children’s book author and illustrator Dr. Seuss, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award honors the most creative and imaginative beginning reader book. This year’s winner is Fox at Night, written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor and published by Balzer + Bray. This charming children’s book tells the story of a timid but curious fox who is sure the nighttime is full of monsters — until he discovers the not-so-scary origins of all the sounds he’s hearing.

William C. Morris Award

Named for an innovator in the world of children’s books publishing, the William C. Morris Award highlights a spectacular debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens. This year’s winner is Firekeeper’s Daughter, written by Angeline Boulley and published by Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

Each year, YALSA’s Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18). This year’s winner is Ambushed!: The Assassination Plot Against President Garfield, written by Gail Jarrow and published by Calkins Creek. This gritty tale outlines the true story behind President Garfield’s assassination by Charles Guiteau and unveils the grisly science behind what went wrong in the 80 days between the attack and the president’s death.

American Indian Youth Literature Award

Announced in even years (e.g. 2022, 2024, 2026), the American Indian Youth Literature Awards were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. This year’s winner of the American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Award is Herizon, written by Daniel W. Vandever [Diné], illustrated by Corey Begay [Diné] and published by South of Sunrise Creative. Described as “a story of intergenerational strength and imagination,” this is a heartfelt and magical tale.

The winner of the American Indian Youth Literature Middle Grade Book Award is Healer of the Water Monster, written by Brian Young [Diné], cover art by Shonto Begay [Diné] and published by Heartdrum. Interfamilial struggles and holy Water Monsters of the Navajo Creation Story combine to create a truly extraordinary tale.

The Young Adult winner of the American Indian Youth Literature Awards is Apple (Skin to the Core), written by Eric Gansworth [Onondaga], cover art by Filip Peraić and published by Levine Querido. In this book, Gansworth tells the harrowing story of his family and of Native families across the country. Packed with emotional prose, this book will leave a lasting impact on all readers.

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

The Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit. The Picture Book winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature is Watercress, written by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin and published by Neal Porter Books, Holiday House.

The Children’s Literature winner is Amina’s Song, written by Hena Khan and published by Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. The sequel to the award-winning Amina’s Voice, this novel tells the story of Amina’s trip to visit family in Pakistan and her struggle when her classmates fail to see the beauty of the country that Amina has come to love. 

The Youth Literature winner is Last Night at the Telegraph Club, written by Malinda Lo and published by Dutton Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award

Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the Sydney Taylor Book Award is given annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. This year’s Picture Book winner is The Passover Guest, written by Susan Kusel, illustrated by Sean Rubin and published by Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Set in 1933 during the Great Depression, this story tells of a Passover Seder miracle and reminds us that hope can be found where we least expect it.

The Middle Grades winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award is How to Find What You’re Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani and published by Kokila. This historical fiction novel introduces us to Ariel Goldberg, a middle schooler who is feeling unmoored after her sister elopes following the 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision. Despite all the uncertainty surrounding her, Ariel is determined to weather the storm and come out the other side stronger than ever.

The winner of the Sydney Taylor Young Adult Book Award is The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros and published by Inkyard Press. This unforgettable historical fantasy features Alter Rosen and Yakov, two boys trapped in a darkly magical tale of grief, danger and a struggle for a better future.

Check out the Honors winners for each award and watch a full broadcast of the livestream honorees on the ALA website.