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. When it comes to finding books of the highest caliber, the 2024 award winners are no exception to the rule. There’s quite the list of books to get through, so let’s get started!
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. This year’s win went to Vashti Harrison — and while she’s no stranger to the world of children’s book illustration, this is her author-illustrator debut, and what a way to kick things off!
Awarded the 2024 Caldecott Medal and named a King Author Honor Book, Big follows the story of a girl who the world is always trying to make smaller. Harrison weaves her words with dream-like imagery to teach the value of self-love, the importance of respect and how freeing it can be to “dream bold, dream brave … and dream big.”
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 went to Dave Eggers, author of The Eyes and the Impossible (illustrated by Shawn Harris). Described as “a lyrical, soulful book full of wit and passion,” this children’s adventure book is a spellbinding tale of friendship and the majesty of the natural world, as a wild dog works to guard and protect his urban park home.
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. The Author award goes to Ibi Zoboi, author of Nigeria Jones — the story of a young Black girl caught between the expectations of her father and community, and the uncharted future her 
mother intended for her before she disappeared.
The Illustrator award goes to Dare Coulter for her work on An American Story (written by Kwame Alexander). In this powerful story, her debut as an illustrator, Coulter follows a multi-generational narrative of the legacy of slavery in America, and the resilience of Black Americans into the present.
Michael L. Printz Award
This year’s award, which highlights excellence in literature written for young adults, goes to The Collectors: Stories, a short story collection edited by A.S. King, written by M.T. Anderson, E.E. Charlton-Trujillo, A.S. King, David Levithan, Cory McCarthy, Anna-Marie McLemore, G. Neri, Jason Reynolds, Randy Ribay and Jenny Torres Sanchez. These nine stories all center around teenagers adding to intriguing — and sometimes impossible — collections.
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 Henry, Like Always, written by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song. This beginning chapter book, based on the picture book A Friend for Henry, follows an autistic boy as he navigates the topsy-turvy week in which his school participates in a parade.
The winner of The Schneider Family Book Award for middle grades (ages 9 to 13) was The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla. This tender contemporary novel follows main character Maudie McGinn through a summer with her father —and a summer full of secrets about what life is like back with her mom and stepdad. Secrets about the way her mom treats her autism, and about her stepdad’s anger.
Forever Is Now by Mariama J. Lockington was this year’s winner for teens (ages 14-18). Written by Stonewall Honor–winning author Mariama J. Lockington, Forever Is Now follows the story of a young Black teen facing down her agoraphobia after witnessing police brutality, and trying to find a way to join her community as protests spread through the city.
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 Houses with a Story: A Dragon’s Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore. Originally published in Japanese as Houses with a Story, the book was written and illustrated by Seiji Yoshida and translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash. Readers can explore over 30 spellbinding houses and the incredible characters who inhabit them.
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 El Deafo, written by Cece Bell, produced and narrated by a full cast (and featuring sound effects!). This graphic novel, which also received a Newbery Honor and has an adaptation streaming on Apple TV+, tells the story of Cece as she changes from a school for the Deaf to being the only one in her 
class with a hearing aid.
The winner of the Odyssey Award for young adults was Promise Boys, written by Nick Brooks and narrated by a full cast. This YA mystery thriller follows three teen boys of color as they navigate life at the dangerously strict Urban Promise Prep School — and investigate their own principal for murder in order to seek justice.
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 Latine cultural experience. This year’s Pura Belpré Youth Author and Illustration Award winner is Pedro Martín, author and illustrator of Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir. This heartwarming story follows a young Pedro as he and his family embark on a roadtrip to Mexico to pick up his legendary, larger-than-life Abuelito to come live with them in the US.
The Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award winner is Saints of the Household, written by Ari Tison. This emotional contemporary book, Tison’s debut, tells the story of Max and Jay, two Bribri American brothers who have learned how best to survive their time living with their abusive father. But when they have to use violence in order to save a classmate from a physical altercation, the incident causes the delicate balance of their lives to come crashing down.
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 Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity, written by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Brett Helquist. This exhilarating picture book will engage young readers as they follow the incredible true story of how the world’s most famous painting was nearly lost forever.
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 Cross My Heart and Never Lie, written and illustrated by Nora Dåsnes. This book follows tween protagonist Tuva as she struggles with her friends’ newfound interests in boys, when her own attention is on the new girl at school.
The winner of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award is Only This Beautiful Moment, written by Abdi Nazemian. This tale follows three generations of one family from Tehran to Los Angeles, from Moud’s relationship with his family and his sexuality in the year 2019, to his father’s and grandfather’s own secrets. This emotional and captivating book examines the way generational trauma affects the way we see our own cultures, family — and even ourselves.
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 Has a Problem, written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor. With characters from previous Geisel Award winners Fox at Night and Fox the Tiger, this hilarious tale shows young readers how to solve problems in rather unexpected ways.
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 Rez Ball by Byron Graves. This contemporary novel follows Tre Brun as he joins the Red Lake Reservation high school team varsity basketball team in the hopes of making his Ojibwe community proud and bringing the team to state championships. It’s hard dealing with the crushing pressure, though — especially when he’s joined the exact same team that his late brother, Jason, played for.
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 Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, written by Dashka Slater. The book chronicles the real-life tale of a private Instagram account where racist and sexist memes were circulated through the school kids of Albany, California — and the irreparable harm the group of high schoolers brought to their classmates, and their entire town.
American Indian Youth Literature Awards
Announced in even years (2024, 2026, 2028), 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 Forever Cousins, written by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian), illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné). This tender story follows cousins Kara and Amanda as they reunite at a family reunion — and informs the readers to the way the 1950s Indian Relocation Act impacts Native families today.
The other picture book winner is A Letter for Bob, written by Kim Rogers (Wichita & Affiliated Tribes), illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Dine). This heartwarming tale is an ode to a rather unexpected but well-loved family member — Bob, the family car, who has escorted the family from powwows to vacations and everyday adventures.
The Middle Grade book award winner is We Still Belong, written by Christine Day (Upper Skagit), with cover art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation). This impactful book follows Wesley through Indigenous Peoples’ Day, where she struggles with where she belongs in her school and community. From tackling everyday teen problems like crushes gone wrong to discussions of blood quantum and Indigenous identity, We Still Belong supports and affirms teen readers looking for where they belong among their peers and within their community.
The winner for the Young Adult book is Rez Ball by Byron Graves (Ojibwe), jacket art by Natasha Donovan (Métis).
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 The Truth About Dragons, written by Julie Leung and illustrated by Hanna Cha. This enchanting book follows a biracial young protagonist as he learns about the legends of dragons from both sides of his family.
The Children’s Literature winner is Ruby Lost and Found, written by Christina Li. In the wake of her Ye-Ye’s death, Ruby Chu finds herself suddenly distant with everyone in her life. And when she gets into trouble at school, her parents make her volunteer at the San Francisco senior center where her Nai-Nai attends. Only, Ruby soon begins to find that the experience may not be as bad as she first thought — and through this story of love, grief and bonding across generations, readers will find themselves right alongside Ruby on her emotional journey.
The Youth/Young Adult Literature winner is I’d Rather Burn Than Bloom, written by Shannon C. F. Rogers. The story follows Marisol Martin, a girl constantly at odds with her mother. But when her mom dies suddenly, Marisol finds herself angry at everyone and everything — her mother, her friends and family, the world. The author doesn’t shy away from the messier sides of grief, but instead weaves a raw and powerful tale of a teen girl’s journey to understanding her late mother, her Filipino culture and herself.
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 Two New Years, written by Richard Ho and illustrated by Lynn Scurfield. Based on the author’s own childhood experience, this story depicts two heartwarming and equally fun New Years celebrations — Rosh Hashanah in the fall and Lunar New Year in the spring.
This year’s Middle Grade winner is The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman by Mari Lowe. Perfectly capturing the complexities of middle school friendship, bullying and social dynamics. The reader follows Shaindy Goodman, a young Orthodox wallflower as she helps a popular girl from a neighboring middle school craft some pranks. But in the days leading up to Yom Kippur — the day of atonement — Shaindy starts to realize how mean-spirited these pranks have become, and what she may have to sacrifice by standing up to her new “friend.”
The Young Adult winner of this year is The Blood Years by Elana K. Arnold, a harrowing story of two sisters in Czernowitz, a Romanian city that’s historically been considered a safe haven for Jewish people — until now. Now, war has broken out and being a Jew is more dangerous than ever. Based on the author’s grandmother’s own experience in Holocaust-era Romania, this unforgettable read combines themes of loss, hatred and deep familial love.
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners! To check out the full broadcast of the ceremony, watch here on the ALA website.
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