This week the American Library Association announced the 2012 Caldecott and Newbery award winners. Several the winning titles are already available here at the library, and our Children’s Librarian, Lisa Anderson, says the rest are coming soon.
The 2012 Caldecott Medal winner–awarded to the artist of the year’s most distinguished American picture book for children–is A Ball for Daisy, written and illustrated by Chris Raschka.
This year’s Caldecott Honor books are:
Blackout, written and illustrated by John Rocco
Grandpa Green, written and illustrated by Lane Smith
Me … Jane, written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
The 2012 Newbery Medal winner–awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children–is Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos.
The year’s Newbery Honor books are:
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
Here are links to lists of past winners:
Caldecott Medal and Honor books, 1938 to present
Newbery Medal and Honor books, 1922 to present
Looking over the lists I see a couple of family favorites. As part of a train-loving family, my boys enjoyed The Polar Express by Chris Vans Allsburg, the 1986 Caldecott Medal winner. And one of my personal favorites on the list is Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann, a 1996 Caldecott Honor book.
I remember when my youngest son read Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, a 1965 Newbery Honor book, and it’s a book I still recommend to grade-schoolers when they need a historical-fiction chapter book.
Do you recognize any old favorites on the lists of medal winners and honor books? Books you loved as a child, or maybe books you read to your children and grandchildren? Tell us in the comments.
Here’s to award-winning reading,
Janice
