2023 OTHER AWARD WINNERS . . .

Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

“Love, Violet," written by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, illustrated by Charlene Chua and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, is the 2023 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s Literature Award.

Four Honor Books for children’s literature were selected: “In the Key of Us,” written by Mariama J. Lockington and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; “Kapaemahu," written by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House; “The Real Riley Mayes,” written and illustrated by Rachel Elliott and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, and HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and "Strong," written by Rob Kearney & Eric Rosswood, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

​“When the Angels Left the Old Country," written by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido, is the 2023 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Young Adult Literature Award.

​Four Honor Books for Young Adult Literature were selected: “I Kissed Shara Wheeler,” written by Casey McQuiston and published by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group; “Kings of B’more,” written by R. Eric Thomas and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House; “Man o’ War,” written by Cory McCarthy and published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; and “The Summer of Bitter and Sweet,” written by Jen Ferguson (Métis/white) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latinx writers and illustrators whose children's and young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: 

“Where Wonder Grows,” illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, is the 2023 Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Award winner. The book was written by Xelena González and published by Cinco Puntos Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.

Six Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Books were named: “The Coquíes Still Sing,” illustrated by Krystal Quiles, written by Karina Nicole González and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; “A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; “Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land,” illustrated and written by Mirelle Ortega and published by Cameron Kids, an imprint of Cameron + Company, a division of ABRAMS; “Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” illustrated by Loris Lora, written by Anika Aldamuy Denise and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; “Srta. Quinces,” illustrated and written by Kat Fajardo, translated by Scholastic Inc. and published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and “Still Dreaming / Seguimos soñando,” illustrated by Magdalena Mora, written by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, translated by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite and published by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.

“Frizzy,” written by Claribel A. Ortega, is the 2023 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner. The book is illustrated by Rose Bousamra and published by First Second, a division of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

Three Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books were named: “The Coquíes Still Sing,” written by Karina Nicole González, illustrated by Krystal Quiles and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; “The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border,” written by Stephen Briseño, illustrated by Magdalena Mora and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; and “Tumble,” written by Celia C. Pérez and published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

“Burn Down, Rise Up,” written by Vincent Tirado, is the 2023 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award winner. The book is published by Sourcebooks Fire, an imprint of Sourcebooks.

​Three Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Book were named: “Breathe and Count Back from Ten,” written by Natalia Sylvester and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “High Spirits,” written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; and “The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School,” written by Sonora Reyes and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

American Indian Youth Literature Awards are announced in even years (e.g. 2022, 2024, 2026) and were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. Selected titles present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts.

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.  The award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit. The award offers three youth categories including Picture Book, Children’s Literature and Youth Literature.  The award is administered by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association.  This year’s winners include:

The Picture Book winner is “From the Tops of the Trees,” written by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Rachel Wada and published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group. The committee selected one Picture Book honor title: “Nana, Nenek & Nina” written and illustrated by Liza Ferneyhough and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House.

The Children’s Literature winner is “Maizy Chen's Last Chance," written by Lisa Yee and published by Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House. The committee selected one Children’s Literature honor title: “Troublemaker,” written by John Cho, with Sarah Suk and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

The Youth Literature winner is “Himawari House,” written and illustrated by Harmony Becker and published by First Second, an imprint of Macmillan. The committee selected one Youth Literature honor title: “The Silence that Binds Us,” written by Joanna Ho and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature.

This year’s Gold Medalists include: Picture Book winner: “The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs,” by Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; Middle Grade winner: “Aviva vs. the Dybbuk,” by Mari Lowe and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; and Young Adult winner: “When the Angels Left the Old Country,” by Sacha Lamb and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.

​Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalists include: Picture Book honors: “Big Dreams, Small Fish,” written and illustrated by Paula Cohen and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; “The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from Uganda,” by Shoshana Nambi, illustrated by Moran Yogev and published by Kalaniot Books, an imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing Company; and “Sitting Shiva,” by Erin Silver, illustrated by Michelle Theodore and published by Orca Book Publishers; Middle Grade honors: “Honey and Me,” by Meira Drazin and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; “Black Bird, Blue Road,” by Sofiya Pasternack and published by Versify, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and “Ellen Outside the Lines,” by A. J. Sass and published by Little, Brown and Company, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.; and Young Adult honors: “My Fine Fellow: A Delicious Entanglement,” by Jennieke Cohen and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “Some Kind of Hate,” by Sarah Darer Littman and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and “Eight Nights of Flirting,” by Hannah Reynolds and published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: 

“Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice,” written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, is the 2023 Excellence winner. The book is illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company.

​Four other books were finalists for the award: “Abuela, Don't Forget Me,” written by Rex Ogle and published by Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company; “American Murderer: The Parasite that Haunted the South,” written by Gail Jarrow and published by Calkins Creek; “A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome,” written by Ariel Henley and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, a division of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; and “Unequal: A Story of America,” written by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.