Youth Literacy Awards Announced

These 2009 literary award winners were announced today in Denver at the American Library Association Conference-Youth Media Awards.

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
The Newbery Medal winner for 2009 is:

Neil Gaiman, author of The Graveyard Book.

The honor books in this category are:
Savvy by Ingrid Law
After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson
Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle (on order)
Underneath by Kathi Appelt .

The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
The Caldecott Medal winner for 2009 is:

Beth Krommes, illustrator of The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson.

The honor books in this category are:
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever written and illustrated by Marie Frazee
How I Learned Geography written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet (on order)

The Michael L. Printz Award is an award given for a book that exemplifies excellence in young adult literature.
The Printz award for 2009 goes to:

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

The honor books in this category are:
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Vol II: The Kingdom of the Waves by M.T. Anderson
Nation by Terry Prachett
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan