My blow by blow recap of the ALA Award Winner Announcements

image from ALA Youth Media Awards site

In a season of awards shows, one stands out for me.  Yes, I love the pretty dresses of the People's Choice, the Grammys, and the Oscars.  I love when celebrities talk unedited and wind up sounding kind of dumb.  I love when someone loses, and they cut to their face, and they either make a nice face and smile graciously for the winner, or they mouth, "WHAT", like some people do.

However, there is one award show that always makes me happy (even if I don't always agree with the winners).  The ALA Youth Media Awards...otherwise known (to me) as the Caldecotts, the Newberys (Nerberies?), the Printzs, and all those other.

Yesterday, we had the day off because of ice (woo...I'll take it!) so I was able to watch the announcements.  I wrote down my reactions for you (I was going to record them, but lets face it, I was still in my mismatched PJ's..plus, I couldn't figure out how to on my husband's mac)  I was tempted to wear my pearls and fancy tiara, but squashed that (quickly).

Ok, so here is my blow by blow breakdown of the ALA Youth Media Awards... (with links to Amazon).  For the official list, click here

~Alex Award---unfortunately, I haven't heard of any of the winners/honorees.  This doesn't bode well...am now slightly nervous for Geisel, Caldecott and Newbery announcement.

~The Schneiders---I can't wait to read BACK TO FRONT, UPSIDE DOWN by Claire Alexander.
Why wasn't WONDER nominated or a winner?

~A big, fat DUH to Kadir Nelson being a Coretta Scott King honoree for I HAVE A DREAM

~So that guy announcing the various YALSA awards was HILARIOUS!  He certainly livened the announcements up! 

~Was excited for Kristin Barnaby and WONDER SHOW being a William C. Morris honoree.  I met her in November (I think) when she was part of a signing nearby.

~I love that ARTEMIS FOWL: THE LAST GUARDIAN by Eoin Colfer was an Odyssey Award honoree (best audiobooks).  I love that series!  I thought it was really interesting that THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green won best audiobook.  Don't kill me when I say this, but I didn't really like the book.  But, I would be willing to give the audiobook a try.  Maybe it's different when it's someone else's voice reading it!

Skipper fell asleep.  He doesn't get as excited about this as I do. 

 ~The Michael Printz award---I've never heard of ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, but *spoiler alert*, it comes up several times.  I have heard really good things about CODE NAME VERITY, and really need to pick it up to read.  I've never heard of IN DARKNESS, so that's another I'll have to check out.

~I loved that the lady did the Pura Belpre Awards in both English and Spanish.  I'd love to be on this committee!  I want to know how to get on it!  How can I join?  I've never heard of the books chose, but its all good!

~I took a bathroom break here, WHY WASN"T I MORE PREPARED!?!?!? I almost missed, in my opinion, the top 3 awards!  No worries, I made it...

~The Geisel Award (for excellence in early readers...that's not the official designation, but its something like that)...
   honorees
     ~LET'S GO FOR A DRIVE by Mo Willems
     ~PETE THE CAT AND HIS FOUR GROOVY BUTTONS by James Dean
     ~RABBIT AND ROBOT by CeCe Bell
     ~and winner: UP!  TALL!  AND HIGH! by Ethan Long

At this point, I'm fairly humming with excitement, so Skipper wakes up and starts barking because he thinks something is wrong.

Caldecott Awards (in case you live under a rock, these are for best illustrations)
   Honorees:
       ~CREEPY CARROTS  by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown
       ~EXTRA YARN by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen
       ~GREEN by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
       ~ONE COOL FRIEND by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by David Small
       ~SLEEP LIKE A TIGER by Mary Logue and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
   Winner:
       ~THIS IS NOT MY HAT by Jon Klassen
A double win!  Honoree and Winner!  SCORE!  I LOVE all the books!  Great job!  

And now....I'm so nervous, I may need another bathroom break....
The Newbery
   Honorees:
         ~SPLENDORS AND GLOOMS by Laura Amy Schlitz
         ~BOMB!  THE RACE TO BUILD-AND STEAL-THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON by Steve Sheinkin (audiobook only.  I couldn't find the regular book on amazon)
         ~THREE TIMES LUCKY by Sheila Turnage
    Winner
          ~THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate!!!!!!!!!!  I screamed and did a little dance.  

I'm a little sad that WONDER by RJ Palacio didn't win any awards, but hey, you can't win them all!  What did you guys think?