My 2011 Award Predictions (Vegas is Missing Out) Updated W/ Link to Winners

If you are reading this now. All the winners have been announced and I pretty much suck at making predictions. Someone won't me going to Vegas anytime soon and that person is me.

Check out all the 2011 Winners

I am stunned and very disappointed that They Called Themselves the kkk, was not honored at all.

I can't believe I forget about Bryan Collier's beautiful illus. for Dave the Potter. (duhhh)

I thought I couldn't do worse than last year when I only guessed one Printz correctly. This year I got zero right. Second year my favorite to win, didn't even honor.

I was happy that new author Duncan Tonatiuh won an illus. honor for his debut Dear Primo I reviewed it early in the year and loved the illustrations. Tonatiuh was kind enough to answer a question about his artistic style


On Monday Jan. 10, the ALA announce Youth Media awards Below are my predictions on what I think/want to win.

The Belpre Award
Narrative Winner - The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
Honors- Sun Tortilla by Jennifer Cervantes Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez, Floating on Mama's Song by Laura Lacamara, The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Perez by Rene Colato Lainez., Side by Side - Monica Brown

I am pretty sure I have listed too many honors, but I can't bring myself to remove one. Here's a quick confession, I couldn't get into the Dreamer. I tried to read it twice. I have it as my winner because so many people loved it.

Illustration Winner - Chavela and the Magic Bubble illus by Magaly Morales
Honor - Mr Mendoza's Paintbursh illus. Christopher Cardinale , Me Frida illus. by David Diaz, Floating on Mama's Song by Yuyi Morales

Chavela and the Magic Bubble came out in March 2010, yet mines is still the only amazon review. What's up with that?


Caldecott Medal -
Art&Max by David Wiesner
The Boy in the Garden by Allen Say

Wiesner and Say are always good guesses. Visually both of these books are amazing. Though overall I am pretty clueless this year when it comes to the caldecott.

Coretta Scott King Award
Author Winner - One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
Honors - Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Finding Family by Tonya Bolden

Illustrator award winner - A Place Where Hurricanes Happen illus by Shadra Strickland
Illustrator honors - Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat - illus. by Sean Qualls and Sit In - illus by Brian Pinkney

I loved Ruth and the Green book by Ramsey illus by Floyd Cooper. I think both author and artist deserve a medal for it. Though looking back on past winners, I have not seen a book that's gotten both the author and illustrator award. I went with Ramsey since the story was new and well told.

Sit In by Andrea Pinkney illus. by Brian Pinkney could've gone either way as well.

John Steptoe New Talent Author Award - 8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday -Perkovich.

I am still not sure about this one. At first I was going to go with Good Fortune by Noni Carter, which I really liked. It was a wonderful debut. But there are many YA novels about slavery. However I would like to see an author recognized for a great debut of a different experience. Plus Reggie rocked those Dora Explorer shoes.

Newbery Award
Winner - One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
Honors - Countdown by Deborah Wiles, Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schiltz, Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The only thing I think I know for sure, its going to be one or the other - Rita Williams Garcia or Jewell Parker Rhodes. The chances are very slim that one will win and the other honor or both honor.

Yet, I can't help but have both on my list.

I've heard some people say Countdown can't win because of the photographs. But I don't think
the text is dependent on the photographs.

Night Fairy - Is simply beautiful.


Sleepers (coming out of nowhere to honor) -
How I Nicky Flynn Finally Got a Life and a Dog by Art Corriveau,
Boneshaker by Kate Milford,
My Havana by Rosemary Wells

Corriveau's novel is really well done. I think having so many novels with female protagonist in the running will work in its favor. The same goes for My Havana, since that also features a male protagonist. Earlier in the year I wasn't sure about Boneshaker but now I think has a very good chance of coming out of nowhere to honor.


Printz Award
Winner - Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Honors - Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe, A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner, Split by Swati Avasthi, Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Sleepers - Heist Society by Ally Carter, Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld, When the Stars go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

The only thing I know for sure - If Finnikin of the Rock doesn't at least honor, I will be very very surprised. That book is so freakin good. The rest I have no idea but I do feel good about my choices.

Below are awards I am guessing for the first time.

Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002.

Winners - The Lock Up Artist by Steve Hamiliton, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow, Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor, Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans, True Spirit by Jessica Watson, Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok , Vida by Patricia Engel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin, Diamond Ruby by Joseph Wallace

Check out this interview I did with Danielle Evans at Color Online. Evans answers are so good.

I decided to include the Alex Award in my predictions since I am familiar with a lot of books with YA crossover appeal. So if like last year I only get one Printz correct, this can make my average look better.

I've included the Schneider and Sibert Award for the same reason.

Schneider Award
The Schneider Family Book Award is a new addition to the American Library Association’s Media Youth Awards. The award is donated by Dr. Katherine Schneider, and honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Three annual awards are presented for the best Teen, Middle School and Children’s Book. The American Library Association administers the Awards, and each recipient receives $5000 and a framed plaque. Winners are announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete

Sibert Award
The Sibert Award honors the most distinguished informational book published in English in the preceding year for its significant contribution to children’s literature.

Winner - They Called Themselves the kkk by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Honors- Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos, Ballet for Martha by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan and The War to End All Wars by Russell Freedom

Vegas is seriously missing out. Some good money could be made if people where allowed to bet on these awards. The house would always have the advantage.