The American Library Association (ALA) recently announced their 2023 Youth Media Awards which honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Here are this year's winners and honorees we have in our catalog!
Looking for past award winners? Check out our posts for the 2021 and 2022 award winners.
Jump to: Children's | Junior | Teen / YA
Children's Books
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
Given to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers.
2023 Award Winner: I Did It!
written and illustrated by Michael Emberley
Learning to ride a bike is hard. Can I do it? Yes, I can! A fun comic that kindergarteners and first graders can read on their own.
Easy Reader Blue // Ages 4 - 8
GEISEL HONOR BOOKS:
- Fish and Wave written and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
An I Can Read Comic // Easy Reader Blue // Ages 4 - 8 - Gigi and Ojiji written and illustrated by Melissa Iwai
An I Can Read Book // Easy Reader Green // Ages 4 - 8 - A Seed Grows written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis
* Robert F. Sibert Informational Book (2023 Honor)
Easy Nonfiction // Ages 4 - 8
Pura Belpré Award for Illustration
Given to a Latino/Latina illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
written by Xelena González, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia
A lyrical and stunning picture book about a grandmother bonding with her granddaughters as she teaches them how much they can learn from nature just by being curious.
Easy // Ages 3 - 7
PURA BELPRÉ HONOR BOOK: 
- A Land of Books illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh
Easy Nonfiction // Ages 4 - 8
More Children's Honor Books:
- Choosing Brave by written by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington
* Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal (2023 Honor)
* Randolph Caldecott Medal (2023 Honor)
* Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award (2023 Honor)
Easy Nonfiction // Ages 6 - 10 
Berry Song written and and illustrated by Michaela Goade
* Randolph Caldecott Medal (2023 Honor)
Easy // Ages 4 - 8- Nana, Nenek & Nina by written and illustrated by Liza Ferneyhough
* Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Picture Book (2023 Honor)
Easy // Ages 4 - 8 - Kapaemahu written by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa
* Stonewall Honor Book for Children’s Literature (2023 Honor)
Easy Folklore // Ages 4 - 8 
In the Blue written and illustrated by Erin Houriganand
* Schneider Family Young Children Honor (2023 Honor)
Easy // Ages 4 - 8- The Talk illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh
* Coretta Scott King Book Award: Youth Author (2023 Honor)
Easy // Ages 4 - 8 - Sitting Shiva written by Erin Silver, illustrated by Michelle Theodore
* Sydney Taylor Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries: Picture Book (2023 Honor)
Easy // Ages 3 - 5
Junior Books
John Newbery Medal (1) & Coretta Scott King Author Award (2)
(1) For most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
(2) Given to outstanding African American authors that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
2023 Award Winner: Freewater
by Amina Luqman-Dawson
After fleeing the plantation where they were enslaved, siblings Ada and Homer discover the secret community of Freewater, and work with freeborn Sanzi to protect their new home from the encroaching dangers of the outside world.
Junior // Ages 8 - 12
NEWBERRY HONOR BOOKS: 
- Iveliz Explains It All written by Christina Soontornva
Easy Nonfiction // Ages 10 - 14 - The Last Mapmaker written by Christina Soontornvat
Easy Nonfiction // Ages 8 - 12
* A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book for Teen Readers
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
For outstanding children's books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country and subsequently translated into English.
originally published in Italian written by Lia Levi, illustrated by Jess Mason
1938, Italy. Six-year-old Jewish girl Lia grows up during a difficult time of racial discrimination and war, and discovers light in unexpected places. A classic, powerful story adapted for young readers, with beautiful black-and-white illustrations, family photo album, and author’s note.
Nonfiction // Ages 8 - 12
Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature
To honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit.
by Lisa Yee
Eleven-year-old Maizy visits her estranged grandparents, who own and run a Chinese restaurant in Last Chance, MN; as her visit lengthens, she makes unexpected discoveries about her family's history and herself.
Junior // Ages 8 - 12
* John Newbery Medal (2023 Honor)
Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award
Given to a Latino/Latina writer whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
2023 Award Winner: Frizzy
written by Claribel A. Ortega, illustrated by Rose Bousamra
Marlene's--a young Dominican girl--greatest enemy is the hair salon! Through her struggles and triumphs, this heartwarming and gorgeous middle-grade graphic novel shows the radical power of accepting yourself as you are, frizzy curls and all.
Junior Graphic Novel // Ages 9+
PURA BELPRÉ AUTHOR HONOR BOOK: 
- Tumble written by Celia C. Pérez
Junior // Ages 4 - 8
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
For most distinguished informational book for youth.
written by Elizabeth Partridge and illustrated by Lauren Tamaki
This important work of nonfiction features powerful images of the Japanese American incarceration in America during World War II captured by three photographers—Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams—along with firsthand accounts of this grave moment in history.
Nonfiction // Ages 10+
* Winner of the BolognaRagazzi Award for Photography
* Named a Best Book of the Year by Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, and others
More Children's Honor Books:
- In the Key of Us by written by Mariama J. Lockington
* Stonewall Book for Children’s Literature (2023 Honor)
Junior // Ages 8 - 12 - Honestly Elliott written by Gillian Dunn
* Schneider Family Book Award: Middle Grade (2023 Honor)
Junior // Ages 8 - 11 
Hummingbird by written Natalie Lloyd
* Schneider Family Book Award: Middle Grade (2023 Honor)
Junior // Ages 8 - 12
Teen / YA Books
Young Adult Library Services Association Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award
Honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults.
written by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest.
Nonfiction Graphic Novel // Ages 8+ // e-book only
* Coretta Scott King Award: Author and Illustrator (2023 Honor)
* A School Library Journal Best Book of 2022
* Finalist for the 2022 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
* A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
* A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
* A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
* A Booklist Best Book of the Year
* A Horn Book Fanfare Title
YALSA NONFICTION HONOR BOOK: 
Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Given to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
written by Sabaa Tahir
Growing up as outcasts in the small desert town in California, best friends Salahudin and Noor understand each other the way no one else does. Until "The Fight", which destroys their bond with the swift fury of a star exploding. What is their friendship worth—and what will it take to defeat the monsters in their pasts and the ones in their midst? A brilliant, unforgettable, and heart-wrenching contemporary novel of young love, family and forgiveness, love and loss, in a sweeping story that crosses generations and continents.
Young Adult // Ages 14 - 17
* National Book Award for Young People’s Literature (2022 Winner)
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
To affirm new talent and to offer visibility to excellence in writing and/or illustration by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.
written by Jas Hammonds
What's more important: Knowing the truth or keeping the peace? When seventeen-year-old Avery moves to rural Georgia to live with her ailing grandmother, she encounters decade-old family secrets and a mystery surrounding the town's racist past. Family secrets, a swoon-worthy romance, and a slow-burn mystery collide in a YA debut that explores how racial violence can ripple down through generations.
Young Adult // Ages 14 - 18
* A School Library Journal Best Book of 2022
* A Kirkus Best Books of 2022
* A Parents Magazine Best Books of 2022
* People magazine's Best Children's Books of 2022
Alex Awards:
Given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
More Teen Honor Books:
- The Summer of Bitter and Sweet written by Jen Ferguson
* Stonewall Honor Book for Young Adult Literature (2023 Honor)
* William C. Morris YA Debut Award (2023 Finalist)
Young Adult // Ages 13 - 17 - The Silence that Binds Us written by Joanna Ho
* Asian/Pacific American Award for Youth Literature Honor (2023 Honor)
Young Adult // Ages 14 - 17 
- Ain’t Burned All the Bright illustrated by Jason Griffin, written by Jason Reynolds
* Randolph Caldecott Medal (2023 Honor)
Young Adult // Ages 12+