“‘Fireworks’ Earns Caldecott, ‘All the Blues in the Sky’ Secures Newbery”
Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien’s picture book, Fireworks, has been awarded the prestigious Caldecott Medal. This recognition celebrates the most distinguished American picture book for children. The award was announced by the American Library Association on Monday.
In Fireworks, readers follow two siblings as they eagerly await a July 4th fireworks display. The book combines Burgess’s poetic language with Chien’s vibrant illustrations to create a sensory experience. Burgess noted the excitement in children when they engage with poetry, emphasizing its power to help them express their feelings.
Newbery Medal Winner
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson has received the Newbery Medal. This honor is granted for outstanding contributions to children’s literature. The story revolves around 13-year-old Sage, who navigates her grief after losing her best friend.
Watson intends for her books to create spaces where young readers feel understood and encouraged to communicate with one another and adults in their lives. She is also recognized for her previous work, Piecing Me Together, which won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2018.
Coretta Scott King Book Awards
This year, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards also highlighted remarkable contributions. Notable winners included:
- Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Author Award)
- The Library in the Woods by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator Award)
- Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson (Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent)
- Kadir Nelson received the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Newbery and Caldecott Honors
Additional accolades were presented this year. The Newbery Honor Books included:
- The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser
- A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila
- The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri
Caldecott Honors featured:
- Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
- Our Lake by Angie Kang
- Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer
- Sundust by Zeke Peña
These awards acknowledge the significant impact of literature on young audiences and the continued importance of high-quality children’s books.
