Newbery & Caldecott Medal Winners 2012

The Newbery and Caldecott prizes, the most prestigious in children's literature, were announced recently by the American Library Association.  No cash prizes are given, but the awards are watched closely by booksellers and librarians. Previous winners include such favorites as Louis Sachar's "Holes" and Brian Selznick's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," the basis for Martin Scorsese's film "Hugo."

The 2012 Caldecott Medal winner is 'A Ball for Daisy', written and illustrated by Chris Raschka, published by Schwartz & Wade Books.In a wordless book with huge children’s appeal, Chris Raschka gives us the story of an irrepressible little dog whose most prized possession is accidently destroyed.  With brilliant economy of line and color, Raschka captures Daisy’s total (yet temporary) devastation. A buoyant tale of loss, recovery and friendship.
“Chris Raschka’s deceptively simple paintings of watercolor, gouache and ink explore universal themes of love and loss that permit thousands of possible variants,” said Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Steven L. Herb. ‘A Ball for Daisy’ holds as many unique stories as there will be young readers and re-readers.
Runners-UpBlackout, written and illustrated by John Rocco, published by Disney · Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
Grandpa Green, written and illustrated by Lane Smith, published by Roaring Brook Press.
Me … Jane, written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell and published by Little, Brown and Company.

The 2012 Newbery Medal winner is Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, published by Farrar Straus Giroux

The importance of history and reading (so you don’t do the same “stupid stuff” again) is at the heart of this achingly funny romp through a dying New Deal town. While mopping up epic nose bleeds, Jack narrates this screw-ball mystery in an endearing and believable voice.

“Who knew obituaries and old lady death could be this funny and this tender?” said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Viki Ash.

Runners-UpInside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, published by HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.
Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin, published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.