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This dedicated page features everything about the awards, including all of SLJ's reporting of the 2025 Youth Media Awards ceremony and recognized titles and creators; a complete list of winners and honor books; plus links to book reviews, author interviews, blog posts, and related coverage.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Newbery Medal and Honors winners.

The First State of Being, a middle grade novel about time travel, Y2K, family, friendship, anxiety, and loss, earned Kelly the coveted award.

The Newbery Medal winner and National Ambassador of Young People's Literature will speak with SLJ reviews director Shelley Diaz about her time as Ambassador, Latinx representation in children's books, her latest projects, and more.

At the Newbery Caldecott Legacy Awards Banquet during ALA Annual, Caldecott winner Vashti Harrison and Newbery Medalist Dave Eggers shared previously unknown, very personal stories about the difficult events that led to the creation of their award-winning books.

Sally Dunn, and her picture book assignment, left an indelible mark on the author of 2024 Newbery winner, The Eyes and the Impossible.

Research provides an opportunity to reclaim the narrative of enslavement and “share it in creative ways that deeply connect us to the past,” says the author of Freewater, which won the 2023 Newbery.

This dedicated page features everything about the awards, including all of SLJ's reporting of the ceremony and recognized titles and authors; a complete list of winners and honor books; plus links to book reviews, author interviews, blog posts, and related coverage.

A list of the winners of the 2024 Youth Media Awards.

Read about the winners and honorees of the top awards along with more news and reactions to the 2024 Youth Media Awards announcements.

The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2024 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Newbery Medal and Honors winners.

Dave Eggers thought that maybe The Eyes and the Impossible was too weird for the world. Now it is the 2024 Newbery Medal winner.

Tae Keller, who won the 2021 Newbery Medal for When You Trap a Tiger, talks about wanting to give back after the "unfathomable stroke of luck" of winning the award.

Remembering those who died this year.

Newbery-winning author Donna Barba Higuera based Petra on someone who also kept her vision loss a secret: her mother. 

The author discusses her Newbery-winning novel, the character development, research, the importance of tackling hard topics with middle grade readers, and more.

SLJ's "Heavy Medal" bloggers are still putting Freewater's unexpected Newbery win into context, as they examine 10 past winners that made an impact.

Here is the complete list of the winners at the 2023 Youth Media Awards.

The Youth Media Awards ceremony returned in person as children's literature celebrated its biggest day, honoring the best titles of the year.

The author says her novel loosely based on the Maroon communities of escaped formerly enslaved people will give young readers a connection across cultures and experiences and help restart the difficult conversation around slavery. 

The Cuban-American winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal will become the first author of Latina heritage to serve in the role.

Join bloggers Steven Engelfried and Emily Mroczek-Bayci for a conversation of Newbery contenders and a vote for the "Heavy Medal" winner.

The author and a young fan debate the finer points of Yelchin's memoir The Genius Under the Table, about growing up in Cold War Russia.

Individual award committees seek the best book that meets the criteria they've been handed. But, in the context of the times, the 2022 Youth Media Awards winners list made a collective statement to those across the country trying to ban books.

Donna Barba Higuera's Newbery win was just one of multiple awards for her novel, while Watercress, Firekeeper's Daughter, Unspeakable, and Last Night at the Telegraph Club also had a big day at the 2022 Youth Media Awards.

Here are the winners of the 2022 Youth Media Awards, announced during a virtual ceremony at ALA's LibLearnX.

Higuera's novel, which combines Mexican American folklore with science fiction, earned her the 100th Newbery Medal and the Pura Belpré Youth Author Award.

The author of the 1974 Newbery Honor novel The Dark Is Rising and 1976 medalist The Grey King describes how her World War II memories shaped her writing and why "The Dark Is Rising" books are more of a symphony than a series.

The Crossover author on growing up with poetry, winning the Newbery, and the five Black contemporary poets every young person should read. 

The Dead End in Norvelt author talks about why he reads history, his inspiration for Miss Volker, and how "the facts nourish free will."  

The author of Newbery Medal winner A Single Shard talks about the Newbery's gifts, learning what it means to be Korean American, and that fan who read her book 62 times. 

Robin McKinley, who won a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword in 1983 and the Newbery Medal in 1985 for The Hero and the Crown, discusses her introduction to the fantasy genre and her dedication to centering complex female characters.  

Christopher Paul Curtis reflects on his post-Newbery life, censorship attempts, and why his books, centering of African American history, are necessary, especially today.

Katherine Paterson, who won Newbery Medal for Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved, speaks about the impact of the prestigious award on her writing process and what book makes her most proud. 

SLJ celebrates the 100th anniversary of the award with an array of feature coverage and a series of interviews with Newbery greats.

Spinelli, known for spot-on portrayals of early adolescence, talks about unexpected rewards of the Newbery Medal, “star people,” and creating harmony with characters and story elements. 

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Kadohata reflects on winning the Newbery, writing longhand, and how her work has enriched her connection to her Japanese American parents and their experience. 

The prolific author of Newbery Medalist Crispin and Honor titles Nothing But the Truth and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle points out that protest and patriotism are woven into American history. 

Not everyone loves a winner. Match Newbery books to these terrible reviews.

DiCamillo, who won two Medals and an Honor for her books, talks about the power of the Newbery award, creating story worlds without an outline, and the benefit of carrying a notebook.

Betsy Bird reflects on the triumphs, scandals, and other notable moments in Newbery history in this downloadable illustrated time line. 

The  celebrated Newbery Medal-winning author shares thoughts on the new wave of censorship in schools, her deep respect for librarians, and dancing hamburgers in The Giver.

The Newbery Medal is as popular—and controversial—as ever. Here's what librarians have to say about it.

Research by the Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago shows that characters in award-winning children's books still skew male and light-skinned.

Illustrator Michaela Goade became the first BIPOC woman and first Indigenous illustrator to win the Caldecott medal when the 2021 Youth Media Awards were announced. Goade was one of many women creators recognized as women swept the Caldecott and Newbery medals.

Tae Keller's When You Trap a Tiger is the "book of my heart," the author says, and it earned her a Newbery Medal on a day when women swept the prestigious award.  

Here is a list of the 2021 Youth Media Awards winners announced during the virtual ceremony at the ALA Midwinter conference.

Who is the kid lit nerdiest of them all? Putting their knowledge to the test, Betsy and Travis square off in this romp through Newbery/Caldecott history.

It was a big day for graphic novels, with award recognition far beyond Jerry Craft's Newbery win for New Kid.

It was a big day for Kadir Nelson and The Undefeated. The illustrator won the Caldecott Medal for the book, written by Kwame Alexander, as well as the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and a Newbery Honor.

The first graphic novel to take home the award, New Kid is the book that Craft wrote for his 10-year-old self, who rarely saw books with which he could identify.

Jerry Craft's title named Newbery winner on a huge day for graphic novels at the 2020 Youth Media Awards. Kadir Nelson's illustrations earn the Caldecott for 'The Undefeated' by Kwame Alexander.

The winners of the 2020 Youth Media Awards, announced at the ALA Midwinter meeting in Philadephia.

It's time to celebrate children's books and reading, tell Lerner about amazing librarians, and get excited for the sequel to a Newbery winner.

Author Erin Entrada Kelly answered SLJ's questions about her Newbery-winning middle grade novel Hello Universe being adapted into a Netflix movie.