The Spanish Language Affiliate of the Children’s Book Committee (CBC) at Bank Street College of Education has announced the medalists of the Premio, Mejor Libro Infantil/Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award.

The 2022 Gold Medalist is Mis dos pueblos fronterizos por David Bowles, ilustrado por Erika Meza (Kokila); My Two Border Towns by David Bowles, illus. by Erika Meza (Kokila).

“It is a loving and unique portrayal of the border that is beautiful, touching and empowering,” the jury said. ''The illustrations are spot on, so detailed, so authentic and so child-friendly.”

Three books were named silver medalists:

• Evelyn Del Rey se muda por Meg Medina, ilustrado por Sonia Sánchez (Candlewick)
  Evelyn del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez (Candlewick)
• Pulpo Guisado por Eric Velasquez (Holiday House)
  Octopus Stew by Eric Velasquez (Holiday House)
• Sharuko: El arqueólogo peruano Julio C. Tello por Monica Brown, ilustrado por Elisa Chavarri (Lee & Low)
  Sharuko: Peruvian Archeologist Julio C. Tello by Monica Brown, illus. by Elisa Chavarri (Lee & Low)

First presented in 2020, the biennial award recognizes the most outstanding Spanish language picture books written or translated in the previous two years. It is chosen by Spanish-speaking Children’s Book Committee members, Bank Street alumni, members of the New York Public Library, and the City University of New York system. This year, REFORMA national president and Senior Denver Public Librarian Nicanor Diaz was a guest juror.

“This is my first time being a judge for the Premio, Mejor Libro Infantil and it's been such an honor and a wonderful rewarding experience,” Diaz said in a statement announcing the award. “I've learned so much from the other panelists and have had a chance to read some amazing work. As a public librarian, I find it crucial that our shelves contain books that represent the rich diversity of our communities including books in Spanish that celebrate and preserve our culture.”

Acceptance videos from this year’s honorees will be posted on the Center for Children’s Literature’s Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award webpage in February. Because of the pandemic, there will be no in-person award ceremony.

All of the contenders for the award were nominated from starred books on the Children’s Book Committee’s Los mejores libros infantiles en Español/The Best Children's Picture Books of the Year in Spanish, according to Cynthia Weill, director of the Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature. In January, the Spanish Language Affiliate released the 2022 Los mejores libros infantiles en Español/The Best Children's Picture Books of the Year in Spanish.