One of the highlights of the ALA Midwinter Conference each year is the Youth Media Awards Press Conference. The announcements at this Press Conference include the winners of the Caldecott, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, the Newbery, the Printz, and more!
Early morning
It’s the morning of the announcements, and librarians at the midwinter conference are waking up and getting ready to take a bus, or a cab, or walk to the San Diego Convention Center to hear — in person — which books, videos, and audiobooks for children and young adults have been selected as this year’s “best of the best.”
7:15 am
A growing crowd of librarians gather outside the closed doors of Ballroom A-B-C where the announcements will be made; many have their morning coffee or tea in hand. The conversations on everyone’s lips… “What do you think will win?” and “Wasn’t this a great year for children’s and YA books?”
7:30 am
The doors open. Hundreds of excited librarians stream in to find their seats. Seating is reserved at the front of the room for the committees who worked so hard to select the winners of these prestigious awards. Four VERY large video monitor screens are at the very front of the room; with such a large crowd, it’s the only way to ensure that everyone in the room will be able to hear and see the announcements.
7:45 am
The lights seem to dim, a hush falls over the room, and The American Library Association’s 2011 Youth Media Awards press conference begins.
The excitement and positive energy in the room is almost palpable. As each award is announced, the audience reacts; always with applause, sometimes with spontaneous shrieks, “Woo-Hoo’s!” or standing ovations. After each award is announced, the responsible committee is asked to stand and receives much deserved recognition and applause.
The program runs smoothly through all the Awards and culminates with announcements of the winners of the two oldest children’s book awards, the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children, awarded to A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by Philip C. Stead, and the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature awarded to Moon over Manifest written by Clare Vanderpool.
shortly before 9:00 am
The Press Conference ends, but the excitement in the room continues. Many people turn to their neighbor to talk about the winners, or rush to their iPads, laptops, & phones to notify colleagues, friends, and family about which books have been selected as this year’s winners.
Join in the excitement and check out the complete list of winners announced this morning; available online at ala.org/yma.