2010 Youth Media Awards

For me personally, the highlight of ALA Midwinter this year was the Youth Media Awards.  Relatively new to the industry, I really didn’t know what to expect.  Would I even be able to find a seat or does the 7:30 am start-time only draw the most enthusiastic early-birds?  Would people yell and whistle for their favorites books and film or would we remain in our seats quietly? 

To my surprise, the ballroom in which the awards were announced was only two-thirds full, but with enough energy to fill the convention hall.  I sat in the back so I could take-in the event as a whole and watch the audience’s reaction.  It wasn’t long before I was sharing in the excitement, applauding and “woo hoo-ing” for my favorite titles too. 

No small part of the thrill was to see so many titles from the Playaway catalog awarded medals and honors this year:

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Newbery Honor
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, Newbery Honor & Sibert Honor
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream, Sibert Medal
In the Belly of the Bloodhound, Odyssey Award Honor
Peace, Locomotion, Odyssey Award Honor
We Are the Ship, Odyssey Award Honor
Anything But Typical, Schneider Family Book Award
My Abandonment, Alex Award Winner (available on Playaway, April 2010)

I’m already looking forward to next year!

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Posted by Caroline Duke 

Playaway Content Development Coordinator