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25 Awards for Native Authors and Illustrators (UBC Day 23)

Be inspired by this 2024 Native Creative list – book award winners announced this week.

American Library Association Announces 2024 Winners

Newbery Honor Book “Eagle Drums,” written and illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson and published by Roaring Book Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing

Alex Awards for the best adult books that appeal to teen audiences: Alex Award winners are: “Bad Cree,” by Jessica Johns (nehiyaw/Sucker Creek First Nation), published by Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: “Rez Ball,” written by Byron Graves (Ojibwe), published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

American Indian Youth Literature 2024 Awards

American Indian Youth Literature Awards are announced in even years (e.g. 2022, 2024, 2026) and were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. Selected titles present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts.

Picture Book Winners: “Forever Cousins,” written by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian), illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné) and published by Charlesbridge

“A Letter for Bob,” written by Kim Rogers (Wichita & Affiliated Tribes), illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Picture Book Honor Books:

  • “Celebration,” by Lily Hope (Tlingit), illustrated by Kelsey Mata Foote (Tlingit), published by Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI)
  • “Contenders,” by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Arigon Starr (Kickapoo Tribe), published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House
  • “Berry Song,” written and illustrated by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation) and published by Little, Brown and Co., a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
  • “Remember,” by Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation), illustrated by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation) and published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House
  • “Rock Your Mocs,” by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian), illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Middle Grade Book: “We Still Belong,” written by Christine Day (Upper Skagit), cover art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Middle Grade Honor Books:

  • “Eagle Drums,” written and illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson (Iñupiaq), published by Roaring Brook Press
  • “Mascot,” by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) and Charles Waters, jacket illustration by Nicole Neidhardt (Navajo), published by Charlesbridge
  • “Jo Jo Makoons: Fancy Pants,” by Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe), illustrated by Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey), published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
  • “Jo Jo Makoons: Snow Day,” by Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe), illustrated by Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey), published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
  • “She Persisted: Maria Tallchief,” by Christine Day (Upper Skagit), illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint and published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
  • “She Persisted: Wilma Mankiller,” by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint and published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
  • “She Persisted: Deb Haaland,” by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian), illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint and published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Young Adult Book: “Rez Ball,” written by Byron Graves (Ojibwe), jacket art by Natasha Donovan (Métis) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Young Adult Honor Books:

  • “Warrior Girl Unearthed,” by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), jacket illustrations by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation), published by Henry Holt and Company, a trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group
  • “Funeral Songs for Dying Girls,” by Cherie Dimaline (Métis), published Tundra Books, an imprint of Tundra Book Group, a division of Penguin Random House of Canada Limited
  • “Man Made Monsters,” by Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Jeff Edwards (Cherokee Nation), published by Levine Querido
  • “Running with Changing Woman,” by Lorinda Martinez (Diné), cover design by Brittany Gene (Navajo), published by Salina Bookshelf 
  • “Heroes of the Water Monster,” by Brian Young (Navajo Nation), jacket art by Shonto Begay (Diné) and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

A bonus: 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Award

The award is given by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), a library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Established in 1998, the Charlotte Zolotow Award honors the work of Charlotte Zolotow, a distinguished children’s book editor for 38 years with Harper Junior Books, and author of more
than 70 picture books. Ms. Zolotow attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison on a writing scholarship from 1933 to 1936, where she studied with Professor Helen C. White. Ms. Zolotow died in November, 2013, at the age of 98.

The annual award is given for outstanding writing in a picture book for children in the
birth-through-seven age range published in the United States or Canada. 

2024 Winner is Just Like Grandma, written by Kim Rogers (Wichita) and illustrated by Julie Flett (Cree-Métis).

Congratulations to all the 2024 Award Winners! 

Andrea

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Andrea

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