‘When You Trap A Tiger’ And ‘We Are Water Protectors’ Win Top Children’s Book Honors

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When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller won the 2021 Newbery medal.

Penguin Random House

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Penguin Random House

We Are Water Protectors, illustrated by Michaela Goade and written by Carole Lindstrom, won the 2021 Caldecott medal.

Roaring Brook Press

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Roaring Brook Press

Other Caldecott honor books were: A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart, illustrated by Noa Denmon and written by Zetta Elliott; The Cat Man of Aleppo, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu and written by Irene Latham & Karim Shamsi-Basha; Me & Mama illustrated and written by Cozbi A. Cabrera; and Outside In, illustrated by Cindy Derby and written by Deborah Underwood.

ALA’s Youth Media Awards include many other honors, as well, such as the Coretta Scott King Award, which was awarded to Before the Ever After, by Jacqueline Woodson.

In 2020, the Newbury was awarded to New Kid, written and illustrated by Jerry Craft. The book centers on seventh grader Jordan Banks, who transfers schools and sees privilege all around him.

Last year, the Caldecott medal went to The Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by Kwame Alexander, which focuses on the Black experience.