The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is proud to announce the winners and honor recipients of the annual Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Awards.
The Golden Kites are the first children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers. The awards recognize excellence in children’s literature in six categories: Young Reader and Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers, Nonfiction Text for Older Readers, Picture Book Illustration, and Picture Book Text.
This year’s Golden Kite Awards were selected by a panel of esteemed judges including Chris Barton, Samantha Berger, Ben Clanton, Carmen Agra Deedy, Angela Dominguez, Susan Fletcher, Rita Lorraine Hubbard, Eric Lindstrom, Alex London, Yuyi Morales, Elizabeth Partridge, Adam Rex, Veronica Rossi, Nisha Sharma, and Becca Stadtlander.
The Sid Fleischman Award is for exemplary writing for children in the genre of humor.
The Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Awards will be presented during the Golden Kite Gala at the New York Winter Conference on Friday, February 7 at 7pm at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Special guest speaker James Patterson will deliver the keynote address.
The Golden Kite recipients will receive a cash prize of $2,500 plus $1,000 to be donated in their name to a non-profit of their choice. The Golden Kite Honor recipients will receive a cash prize of $500 plus $250 to be donated in their name to a non-profit of their choice.
Executive Director Lin Oliver said of the award, “The SCBWI is happy to honor writers and illustrators who achieve excellence in their work, and this year, to be able to offer financial awards to both the recipients and the charitable organizations of their choice. It was an extremely large and competitive field, and we thank our renowned panel of judges for working so hard to make these worthy selections.”
GOLDEN KITE AWARD WINNERS
Young Reader and Middle Grade Fiction:
Padma Venkatraman – The Bridge Home (Nancy Paulsen Books)
Four homeless children struggle to create a home under a bridge in Chennai, India.
Young Adult Fiction:
Julie Berry – Lovely War (Viking Books for Young Readers)
The goddess Aphrodite narrates the tale of four lovers caught in the sweep of World War I.
Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers:
Elizabeth Rusch – Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet, illustrated by Teresa Martinez (Charlesbridge)
The true story of how a Mexican American chemist solved the ozone crisis of the 1980s.
Nonfiction Text for Older Readers:
Deborah Heiligman – Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship” (Henry Holt)
Explores the tragic sinking of the SS City of Benares, an English passenger ship of children fleeing World War II.
Picture Book Illustration:
Hyewon Yum – Clever Little Witch, written by Muon Thị Van (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Young witch Little Linh contends with a new baby brother in a sweet story paired with lively, colorful illustrations.
Picture Book Text:
Ashley Benham Yazdani – A Green Place to Be: The Creation of Central Park (Candlewick)
Depicts New York City’s “vibrant jewel” from its birth in 1858 to its role as a social and environmental landmark today.
Sid Fleischman Humor Award Winner:
Remy Lai – Pie in the Sky (Henry Holt)
When Jingwen’s life is turned upside down after moving to Australia, where everyone speaks an “alien language”, he finds laughter and the meaning of home in the kitchen with his brother.
GOLDEN KITE HONOR BOOKS
Young Reader and Middle Grade Fiction:
Remy Lai – Pie in the Sky (Henry Holt)
Young Adult Fiction:
Elizabeth Acevedo – With the Fire on High (HarperTeen)
Nonfiction Text for Young Readers:
Curtis Manley – Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet, illustrated by Jessica Lanan (Roaring Brook Press)
Nonfiction Text for Older Readers:
Ian Lendler – The First Dinosaur: How Science Solved the Greatest Mystery on Earth, illustrated by C.M. Butzer (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Picture Book Text:
Kwame Alexander – The Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Versify)
Picture Book Illustration:
Frank Morrison – The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop, written by Carole Boston Weatherford (little bee books)