SCBWI Presents the Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Award Winners

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators presented its annual Golden Kite Awards and the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor on Friday, February 23. The awards honor the best in children’s books and young adult fiction, with winners and honor book recipients announced in seven categories. The winner in each category received $2,500 plus an additional $1,000 to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice. Each honor recipient received $500 plus an additional $250 to donate.

All books by the SCBWI Golden Kite finalists, honors, and winners are available to purchase at: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWI

Sid Fleischman Award for Humor

WINNER:

To Catch a Thief, written by Martha Brockenbrough (Scholastic Press)

Martha’s donation: We Need Diverse Books

HONOR:

Fenway and the Loudmouth Bird, written by Victoria Coe, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers)

Victoria’s donation: Read to Them

Picture Book Text

WINNER:

Nell Plants a Tree, written by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Daniel Miyares

(Balzer + Bray)

Anne’s donation: The SAFE Alliance

HONOR:

Salat in Secret, written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Hatem Aly (Random House Studio)

Jamilah’s donation: Share Food Program

Picture Book Illustration

WINNER:

Big, illustrated and written by Vashti Harrison (Little Brown Books for Young Readers)

Vashti’s donation: An Open Book Foundation

HONOR:

Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider, illustrated and written by Jessica Lanan (Roaring Brook Press)

Jessica’s donation: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers

WINNER:

Tomfoolery: Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children's Books, written by Michelle Markel, illustrated by Barbara McClintock

(Chronicle Books)

Michelle’s donation: The Andrew Goodman Foundation

HONOR:

Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage, written by Lisa Rogers, illustrated by Il Sung Na (Anne Schwartz Books)

Lisa’s donation: The Center in Asbury Park

Nonfiction Text for Older Readers

WINNER:

The 21: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the U.S. Government Over Climate Change, written by Elizabeth Rusch (Greenwillow Books)

Elizabeth’s donation: Our Children’s Trust

HONOR:

Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, written by Dashka Slater 

(Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers)

Dashka’s donation: National Black Women’s Justice Institute

Middle Grade Fiction

WINNER:

The Lost Year, written by Katherine Marsh (Roaring Brook Press)

Katherine’s donation: World Central Kitchen  #ChefsForUkraine

HONOR:

A First Time for Everything, written by Dan Santat (First Second)

Dan’s donation: We Need Diverse Books

Illustrated Book for Older Readers/Graphic Novels

WINNER:

Curlfriends (New in Town), written and illustrated by Sharee Miller (LB Ink)

Sharee’s donation: Hudson Pride Center

HONOR:

Super Boba Café, written and illustrated by Nidhi Chanani 

(Abrams Books for Young Readers)

Nidhi’s donation: Children’s Book Project

Young Adult Fiction

WINNER:

The Blood Years, by Elana K. Arnold (Balzer + Bray)

Elana’s donation: Planned Parenthood

HONOR:

This Town is on Fire, by Pamela N. Harris (Quill Tree Books)

Pamela’s donation: Virginia Down Syndrome Association