NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Dave Eggers is now an award-winning children鈥檚 author.
Eggers鈥� 鈥淭he Eyes & the Impossible,鈥� the great adventure of a very fast dog, has received the John Newbery Medal for the year鈥檚 best children鈥檚 book, an honor previously given to Beverly Cleary, Neil Gaiman and Lois Lowry among others. Eggers is otherwise known for such acclaimed adult books as 鈥淎 Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius,鈥� 鈥淲hat Is the What鈥� and 鈥淎 Hologram for the King.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e read just about every Newbery winner from the last 50 years or so, and my kids grew up reading them, too,鈥� Eggers told The Associated Press in an email Monday. 鈥淟ast night my kids were telling me how much that golden sticker meant to them as readers, and to have 鈥楨yes鈥� among those books we love so much 鈥� it鈥檚 just surreal.鈥�
Eggers has another book for young people, 鈥淪oren's Seventh Song,鈥� coming out next month.
The Randolph Caldecott Medal for outstanding illustration was given to Vashti Harrison鈥檚 鈥淏ig,鈥� the first time the award was given to a Black woman since it was established in 1938. Last fall, 鈥淏ig鈥� was a National Book Award finalist.
The Newbery and Caldecott medals were among the awards announced by the American Library Association.
Pedro Mart铆n's 鈥淢exikid: A Graphic Memoir鈥� won the Pura Belpr茅 Award, given to Latinx writers, for best book and for illustration. Rebecca Yarros' 鈥淔ourth Wing鈥� was among 10 winners of the Alex Award for adult book that appeal to teen readers. Other Alex recipients included Darrin Bell's 鈥淭he Talk鈥� and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's 鈥淐hain Gang All Stars.鈥�
Ibi Zoboi's 鈥淣igeria Jones鈥� won the Coretta Scott King Award for outstanding work by a Black author, and Dare Colter won the King illustration award for 鈥淎n American Story,鈥� written by Kwame Alexander.
鈥淭he Collectors,鈥� a book of short stories featuring contributions from Jason Reynolds and David Levithan among others, received the Michael L. Printz Award for young adult literature. Neal Shusterman, author of 鈥淭he Arc of the Scythe,鈥� 鈥淏ruiser鈥� and Challenger Deep" among others, has received the Margaret Edwards Award for lifetime achievement.
Hillel Italie, The Associated Press
