Graphic Novels for the Win
 | One of the historic announcements at the 2020 American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards was the Newbery Award. Jerry Craft’s New Kid is the first graphic novel to receive this distinction. Previous award-winning comics include: 2007 Printz award American Born Chinese, 2007 Sibert honor To Dance, 2015 Newbery honor El Deafo, 2015 Caldecott honor This One Summer, 2016 Newbery honor Roller Girl, 2016 Sibert honor Drowned City, 2017 Coretta Scott King Award March: Book Three, 2017 Excellence in Nonfiction Award March: Book Three, 2017 Printz Award March: Book Three, 2017 Sibert Award March: Book Three, 2017 Pura Belpré Award Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, 2019 Morris Finalist Check, Please!, 2019 Excellence in Nonfiction Honor, Faithful Spy (hybrid text and graphics), 2019 Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist Hey Kiddo, 2019 Excellence in Nonfiction Award The Unwanted, 2019 Sibert Honor The Unwanted. |
| 2007 was the breakthrough year with graphic novels capturing the Printz Award and a Sibert Honor. There followed an eight-year gap (EIGHT YEARS!) before graphic novels began to pop up on award lists. Two titles each were awarded in 2015 and 2016. In 2017 one book, March: Book Three garnered top honors with four ALA awards, in addition to the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and an Eisner Award. That's a lot of stickers on one cover! The momentum built in 2019 with four comics winning awards and The Unwanted received two awards. This year New Kid earned the covetous Newbery Award. Graphic novels for the win. Huzzah! |  |
Worth Noting
Sequential panel format that combines images and text offers an engaging reading experience. In addition to the recognized 2019 titles, many other delightful and informative graphic novels were published during the year. These comics feature a variety of subjects and employ innovative storytelling techniques. They are gems. Take a look.
 Young California surfer Trot and her one-eyed cat discover a fantasy underwater world. Inspired by Vietnamese folktales and Frank Baum, they are brimming with stunning design and nouveau style art. |  Historical fiction chronicling the life and legacy of African legend Shaka with fascinating insights into Zulu history. Explores the complex role of leadership and chronicles the expanded the role of women in this society. The second of two volumes. |  Middle grade tale of witchcraft and magic. It's also a story of three generations of women. Thoughtful contemplation of identity with a unique twist. Bonus: sparkles with wit and visual humor. |
 A well-researched account of Brontë's struggle to become an author is featured in The Center for Cartoon Studies reality-based series. An independent woman living in the 1880's and supporting herself is a compelling story. |  This hybrid combines distinct first person narrative text with emotion-packed images which give life to this story of immigration and sibling rivalry. Bonus: amazing mouth-watering cakes described in each chapter. |  Big Ideas That Changed the World recounts this significant historical event in graphic novel format. Excellent pacing enhances the tension culminating in the successful lunar landing of Apollo 11. |
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