The Best Tweets from the 2020 Youth Media Awards

January 28, 2020 by Travis Jonker Leave a Comment

One. More. Day. Follow @ilovelibraries and #ALAyma for live tweets Monday morning as the 2020 ALA Youth Media Awards are announced. The show starts at 8 am ET. https://t.co/QjgK2vtdKM
#ALAmw20 #YMApjparty pic.twitter.com/zg5hdRjOmo
— American Library Association (@ALALibrary) January 26, 2020

Happy to watch Livestream of the awards because I could shout and make a lot of noise without startling anyone. pic.twitter.com/ofhbFRXLEG
— Teri Lesesne (@ProfessorNana) January 27, 2020

Caldecott committee. #alayma20 #alamw20 pic.twitter.com/Ye1GnWd4wU
— Kathy Ishizuka (@kishizuka) January 27, 2020

Congrats to my fellow winners & the honor authors for the American Indian Youth Literature Award! #alayma20 A shoutout to those on @Twitter, starting with multi-award winner @tracisorell, with #CharleneWillingMcManis @ThisIsMarlena @TheGalavantGirl @weshoyot @franelessac… pic.twitter.com/nbYjAIZQLy
— Cynthia Leitich Smith (@CynLeitichSmith) January 27, 2020

Tks, all, for tweets abt AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' HISTORY OF THE US FOR YOUNG PEOPLE receiving Honor from American Indian Library Association. @BeaconPressBks @rdunbaro @JeanMendoza2016

Guide & lesson plans by Dr. Natalie Martinez, here: https://t.co/I5sg0uxyAu

Please share! pic.twitter.com/k6eNvZPMRa
— Dr. Debbie Reese (tribally enrolled, Nambé Pueblo) (@debreese) January 27, 2020

A big emotional THANK YOU for the Sydney Taylor award. It means more to me than words can say. https://t.co/Z9cTXj36tJ
— RJ Palacio (@RJPalacio) January 27, 2020

Feeling pretty overwhelmed with the news this morning that THE BEST AT IT has been named a Stonewall Honor Book! So grateful to @ALALibrary and the Stonewall Book Award Jury, to my genius editor @ABBalzer, and to be in the company of all the other Honor and Award winners! pic.twitter.com/0zl9O69TlM
— Maulik Pancholy (@MaulikPancholy) January 27, 2020

Also, just gotta say: being a school librarian today means that I got to put the Stonewall Award sticker on my own book. Honor/privilege/joy/all the rest.
— Kyle Lukoff (@Shekels_Library) January 27, 2020

The other day, I got a phone call from a number I didn’t recognize. I’m so glad I answered with a polite hello because it was the jury for the Stonewall Book Award informing me of some very good news! And I was on speaker. Thank you! https://t.co/nOCTrhTU90
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) January 27, 2020

At 7:15 am I received the phone call that "The Bell Rang won a Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration. Thanks CSK…
Posted by James Earl Ransome on Monday, January 27, 2020

I called my mother. We cried. She said Baba would be proud.
— Kwame Mbalia (@KSekouM) January 27, 2020

Witness as Christina Vortia and @jewel_davis affix Coretta Scott King Book Award Medal on NEW KID stickers in the Exhibit Hall pic.twitter.com/Knx7aM0JhJ
— CrazyQuiltEdi (@CrazyQuilts) January 28, 2020

Our winner and honor books just before putting on the seals.
I can't begin to express the gratitude I feel for my fellow committee members who put in so much time and energy into this process. I hope everyone loves these books as much as we do. pic.twitter.com/7ZeC1yIY26
— Eric Carpenter (@_ericcarpenter1) January 27, 2020

I am honored! So jazzed to meet the Sibert committee peeps in Chicago this summer! https://t.co/lvBtGDlm7H
— Antoinette Portis (@aportisa) January 27, 2020

Two committee calls yesterday. The Printz. The Sibert. Not much sleep last night. Watched the announcements in case I was only dreaming. Wow. It just got real, ya'll. Looking forward to those stickers! pic.twitter.com/HmUNarqGPE
— Nikki Grimes (@nikkigrimes9) January 27, 2020

You all need to see the excitement on my son’s face when DIG was announced as the Printz winner. pic.twitter.com/yjPmcNmaDV
— Brian Wyzlic (@brianwyzlic) January 27, 2020

Thanks to everyone for the kind words about this incredible honor. Now I'm definitely never going back to writing textbooks! #alamw20 @yalsa @MacKidsBooks pic.twitter.com/kkgw78zFpM
— Steve Sheinkin (@SteveSheinkin) January 27, 2020

It’s official! I can now announce our 2020 Children’s Literature Legacy Award winner: Kevin Henkes! Thanks to my lovely Committee for all their great work and collaboration! Can you tell we had fun? #LegacyAward #ALAMW2020 #ALA ?@r_bittner? pic.twitter.com/vZY4i4MCkN
— Sylvia Vardell (@SylviaVardell) January 27, 2020

I made a little thing to express my gratitude for the Odyssey committee selecting the HEY, KIDDO audiobook as the Odyssey medalist.

I wonder how many cassette tapes we would have needed had the HEY, KIDDO audio been published when the story took place?

#yma2020 #alamw2020 pic.twitter.com/7Hn33LWuof
— Jarrett J. Krosoczka (@StudioJJK) January 27, 2020

I just won the Pura Belpré Award And I am EXPLODING with gratitude! More later when I can put words together! https://t.co/Fs5OtYrZBY
— Carlos Hernandez ???? (@WriteTeachPlay) January 27, 2020

The Pura Belpré Honor for a book in her honor. ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/Ggb5DIv2Lo
— Anika Aldamuy Denise (@AnikaDenise) January 28, 2020

I stood watching in my pajamas this morning. I’m so moved and honored, especially by the outpouring of congratulations. Thank you. Tearing up again! pic.twitter.com/FsoH3Czgse
— Rebecca Balcárcel (@r_balcarcel) January 27, 2020

Good morning, I’m humbled to receive this great honor on my first picture book. I’m honored to be in the company of some amazing illustrators and story tellers. My illustrations are empty without @isabelinpieces words and story, so this one is ours friend. And for our dads. ? https://t.co/ZTgetA9t0y
— Zeke Peña (@zpvisual) January 27, 2020

Gracias @reformanational selection committee for awarding DANCING HANDS the 2020 Pura Belpré Illustration Award!

Shout out to @zpvisual, @raulthe3rd, Carlos Aponte for their awesome books?Thanks team @margaritapoet, Reka Simonsen, @SimonKIDS @FullCircleLit #ALAyma #purabelpré pic.twitter.com/MIifJgexP6
— Rafael López (is in the studio) (@rafaellopezart) January 27, 2020

@wearealsc Children’s Literature Lecture Award winner is… #alamw20 #alayma20 pic.twitter.com/ZoxrBz8lSe
— The Horn Book (@HornBook) January 27, 2020

Sooo happy for Kevin HENKES!!! https://t.co/hzR1tTkNYa
— Lauren Castillo ? (@studiocastillo) January 27, 2020

Good gravy, thank you one and all for the very kind words today. I am in a state of shock…I thought this one might be too weird, ha ha! HUGE congrats to everyone today…and HUGE congrats to EVERYONE in this industry for all the amazing work they did this year.
— Cece Bell (@CeceBellBooks) January 27, 2020

OMG. GUESS WHO WON THE DR SUESS GEISEL AWARD????? @VikingChildrens @JimHoover17 pic.twitter.com/mi2Mz4mVIj
— James Yang (@yangmeister) January 27, 2020

??? pic.twitter.com/qRt9O19Wjb
— Alia Jones (@readitrealgood) January 27, 2020

Congratulations to @d1minter for winning the Caldecott Honor for our picture book, Going Down Home with Daddy! So proud! Love this clip of @PeachtreePub putting on the silver sticker! Cheers to all of the ALA Youth Media Award winners! https://t.co/mg250eBk1v
— Kelly Starling Lyons (@kelstarly) January 27, 2020

I am in disbelief. I'm awful online, but thank you, THANK YOU everyone who supported this book, passed on good words,…
Posted by LeUyen Pham on Monday, January 27, 2020

And then the Caldecott Committee came along… HUGE congratulations to LeUyen Pham on her Caldecott Honor for BEAR CAME ALONG. This book is a revelation. And thanks to Richard T. Morris for writing the text that inspired us all! #alayma #alamw20 pic.twitter.com/NhPgEAZgHA
— Alvina Ling (@planetalvina) January 27, 2020

My favorite part of watching the ALA awards this morning with Zoey was that she totally got it…and wanted me to read her books the whole time. ? And then…when one of her favorite books won a Caldecott honor, she got sooo excited!?? pic.twitter.com/VONer6T2wv
— Renée Kurilla (@reneekurilla) January 27, 2020

Huge thank you to this amazing #Caldecott committee! Congratulations GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY! #alamw20 #alayma20 @d1minter @kelstarly pic.twitter.com/GEDSUIdURq
— Peachtree Publishing Company (@PeachtreePub) January 27, 2020

The inside scoop is that the Caldecott committee members weren't able to connect with @KadirNelson this morning to inform him of his win. Hopefully he's heard the big news by now. #alayma20 #yma2020 #alamw20
— SchoolLibraryJournal (@sljournal) January 27, 2020

UNREAL. Thank you ALA, Caldecott, CSK, and Newberry Committees! Truly an honor! #grateful #ala #caldecott #corettascottkingaward #newberry #kadirnelson pic.twitter.com/ugaYzLHQT0
— Kadir Nelson (@KadirNelson) January 27, 2020

Kadir Nelson on his 2020 Caldecott Win for 'The Undefeated' https://t.co/8dgtf8G2ec #ALAYMA20 #Newbery #Caldecott #CSKAward pic.twitter.com/8oiAlVrU2W
— SchoolLibraryJournal (@sljournal) January 28, 2020

it was about time, and this book is magnificent. https://t.co/FGL9O5KrI9
— Yuyi Morales (@yuyimorales) January 27, 2020

So look, the deal is you want to be successful. You want to be recognized for your hard work. It feels good. So yeah,…
Posted by Kwame Alexander on Monday, January 27, 2020

Congrats to @KadirNelson for his Caldecott Medal win for #TheUndefeated! He painted this portrait of me five years ago and I always thought he made me look better than I actually was. He’s THAT GOOD. pic.twitter.com/uPldM5mnWn
— Dan Santat (@dsantat) January 27, 2020

At ALA mid-winter for the William C. Morris awards, and this happened. #yalsa #correttascottkingaward #newberryaward #williamcmorrisaward #ala pic.twitter.com/qiMbcwyh6Q
— Alicia D. Williams (@storiestolife) January 27, 2020

I don't have any words. I've been shaking and in tears since I got the call this morning. Thank you all so much. This means the absolute world to me. ??? pic.twitter.com/79vKUoopkA
— Jasmine Warga (@jasminewarga) January 27, 2020

I still can’t feel my extremities, but I am unbelievably honored, humbled to be recognized next to these searing talents, and beyond grateful to @johnmcusick @MisterTrimmer and Junyi Wu

??????????? https://t.co/Vjab5k7rJy
— Christian Heidicker (@cmheidicker) January 27, 2020

Breaking news. First time ever Caldecott and Newbery medal-winning titles are the same selections as the CSK illustrator & author winners in the same year!! (Each happened once before but different years) @CSK_EMIERT @wearealsc @alamw @alanews
— TeachingBooks (@TeachingBooks) January 27, 2020

It finally happened! A graphic novel won the Newbery!
— Benji Martin (@MrBenjiMartin) January 27, 2020

A graphic novel **WINS** THE NEWBERY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!! @JerryCraft, my hat is off to you!!!!!! #alayma #graphicnovelsFTW
— Raina Telgemeier (@goraina) January 27, 2020

Congratulations, @JerryCraft! pic.twitter.com/2fXW63CKWp
— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) January 27, 2020

Always special to have a copy WITHOUT the sticker–and SIGNED! ????? @JerryCraft #ALAyma20 (yes, I'm still in my jammies) pic.twitter.com/kRMPSEW4qv
— Linda Sue Park (@LindaSuePark) January 27, 2020

Huge congratulations to @JerryCraft for winning the Newbery Medal. Such a kind, humble, and talented man. Proud to call him a friend! pic.twitter.com/30lsVSu1s6
— Jeff Kinney (@wimpykid) January 27, 2020

Still smiling from this!!! ??? https://t.co/PII0n05vNw
— Jerry Craft (@JerryCraft) January 28, 2020

THANK YOU! (Part 1) To all of the brilliant creators who have helped people realize that graphic novels, are indeed, real books! You opened the door for New Kid to have made such an impact! @goraina @pajamadiaries @StudioJJK @CeceBellBooks @boltcity @haleshannon LeUyen Pham pic.twitter.com/pJNc3D4O3g
— Jerry Craft (@JerryCraft) January 28, 2020

THANK YOU! (part 2) To the amazing authors who were also the mirrors that allowed me to dream that a kid from #WashingtonHeights, who only read comics, could win a Newbery. @JasonReynolds83 @kwamealexander @reneewauthor @AndreaDavisPink @jbakernyc @JackieWoodson @angiecthomas pic.twitter.com/WEVy8WmyMU
— Jerry Craft (@JerryCraft) January 28, 2020

THANK YOU! (part 3) To the authors and illustrators who have shown the world that our stories are for EVERYONE!!! @nikkigrimes9 @AcevedoWrites @Meg_Medina @studiocastillo pic.twitter.com/Cs7rtIYrXw
— Jerry Craft (@JerryCraft) January 28, 2020

And the last award goes to … anyone writing and illustrating and editing your next story in our joint effort to widen the hearts and minds of young people! Congratulations to all the winners. #alamw20 #alamw2020
— Mitali Perkins (@MitaliPerkins) January 27, 2020

And now let us all exhale that breath we were holding in relief. Aaaaahhhh.

Love these winners. Wouldn't it have been neat to see Jerry Craft and Kadir Nelson on The Today Show?

*sigh* #alayma20
— Betsy Bird (@FuseEight) January 27, 2020

Well that was fun ???? Can we all take the day off now?
— Lauren Castillo ? (@studiocastillo) January 27, 2020

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About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

May 2023