Caldecott, Newbery Awards for Children’s Books Announced

A series of vignettes set in Depression-era rural Illinois about a 15-year-old girl and her scheming grandmother took top honors in children’s literature Monday from the American Library Assn.

“A Year Down Yonder,” by Richard Peck, won the association’s 2001 John Newbery Medal.

David Small, illustrator of “So You Want to Be President?” won the Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book, the association’s other top honor.

Small’s illustrations, a mix of watercolor, ink and pastel chalk, suggest political cartoons, producing wry personal portraits of the presidents.

The book, called a “spiffy presidential history” by Booklist, was written by Judith St. George.

“A Year Down Yonder,” the sequel to Peck’s Newbery Honor-winning “A Long Way From Chicago,” tells the story of 15-year-old Mary Alice, who is sent from Chicago to live for a year in 1937 with her grandmother after Mary Alice’s father loses his job. Mary Alice soon finds herself involved in her grandmother’s many oddball schemes.

The Horn Book, which reviews children’s books, called the stories “wise, exuberant and slyly heartwarming.”

Peck, 66, who lives in New York, has written more than 20 novels for teenagers. His first book, “Don’t Look and It Won’t Hurt,” published in 1972, was adapted into the 1992 film “Gas Food Lodging.”

He is also the author of four novels for adults.

In an interview Monday, Peck said, “My cause and my joy is writing for younger teens--middle school is the age at which we lose most people to reading. . . . I want to write to encourage reading through that time, because neither parents nor schools are doing the job. This is the age at which parents stop attending PTA meetings, and I want to be there, to encourage reading.”

Peck said he makes sure all of his books include older characters.

“This is a generation of young people who no longer have to write thank-you notes for gifts from grandparents, and so they rob themselves of their own roots. I give them elders--an eccentric cast of strong grandparental figures.”

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In other honors announced at the ALA’s midwinter meeting:

Four Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Hope Was Here,” by Joan Bauer; “The Wanderer,” by Sharon Creech; “Because of Winn-Dixie,” by Kate DiCamillo; and “Joey Pigza Loses Control,” by Jack Gantos.

Three Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888,” illustrated by Christopher Bing, written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer; “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type,” illustrated by Betsy Lewin, written by Doreen Cronin; and “Olivia,” written and illustrated by Ian Falconer.

Jacqueline Woodson, author of “Miracle Boys,” and Bryan Collier, illustrator for “Uptown,” were named the 2001 winners of the Coretta Scott King Awards honoring black authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults.

The Newbery Medal was named for 18th century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of 19th century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.