QUICK TAKES - Jan. 27, 2009

Neil Gaiman on Monday won the top prize for children’s literature, the John Newbery Medal, for “The Graveyard Book,” about a boy raised by a vampire, a werewolf and a witch.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal, given to the illustrator of the best picture book, went to Beth Krommes for “The House in the Night,” written by Susan Marie Swanson.

The Coretta Scott King Award for best author was given to Kadir Nelson for “We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball.” The illustrator award went to Floyd Cooper for “The Blacker the Berry.” The King prizes were founded 40 years ago to honor the works of African Americans.