Each year on a chilly January morning — this year it’s January 27 — a select group of authors and illustrators receive an early morning phone call from a committee of excited librarians, naming them as the newest recipient of one of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards, including the prestigious Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Awards. At that same moment, scores of librarians attending ALA's Midwinter Meeting — this year it’s in Philadelphia — will be lining up to get a good seat at the press conference where the winners are announced.
It's the most highly anticipated event of the year in the children's book world. Winning an ALA Youth Media Award often translates into a bump in sales for the winning titles and a flurry of press and media attention for the book's author. The awards serve as a time-honored guide for parents and educators interested in providing children and teens the very best books and media.
A live webcast and Facebook livestream are available for everyone who can't be in Philadelphia for the 2020 announcements, and we're excited to have you watch online with us. Join us for the 2020 Youth Media Awards Pajama Party on Monday, January 27 by sharing your experience on social media with the hashtag #YMApjparty. As in previous years, we'll be awarding prizes!
- Best Pajamas will win a $50 gift card for the ALA Store and an official certificate of bragging rights.
- Best Snack or Beverage will win hot chocolate and a set of YMA mugs and an official certificate of bragging rights.
- Best Reaction Shot as the winners are announced will win a $100 Visa gift card and an official certificate of bragging rights.
- Best Group/Classroom Shot will receive a selection of Youth Media Award-winning books and an official certificate of bragging rights.
Rules: To be entered in the 2020 YMA Pajama Party Promotion, post your photos or videos to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #YMApjparty from 7:00 a.m. ET on January 27 through 11:59 p.m. ET on January 28. Entries can also be posted to the I Love Libraries Facebook page. Promotion is open only to residents of the United States. Prizes cannot be shipped to areas outside the United States. Decision of the judge(s) is final.
Check out the 2019 winners!
Best Reaction
@mrsmegtreg's students LOOVVVEEEEE NEWBERY BOOKS!!!!!