About the Florida Awards
The Florida Book Awards, established in 2006, is an annual awards program that recognizes, honors and celebrates the literature by Florida authors and books about Florida published in the previous year. Authors must be Florida residents, except in the Florida nonfiction, cooking, and visual arts categories, where the subject matter must focus on Florida. 2016 is the first year I have put in my Libguide as it is the first year the two categories younger and older children's literature were introduced. Previous to 2016, there was only one category called Children's Literature.
Florida Book Awards Gold Medals for Young Children's Literature 2022-2020
Footprints Across the Planet by Call Number: Not in CMCWritten by Jennifer Swanson, this critically reviewed and award-winning book beautifully explains how every footprint, from the physical to the digital and the permanent to the fleeting, leaves a mark on the Earth telling a story of the past, the present, or the future. What type of imprint will YOU leave?
Isabel and Her Colores Go to School by Call Number: P AleEnglish, with its blustery blues and whites, just feels wrong to Isabel. She prefers the warm oranges and pinks of Spanish. As she prepares for class at a new school, she knows she's going to have to learn--and she would rather not! Her first day is uncomfortable, until she discovers there's more than one way to communicate with friends. This is a universal story about feeling new and making new friends.
Queen of Tejano Music: Selena by Call Number: Not in CMCThis is a moving and impassioned picture book about the iconic Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla, that will embolden young readers to find their passion and make the impossible, possible!
Florida Book Awards Silver Medals for Young Children's Literature 2022-2020
Acorn Was a Little Wild by Call Number: Not in CMCJory John's Bad Seed series meets After the Fall by Dan Santat in this charming picture book about a young acorn's grand adventure and the incredible transformation that follows.
Stompin' at the Savoy by Call Number: P CamIn his picture book debut, renowned watercolorist Yarde offers jazzy images that will dance right into your heart (Eric Carle). Full color.
FeliZ New Year, Ava Gabriela! by Call Number: Not in CMCAva's excited to say goodbye to el Año Viejo--but will her shyness keep her from joining in the celebration? Ava Gabriela is visiting her extended family in Colombia for the holidays. She's excited to take part in family traditions such as making bunuelos, but being around all her loud relatives in an unfamiliar place makes Ava shy and quiet. How will Ava find her voice before she misses out on all the New Year's fun?
Florida Book Awards Bronze Medals for Young Children's Literature 2022-2020
If Your Babysitter Is a Bruja by Call Number: Not in CMCThis bouncy, bilingual picture book is an enchanting, rollicking read-aloud for small ones with big imaginations.
Forever Home by Call Number: P ColA heart-tugging story about an abandoned dog who is looking for a forever home -- and a boy who finds him!
Stitch by Stitch by Call Number: B JonesCleve Jones' extraordinary life was pieced together, then stitched tightly into different types of quilts. From the blanket that his great-grandmother made for him as a boy, to the friends he gathered in San Francisco as young man, it is almost as if he was destined to bring the art of quilting to a new public awareness.
No bronze award given this year.
Florida Book Awards Gold Medals for Older Children's Literature 2022-2020
The Bluest Sky by Call Number: Not in CMCA boy and his family must decide whether to remain in Cuba under a repressive government or risk everything for the chance of a new beginning in this gripping story from the award-winning author of The Red Umbrella.
Concealed by Call Number: F GonWhat if you had no name, no past, and no home? Ivette. Joanna. And now: Katrina Whatever her name is, it won't last long. Katrina doesn't know any of the details about her past, but she does know that she and her parents are part of the Witness Protection Program.
Florida Book Awards Silver Medals for Older Children's Literature 2022-2020
Secrets of the Lost City by Call Number: Not in CMCJoin a real-life adventure--a scientific expedition to a remote area of the Honduran rainforest, suspected to be the ruins of the Lost City of the Monkey God.
Wild River by Call Number: Not in CMCRodman Philbrick sends readers rushing down a raging river on a life-or-death adventure when a white water rafting trip goes terribly wrong!
Florida Book Awards Bronze Medals for Older Children's Literature 2022-2020
We Own the Sky by Call Number: Not in CMCIt's Maine, 1924, and the Ku Klux Klan is on the rise. Davy and Jo Michaud have been recently orphaned. Taken in by a distant relative--a famous aviator--they are now working with a group of stunt pilots who spend their time wing walking, leaping from plane to plane, and flying through fireworks!
Golden Gate by Call Number: Not in CMCIn this second installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies returns for another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls.
Florida Book Awards Gold Medals for Young Children's Literature 2019-2016
Charlie Hernández and the Castle of Bones by Call Number: Not in CMCCharlie Hernandez still likes to think of himself as a normal kid. But what's normal about being a demon-slaying preteen with an encyclopedic knowledge of Latino mythology who can partially manifest nearly any animal trait found in nature? Well, not much.
No Gold medal given this year.
No Gold medal given this year.
Big Cat by Call Number: Not in CMCA pair of rowdy siblings wake their furry friend up to play, and proceed to carry him around the house--no matter how the cat feels about it. They love Big Cat, and it's clear Big Cat loves them, too. . . . even if he doesn't love flying or playing dress-up.
Florida Book Awards Silver Medals for Young Children's Literature 2019-2016
Stonewall: a Building. an Uprising. a Revolution by Call Number: 323.3 SanCelebrate Pride every day with the very first picture book to tell of its historic and inspiring role in the gay civil rights movement, from the author of the acclaimed Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag.
No Silver medal given this year.
No Silver medal given this year.
No Silver medal given this year.
Florida Book Awards Bronze Medals for Young Children's Literature 2019-2016
Badger's Perfect Garden by Call Number: Not in CMCMedalIt's springtime and Badger is ready to plant the perfect garden. He has spent months gathering and sorting seeds. It's been a lot of work but it's worth it. His friends Red Squirrel, Dormouse, and Weasel come to help. They weed. They rake. And finally they plant. Afterward, everyone celebrates, and Badger can already imagine the perfect rows of flowers and vegetables.
Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights by Call Number: Not in CMCProtesting. Standing up for what's right. Uniting around the common good--kids have questions about all of these things they see and hear about each day. Through sparse and lyrical writing, Rob Sanders introduces abstract concepts like "fighting for what you believe in" and turns them into something actionable.
Baby on Board by Call Number: Not in CMCLearn how animal parents love and protect their babies in this beautifully illustrated, rhyming picture book!
No Bronze medal given this year.
Florida Book Awards Gold Medals for Older Children's Literature 2019-2016
- Charlie Hernández and the Castle of Bones by Call Number: Not in CMCCharlie Hernandez still likes to think of himself as a normal kid. But what's normal about being a demon-slaying preteen with an encyclopedic knowledge of Latino mythology who can partially manifest nearly any animal trait found in nature? Well, not much.
Charlie Hernández and the League of Shadows by Call Number: F CalThe Lightning Thief meets the Story Thieves series in this middle grade fantasy inspired by Hispanic folklore, legends, and myths from the Iberian Peninsula and Central and South America. Charlie Hernández has always been proud of his Latin American heritage. He loves the culture, the art, and especially the myths.
Wandmaker's Apprentice by Call Number: Not in CMCMagical miseducation and global adventure await in this fast-paced, humorous, and imaginative fantasy. Henry Leach the Eighth and his sister, Brianna, have survived a faulty spell, defeated a wicked spellcaster, and saved the world . . . but their greatest accomplishment might be convincing Grand Wand Master Coralis to take them on as official apprentices.
The First Last Day by Call Number: Not in CMCThe magic of summer comes to life in this enchanting middle grade debut about an eleven-year-old girl who must save the future by restarting time after she realizes that her wish to relive the last day of summer may not have been such a great thing after all.
Florida Book Awards Silver Medals for Older Children's Literature 2019-2016
The Superlative A. Lincoln by Call Number: Not in CMCTallest, wisest, most studious--Lincoln was simply superlative! Get to know the personal side of Honest Abe (his LEAST FAVORITE nickname) through fresh and funny poems expressing his superlative nature.
Astronaut - Aquanaut by Call Number: 627.72 SwaJourney from the deepest trenches in the oceans to the farthest humans have ventured into space and learn what it takes to explore the extremes. You might just be surprised by how similar the domains of ASTRONAUTS and AQUANAUTS really are.
The Dollmaker of Krakow by Call Number: Not in CMCOne night a little doll named Karolina comes to life in a toyshop in Krakow, Poland, in 1939 and changes the life of the gruff, broken-hearted Dollmaker. And when the darkness of the Nazi occupation sweeps over the city, Karolina and the Dollmaker must bravely use their magic to save their Jewish friends from a terrible danger, no matter what the risks.
Return Fire by Call Number: Not in CMCThe thrilling sequel to Moving Target! When a young girl can determine the destiny of the world, the wrong choice could lead to disaster...WHO WILL CONTROL DESTINY?
Florida Book Awards Bronze Medals for Older Children's Literature 2019-2016
Amazing, Misunderstood Bats by Call Number: Not in CMCYou wouldn't want to live in a world without bats. They pollinate plants, help forests grow, eat millions of bugs, and more. Yet, bats are so misunderstood. When people think of bats, they often think of Halloween or vampires.
No Bronze medal given this year.
Who Killed Darius Drake? by Call Number: Not in CMCFrom Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick comes a delicious, fast-paced whodunit about two socially outcast boys who set out to find jewels hidden for a century--and unwittingly flush out a murderer.
Framed! by Call Number: F PonGet to know the only kid on the FBI Director's speed dial and several international criminals' most wanted lists all because of his Theory of All Small Things in this hilarious start to a brand-new middle grade mystery series.
