The Eisner Winners are here!
When it comes to children’s book honors many people have heard of the Caldecott Medal, awarded annually to the “most distinguished American picture book for children”, and the Newbery Medal, awarded to an author for their “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”, but what about awards for the best comic books/graphic novels for children? This year the graphic novel, “Roller Girl” by Victoria Jamieson received a Newbery Honor. In 2014, another graphic novel, “El Deafo” was honored as well. Here in the library, the graphic novel section is a popular go-to spot for many of our young patrons. As graphic novels move more into mainstream (legitimate) children’s literature, children and parents will want to know “what’s good?”. So, I keep an eye out for the Eisner Awards.
The Eisner awards honor achievement in American comics. Over the past few years the Eisner’s have created award categories for Early Readers (for children up to age 8) and Kids (for children ages 9-12). Last weekend, this year’s award winners were announced at San Diego Comic Con. Unfortunately Over The Wall will not be published until this September, but Little Robot and many of the other nominees are available here in the children’s room!
Winner for Early Readers: Little Robot by Ben Hatke
nominees:
- The Only Child, by Guojing
- SheHeWe, by Lee Nordling and Meritxell Bosch
- Written and Drawn by Henrietta, by Liniers
- Anna Banana and the Chocolate Explosion, by Dominque Roques and Alexis Dormal
Winner for Kids: Over the Garden Wall by Pat McHale (available September 2016)
nominees:
- Baba Yaga’s Assistant, by Marika McCoola and Emily Carroll
- Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War, by Jessica Dee Humphreys, Michel Chikwanine, and Claudia Devila
- Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor, by Nathan Hale
- Roller Girl, by Victoria Jamieson
- Sunny Side Up, by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
written by Linnea Moosmann