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Jillian Tamaki, Jon Klassen receive 2015 Caldecott Honors

The American Library Association and its affiliates announced the winners of the 2015 Book and Media awards yesterday, including the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medals, which recognize illustrators of the previous year’s most distinguished picture books.

Two Canadian artists earned Caldecott Honors. Jillian Tamaki was recognized for This One Summer, created with her cousin, author Mariko Tamaki (Groundwood Books). Jon Klassen claimed a silver medal for his second collaboration with Mac Barnett, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole (Candlewick Press), a repeat of the duo’s 2013 honour for Extra Yarn (Candlewick Press).

Jillian Tamaki gains the distinction of having illustrated the first graphic novel to earn a Caldecott medal, and the work of both Tamakis was recognized in the form of a Printz Honor silver medal for literary excellence in a work for young adults. The book had already won a Governor General’s Literary Award for children’s illustration (and a spot on Q&Q’s books of the year list).

Groundwood celebrated more good news with the announcement that debut author Christine Baldacchino and illustrator Isabelle Malenfant received a Stonewall Award–Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature honour for their picture book, Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress (another Q&Q book of the year pick). The award is bestowed by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) of the ALA, in recognition of “exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.”