This is the time of the year when the American Library Association announces their big awards. See   all the winners:

http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/january2009/ymawrap.cfm

We are fortune to have many of the winners in our collection.  

I especially like the Caldecott Honor book A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever written and illustrated by Marla Frazee and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers. “Are You Ready to Play Outside?” written and illustrated by Mo Willems.

To get an understanding of winning the Newberry Award for the Graveyard Book, check out Neil Gaiman's reaction to the early phone call on his blog:

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/01/insert-amazed-and-delighted-swearing.html