The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators presented its Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Awards during a celebration held on February 2 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. The awards are given annually to recipients in six categories of children’s literature: Young Reader and Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Picture Book Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction for Older Readers, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration. Click here for a complete list of the 2018 winners, as well as this year’s Golden Kite Honor Books. We’ve rounded up some highlights from the gala and awards presentation, which included opening remarks from former First Daughter and author of She Persisted, Chelsea Clinton.
Chelsea Clinton (l.) with Lin Oliver, SCBWI executive director.
Author-illustrators and studio-mates Sergio Ruzzier and Sophie Blackall.
Martha Rago (l.), creative director at Penguin Random House, and Kirstin Hall, author and agent at Catbird Agency.
Virginia Duncan (l.), Greenwillow publisher, and agent Rosemary Stimola.
Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat with fellow gala guests.
Carole Boston Weatherford accepts her award for Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library (Candlewick), which won in the Non-Fiction for Young People category.
Deborah Heiligman discusses her book Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers (Holt/Godwin), which won in the Young Adult Non-Fiction category.
Kenard Pak accepts the award for Picture Book Illustration for Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter (Holt).
Jack Cheng speaks about his love for the children’s book community, while accepting his award for See You in the Cosmos (Dial), which won in the Middle Grade category.
Carolyn Crimi won the award for Picture Book Text for There Might Be Lobsters (Candlewick).
Elana K. Arnold accepts her award in the Young Adult Fiction category, for What Girls Are Made Of (Carolrhoda Lab).
Crystal Allen accepts the Sid Fleischman Award in the genre of children’s humor for Mya Tibbs: The Wall of Fame Game (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray).
