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Immediate release

Macey Morales

deputy director

Communications and Marketing Office

American Library Association

(312) 280-4393

Chicago-The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Schneider Family Book Award, which recognizes authors or illustrators who provide artistic expressions of disability experiences for children and young people. The award was announced during the ALA Midwinter Virtual Conference of the American Library Association from January 22nd to 26th, at 8 am American Standard Time. 

Recipients are divided into three categories: young children (0-8 years old), middle grades (9-13 years old) and teenagers (14-18 years old). The winner will receive a prize of $5,000 and a framed plaque.  

This is the first year of two honours awarded to young children by the Schneider Prize.

"All the way to the top: how a girl fighting for the disabled changed everything," written by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali, Jenny Foreword by Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, published by Sourcebook. Children, is the honorary title of the young children of the Schneider Family Book Award.  

"Itzhak: The Boy Who Loves the Violin" by Tracy Newman, branded by Abrams, branded by Abrams, branded by Abigail Published by Abigail Halpin and published by Abrams Books for Young Reader, it is the honorary title of young children of the Schneider Family Book Award.  

"I speak like a river" by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith

Published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, won the Toddler Award.

The poet and first picture book author Jordan Scott and the award-winning illustrator Sydney Smith tell the story of a boy’s own voice. The boy felt lonely because of stuttering. communicate with. On the day of the bad speech, his father took him into the river to help him understand the beauty of his voice.

“The personal and powerful exploration of stuttering left a deep impression on the committee. This book combines high-quality writing, well-matched illustrations, and accurate depictions of disabilities,” said Award co-chairs Susan Hess and Kellee Moye.

This is the first year that the Schneider Award has won two intermediate honors.

"Hurry up, Vivy Cohen!" Written by Sarah Kapit, "Dial Books for Young Readers" published by Penguin Young Readers (Penguin Random House Limited) A department of the responsible company)

"When the Stars Are Dispersed" by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson, colored by Iman Geddy, and Published by "The Dial Book of Young Readers", this book is the brand of Penguin Young Readers under Penguin Random Reader Co., Ltd.

"Show me a logo" by Ann Clare LeZotte, stamped by Scholastic, Inc., and "Intermediate Achievements" published by Scholastic Press, won the award.

Deaf librarian and author Ann Clare LeZotte tells the story of Mary Lambert, a young deaf girl who was in Martha in 1805 I grew up on Vineyard, where 25% of the population is deaf. Before a scientist came to study the source of deafness, Mary felt safe in her community.

Award co-chairs Susan Hess and Kellee Moye said: "The committee sees this book as a love for a writer who wants to represent the deaf community and its historical importance in Martha's Vineyard."

The committee did not choose the "Schneider Family Book Award" youth honorary title this year.

"This is my brain in love" written by IW Gregorio and published by Little Brown and Company, a division of Hatchette Books, won the Youth Award.

IW Gregorio's second YA novel is told in a dual narrative, a story of its own voice that explores the stigma of mental illness, race and culture, and interpersonal relationships. High school students Jocelyn Wu and Will Domenici found romance while trying to prevent Jocelyn's family restaurant from going bankrupt. They worked hard to save everything, including their relationship.

Award co-chairs Susan Hess and Kellee Moye said: “The committee believes that this well-written novel reveals the complexity of continuous mental illness and highlights anxiety And the challenges and hopes of depressed teenagers."

The 2021 committee members include New York City School Librarian Susan Hess (co-chair), retired in Osprey, Florida; Kellee Moye (co-chair), Hunter's Creek Middle School librarian in Winter Park, Florida (joint Chair); Cathy Andronik, Brien McMahon High School (retired), Norwalk Public Library, Bridgeport, Connecticut; Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, New York Rachel Payne, Service Coordinator; Sharon Powers, Media Specialist at Lake Nona Middle School in Orlando, Florida; Pamela Jo Renfrow, School Librarian, Memphis, Tennessee; Mary-Kate Sableski, Assistant, Dayton University, Dayton, Ohio Professor; Scot Smith, a librarian at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Alyson Beecher, an educator from the Glendale Unified School District in Glendale, California (of course).

For more information about the Schneider Family Book Award and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit

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The American Library Association (ALA) is the most important national organization that provides resources to inspire libraries and information professionals to transform their communities through basic programs and services. For more than 140 years, ALA has been a trusted spokesperson for libraries, advocating the role of the industry and libraries in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org. To contribute to the work of supporting ALA, please visit ala.org/donate.

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Schools in the Hamilton-Venham District School District are looking for ways to be creative and insist on face-to-face, hands-on teaching.

At Booker Elementary School, the gymnasium is a kindergarten classroom. The music room at Winthrop Elementary School now accommodates first-year students; the gallery at Cutler Elementary School is being used as a library. Tables and tables have been stored wherever there is available space. 

On January 19th, HWRSD welcomed all kindergarten and first-year students to learn in person, the first time in 10 months.

Mary Beth Banios, the head of the school, said: “This is not just about bringing children back to school, but also putting them in an environment that can bring a high-quality educational experience.” “We hope. Make sure they have enough space to move around and work in small groups, while sticking to the 6-foot social distancing limit recommended by the CDC."

These three elementary schools have almost maximized every inch of space to provide a hands-on learning experience for about 200 kindergartens through the first grade students of these three elementary schools. Winthrop's gymnasium is being doubled as a storage area and school library. Tables, chairs, and cafeterias are stacked in Cutler Stadium.

Cutler's principal, Jenn Clifford, said: "We are trying to be flexible and creative." "We are solving problems every day. All aspects of the school are changing this year."

Winthrop Principal Carolyn Shediac (Carolyn Shediac) said that with the help of volunteers from Hamilton-Vonham High School, the custodians set up additional coat racks in the corridors. All are working to move furniture and build new classroom areas.

Winthrop’s cafeteria and auditorium have now been combined into a temporary gym, while the stage area is used for tuition.

Buker principal Ben Schersten said that efforts have been made to make larger spaces feel like regular classrooms by using partitions and cushions. All in all, "Everyone is happy to be here," he said.

Students have to go to school for four days, and Wednesdays are reserved for special subjects such as sports, art, and music for distance learning.

Banios pointed out that not all classrooms are large enough to accommodate a class, while social distancing can be observed, and the public space in each building is very limited. Banios called the student’s return a “step in the right direction”. ".

"The goal is to get all the students back," Banos said. "Children want to go to school, parents want it, and teachers want it. We will learn from this experience and will continue to look for opportunities we can find to attract more students back to China."