“So, what are your favorites?”

That’s the question everyone asks each other at ALA Midwinter. The day before the Youth Media Awards were announced, I told a friend I was hoping for a happy surprise or two.

Now that the medals have been distributed, I want to talk about four individual moments that made me raise the ol’ eyebrows – almost always in a good way.

So, from least surprising to most surprising, here we go…

No Mo

This one isn’t a happy surprise, just a surprise. I have been told by folks that Mo Willems has won a Geisel Honor or Medal every year he has released an Elephant & Piggie book. In true irresponsible blogger form, I refuse to research this, but I have been told, I have been told. This year, no Mo (although – ha – the Geisel winning book is Don’t Throw it to Mo!). If I’m looking at this through my “the universe has a plan” lens, it’s because he will be winning the Geisel Medal next year for the final E&P, The Thank You Book. Big Question: does the universe have a plan? Please advise. The Geisel announcement also led to a side surprise. You see, I was feeling pretty good about my predictions this year and none of the came true. None! I listed 11 books! What the heck?! I’m going on record as saying the T.S.G. (how cool/really lame people refer to the Theodore Seuss Geisel) might just be the hardest award to predict.

Trombone Shorty Caldecott/Coretta Scott King

This is a classic case of “Hear the announcement. Pause. Think about the book. Get a big smile. Start nodding your head, smiling and saying ‘yes’.” This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for when I said “happy surprise” – a great book that was not receiving much buzz in the lead-up to the awards. This is why buzz is dumb. It’s also what makes the Youth Media Awards fun. Great to see.

A Newbery Honor for Roller Girl

This was probably my favorite book of 2015, and I wasn’t expecting to see it on Monday morning. Hence, of all the awards announced on Monday, this one made me the happiest. Instant standing O. I love that two Newbery committees in a row have named graphic novels for honors (last year, as if we could forget, was Cece Bell’s El Deafo). It makes you start to think this might become a regular thing. I’d love it if this proves to be the case.

A Picture Book Wins the Newbery Medal

In terms of surprise-iness, nothing can top a picture book winning the Newbery Medal. Hands-down, the shocker of the day was Last Stop on Market Street winning Newbery. I love this pick for two reasons:

1. I love unexpected choices (see above: hoping for a happy surprise)
2. It’s a great pick. The writing is clearly distinguished.

(de la Peña recently wrote a piece for NPR about his life and work – it’s worth reading.)

Anything surprise you that I didn’t talk about?