The American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, video, and audiobooks for children and teens at its Midwinter Meeting in Dallas, Texas on Monday, January 23, 2012. The full list can be found at this website. Here are a few of the highlights. Several library favorites made the list, but there were some disappointed Hoover Public Librarians this morning. How do you feel about this supposed best-of-the-best?

Newbery Medal
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Newbery Honors
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Caldecott Medal
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka

Caldecott Honors
Blackout by John Rocco
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Me . . . Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Printz Medal
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Printz Honors
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
The Returning by Christine Hinwood
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvery
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award
Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom by Shane W. Evans

Mildred L. Batchelder Award
Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak (translated from Dutch by Laura Watkinson)

Odyssey Award
Rotters by Daniel Kraus, narrated by Kirby Heyborne

Pure Belpre (Author) Award
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Pure Belpre (Illustrator) Award
Diego Rivera: His World and Ours illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet

Theodore Seuss Geisel Award
Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider