The 2021 Mitten Award Work Group scrutinized more than 180 picture books to select this year's Top Ten Titles and winner. Collectively, work group members devoted more than 265 hours to reading and evaluating picture books to select the titles published in 2020 that best meet the criteria as books of especially commendable quality that exhibit venturesome creativity and reflect and encourage children’s interest in a unique or innovative fashion.
2021 Mitten Award Work Group
Chair: Kimberlee Gardner, Rochester Hills Public Library
Chair: Angela Warsinske, Rochester Hills Public Library
Adrienne Baker, Herrick District Library
Ashley Lehman, Orion Township Public Library
Kirsten Malzahn, Novi Public Library
Ashlee McClaughry, Bloomfield Township Library
Kathleen Merucci, Salem-South Lyon District Library
Everett Pine, Ferndale Area District Library
Lisa Rodkey, Kent District Library
Keegan Sulecki, Troy Public Library
2021 Mitten Award Winner
The winner of the 2021 Mitten Award is If You Come to Earth, written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall and published by Chronicle Books.
In If you Come to Earth a child writes a letter to an imagined alien describing the ups and downs of planet earth and humankind.The Mitten Work Group found this title award-worthy because it is an extremely interesting book that appeals to a wide age group with a unique plotline and detailed pictures that truthfully examine the nature of the world. This year's work group persevered through the challenges of the pandemic and wholeheartedly chose a winner to match the group's sentiment.
The winners and honor books of the 2021 Youth Literary Awards were announced on March 12, 2021, at Spring Institute for Youth Services 2021 during the Literary Awards Lunch Break. Watch the video announcement:
e are excited to announce the winners of the 2021 Mitten, YouPer and Thumbs Up! Awards! The awards selection group members worked throughout the year spending thousands of hours reading, reviewing and ranking hundreds of books to determine the top titles published in 2020. Watch the announcement below!
2021 Mitten Award Top Ten Titles
The Barnabus Project by Eric Fan, Terry Fan, Devin Fan
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Crossings by Katy Duffield
Hike by Pete Oswald
If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
Lift by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
Salma the Syrian Chef by Danny Ramadan, illustrated by Anna Bron
Snail Crossing by Corey R. Tabor
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal
The Barnabus Project by Eric Fan, Terry Fan, Devin Fan
