FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

We Need Diverse Books Announces New Date 

for the ​2022​ Walter​ ​Dean​ ​Myers​ ​Awards​ for​ ​Outstanding ​Children’s​ Literature

February 25, 2022

Washington, DC — The​ ​seventh annual Walter Awards ​will​ ​be​ ​held on ​Thursday, June 23,​ ​2022, at 10:30 a.m. ET.  The event will be livestreamed and tentatively held in person at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC. The final decision will consider the status of COVID-19 cases in the local area and align with recommended CDC guidelines for indoor gatherings. 

The two-part event opens with a symposium on children’s literature followed by the awards ceremony. The symposium, “Open Books, Open Minds,” features the Walter Honorees, moderated by youth librarian and literacy advocate Deborah D. Taylor, and will highlight the recent bans and challenges on diverse books across the country. The Awards ceremony emcee is lauded author-illustrator Grace Lin. 

Named after legendary author Walter Dean Myers, the Walters are unique among other literary awards in that WNDB donates 2,000 copies of the winning books to schools and libraries throughout the country via the WNDB in the Classroom program. By helping children find stories they can relate to, we can foster a lifelong love of reading. Since 2014, WNDB has donated over 75,000 books across 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The ​Awards​ ​comprise two​ ​categories:​ ​Teen​ ​(​ages​ ​13-18​)​ ​and​ ​Younger​ ​Readers​ ​(​ages 9-13​).​ ​One Winner​ and two Honor Books ​in​ each ​category​ ​have​ ​been​ ​named.

2022​ ​Walter​ ​Award,​ ​Teen​ ​Category

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Henry Holt and Co.)

2022 ​Walter​ ​Honors,​ ​Teen​ ​Category

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (Dutton Books for Young Readers)

Revolution in Our Time by Kekla Magoon (Candlewick)

2022 ​Walter​ ​Award,​ ​Younger​ ​Readers​ ​Category

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca (Quill Tree Books)

2022 ​Walter​ ​Honors,​ ​Younger​ ​Readers​ ​Category

Borders by Thomas King and illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Root Magic by Eden Royce (Walden Pond Press)

The​ ​2022 ​Walter​ ​Awards​ ​Judging​ ​Committee:​ Alicia K. Long (Committee Chair, Access Services Supervisor/Librarian, State College of Florida; Bradenton, Florida), Lindsay Hall (Library Media Specialist, Alexandria City High School; Alexandria, Virginia), Gregory Lum (Library Director, Jesuit High School; Portland, Oregon), Jennifer Bonilla (Librarian, Billy Mills Middle School; Lawrence, Kansas), J. Tyler Chadwell-English (Teen Services Librarian, Urbana Regional Library, Frederick County Public Libraries; Urbana, Maryland), Ariana Hussain (Lower School Teacher Librarian, The Blake School; Wayzata, Minnesota), Rachel L. Rickard Rebellino (Instructor, Department of Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University; Columbus, Ohio).

About We Need Diverse Books. We Need Diverse Books is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that runs 12 exciting initiatives united under one goal—to combat systemic racism and oppression by creating a world where everyone can find themselves on the pages of a book. Established in 2014, WNDB strives to support and amplify diverse literature by mentoring marginalized creators, providing resources to diverse publishing professionals, and donating diverse books to schools and libraries nationwide. Learn more at diversebooks.org.

About the Walter Dean Myers Award. The​ ​Walter​ ​Dean​ ​Myers​ ​Award,​ ​also​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“The​ ​Walter,”​ ​is​ ​named​ ​for​ ​prolific​ ​children’s​ ​and young​ ​adult​ ​author​ ​Walter​ ​Dean​ ​Myers​ ​(1937-2014).​ ​Myers​ ​was​ ​the​ ​third​ ​National​ ​Ambassador for​ ​Young​ ​People’s​ ​Literature,​ ​appointed​ ​in​ ​2012​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Library​ ​of​ ​Congress.​ ​A​ ​champion of​ ​diversity​ ​in​ ​children’s​ ​books, the​ ​Walter​ ​Awards​ commemorate ​Myers’​ ​memory​ ​and​ ​his​ literary legacy,​ ​and​ ​celebrate​ ​diversity​ ​in​ ​children’s​ ​literature. 

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Press Contacts: 

Alaina Lavoie, alainalavoie@diversebooks.org