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'Merci Suárez' Wins Newbery Medal, and 'Hello Lighthouse' Draws Caldecott

The world of children's books gave out its most prestigious prizes Monday at the American Library Association's conference in Seattle. Works by Meg Medina and Sophie Blackall won the headline honors.
An excerpt of Sophie Blackall's Caldecott-winning <em>Hello Lighthouse.</em>

Updated at 2:32 p.m. ET

Sure, we may be mired in the dark days of winter, but you wouldn't know it by the splash of color that saturated the American Library Association's annual award presentation Monday — from the pastels on the pages of the picture books, to the two bronze medals that represent some of the highest honors in children's literature.

Meg Medina's won this year's Newbery Medal, awarded for the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." Meanwhile, Sophie Blackall's won the Caldecott Medal, which goes to the artist behind the "most distinguished American

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