The 2022 American Indian Youth Literature Award winning titles were highlighted during the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards, the premier announcement of the best of the best in children’s and young adult literature. The 2022 AIYLA Jury, “Award winners and honors include the first audiobook and first Indigenous language edition. We are seeing more projects published by collaborations of Native and Indigenous, illustrators, translators, editors, narrators, and publishers. Among the submissions were Indigenous language books supported by Indigenous language editors, submissions included language keeper, language revitalization and language protector themes. Honoring a cast of Native American narrators is honoring oral stories, these are our first stories.
Awarded biennially, the American Indian Youth Literature Award identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity. Winners and Honor Books were selected in the categories Best Picture Book, Best Middle Grade Book, and Best Young Adult Book.