On Jan. 14, the American Library Association announced the winners of its 2008 Awards, including the highly prestigious Newbery and Caldecott Medals, given for excellence in children's literature and illustration, respectively. For the first time, the Caldecott went to a novel, Brian Selznick's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." ("Hugo" was among Family.com's picks for the best children's books of 2007.)

Use this list of book picks the next time you go to the library. Then, log in and share your kids' favorite books of the past year with other parents.

Newbery Medal and Honors
The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the most distinguished contribution to children's literature.

• Newbery Medal Winner: "Good Masters, Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village," by Laura Amy Schlitz; illustrated by Robert Byrd (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
  
  Newbery Honorees:
• "Elijah of Buxton," by Christopher Paul Curtis (Read the review on Family.com.)
• "The Wednesday Wars," by Gary D. Schmidt (Read the review on Family.com.)
• "Feathers," by Jacqueline Woodson (Read the review on Family.com.)

Randolph Caldecott Medal and Honors
The Caldecott Medal is awarded each year to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

• Caldecott Medal Winner: "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," by Brian Selznick (Read the review on Family.com.)
  
  Caldecott Honorees:
• "Henry's Freedom Box," by Ellen Levine (author) and Kadir Nelson (illustrator) (Learn more on Amazon.com)
• "First the Egg," by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
• "The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain," written and illustrated by Peter Sis (Read the review on Family.com.)
• "Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity," written and illustrated by Mo Willems (Learn more on Amazon.com.)

Michael L. Printz Award and Honors
The Printz Award is given for excellence in young adult literature.

• Printz Award Winner: "The White Darkness," by Geraldine McCaughrean (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
  
  Printz Honorees:
  
• "Dreamquake," by Elizabeth Knox (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
• "One Whole and Perfect Day," by Judith Clarke (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
• "Repossessed," by A.M. Jenkins (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
• "Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath," by Stephanie Hemphill (Learn more on Amazon.com.)

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award and Honors
The Geisel Award is given to the year's best beginning reader book.

• Geisel Award Winner: "There is a Bird on Your Head!," by Mo Willems (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
  
  Geisel Honorees:
  
• "First the Egg," by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
• "Hello, Bumblebee Bat," by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
• "Jazz Baby," by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
• "Vulture View," by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Learn more on Amazon.com.)

The Odyssey Award and Honors
The Odyssey Award and Honors, for excellence in children's audiobooks, were given out for the first time this year.

• Odyssey Award Winner:"Jazz" by Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers, narrated by Vaneese Thomas and James Williams (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
  
  Odyssey Award Honorees:
  
• "Dooby Dooby Moo," by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin, narrated by Randy Travis (Read the review on Family.com.)
• "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," by J.K. Rowling, narrated by Jim Dale (Read the review on Family.com.)
• "Skulduggery Pleasant," by Derek Landy, narrated by Rupert Degas (Learn more on Amazon.com.)
• "Treasure Island," by Robert Louis Stevenson, narrated by Alfred Molina (Learn more on Amazon.com.)