The 2022 CLCSC List
The 2022 CLCSC List, selected by the Awards Committee, includes some of the best books created by Southern California authors and illustrators published in 2021. The Committee considers all books written and/or illustrated by Southern California authors and illustrators, published in the year preceding the award year.
Listed alphabetically by title, bold formatting indicates which creator(s) resided in Southern California at the time of publication. Southern California is defined as San Luis Obispo, Kern, and San Bernardino counties and points south, including Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Some creators may have relocated out of Southern California since their book was published. Winners will be indicated with an asterisk (*) after the creator or creators’ name(s) when the winners are announced.
The 2022 CLCSC Award Winners will be announced on July 12th.
The 2022 CLCSC List
Picture Books
Cougar Crossing: How Hollywood's Celebrity Cougar Helped Build a Bridge for City Wildlife by Meeg Pincus, illustrated by Alexander Vidal*
Dessert Island by Ben Zhu
Geraldine Pu and Her Lunchbox, Too! by Maggie P. Chang
Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
My Love For You Is Always by Gillian Sze, illustrated by Michelle Lee
Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham*
Poultrygeist by Eric Geron, illustrated by Pete Oswald
The Rock that Fell From the Sky by Jon Klassen
We Move the World by Kari Lavelle, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
What’s Inside a Flower? by Rachel Ignotofsky
When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling, illustrated by Aaron Asis
Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn, illustrated by Victo Ngai
Middle Grade
Almost There and Almost Not by Linda Urban
Birdie’s Billions by Edith Cohn
Charlie Thorne and the Lost City by Stuart Gibbs
The House that Wasn’t There by Elana K. Arnold
Not a Unicorn by Dana Middleton
The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow by Emma Steinkellner
Real by Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard*
Starla Jean: Which Came First the Chicken or the Friendship by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by A. N. Kang
Weird Kid by Greg Van Eekhout
Willodeen by Katherine Applegate
Young Adult
Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert
From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement by Paula Yoo*
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Ostertag
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Road Trip by Melissa de la Cruz
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
We Light Up the Sky by Lilliam Rivera
Where the Road Leads Us by Robin Reul
The CLCSC Awards Committee convenes in January each year. Submissions of books published in the prior year may be sent directly to the Awards Chair for awards consideration. Please include an official submission form with each entry.
