Author: Cynthia Kadohata

Cynthia Kadohata found out at 4:26 a.m. Monday morning that her book, Kira-Kira had been awared the Newbery Medal. USA Today reports:

Kadohata, 48, says she "jumped up and down like an idiot, like Phil Mickelson did when he won The Masters. Only he jumped once. I keep jumping."

She even woke her 17-month-old son, Sammy, "who was cranky the rest of the morning."