Amina Luqman-Dawson’s “Freewater,” a middle-grade novel about a secret community of formerly enslaved people, has won the John Newbery Medal for the year’s best children’s book. Doug Salati’s “Hot Dog,” about the summertime wanderings of an urban pet, was given the Randolph Caldecott Medal for outstanding illustrations.

Ciara sings. Russell balls. But that’s not all. The successful Christian couple has now released a new children’s book, and we’re all here for it.