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- Awards for children's books
Juvenile (K-12) Collection: Awards for children's books
American awards for children's and young-adult literature
Over the years one focus of the Juvenile Collection has been award-winning books. Most of the following 40 awards should be represented in our collection by at least one copy of each winning title (the year the award began is in brackets). The American awards are listed first, followed by the Canadian and British awards, and finally two international awards. Most of these awards honor the author, illustrator or publisher of an individual work; three of them, though, are given for an author's or illustrator's body of work.
To find any of these award-winning books in our catalog, do a phrase search (using quotation marks) for the title of the award as listed below (except for the year at the end). Then narrow your results using the Collection facet, on the right side of the screen when looking at search results in the catatalog -- clicking on Juvenile Collection (or Marriott Reserve) will restrict the display to items in that collection. If there is no Collection facet, just click on Books under the Resource Type facet, and all of the results should be in the Juvenile Collection.
- AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books [2006]"honors the best in science writing and illustration for children and young people"
- American Indian Youth Literature Award [2006]"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... Authors/illustrators may win the American Indian Youth Literature Award in the categories Best Picture Book, Best Middle Grade Book, and Best Young Adult Book." Biennial.
- Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature [1993]"given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States"
- Arab American Book Awards [2007]"The Arab American Book Awards is a literary program created to honor books written by and about Arab Americans." One of the categories is children/young adult, first awarded in 2009.
- Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature [2006]"to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit"; categories include youth literature, children's literature and picture book.
- Batchelder Award [1968]"a citation awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States."
- Best STEM books [1973]"Reading science trade books is the perfect way for students to build literacy skills while learning science content. The books that appear in these lists were selected as outstanding children’s science trade books." Formerly Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12; earlier (through 2001) known as Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children and targeted at grades K through 8; from 2002 it includes high school as well.
- Boston Globe-Horn Book Award [1967]"Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction ... The winning titles must be published in the United States but they may be written or illustrated by citizens of any country"
- Caldecott Medal [1938]"awarded annually ... to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children"
- Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children [2014]"This award recognizes fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives by inviting compassion, imagination, and wonder."
- Charlotte Zolotow Award [1998]"given annually for outstanding writing in a picture book published in the United States in the preceding year"
- Children’s Book Award [Children's Book Committee] [1943]Renamed Josette Frank Award in 1998; "[t]his award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally"
- Coretta Scott King Award [1970]"Given to African American authors and illustrators for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions, the ... titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society"
- Dolly Gray Award [2000]"initiated ... to recognize authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that appropriately portray individuals with developmental disabilities"
- Flora Stieglitz Straus Award [1993]"[t]he award is presented annually for a distinguished work of nonfiction which serves as an inspiration to young people"
- Freeman Book Awards [2016]"The awards recognize quality books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to an understanding of East and Southeast Asia. Awards are given in two categories: Children’s and Young Adult".
- Giverny Award [1998]Award for a science picture book aimed at children between 4 and 8 -- "The book must teach its young reader at least one important scientific principle well, or encourage the reader toward specific science-related attitudes, pursuits, or inquiries."
- IRA Children's and Young Adults' Book Award [1975]Renamed ILA Children's and Young Adults' Book Award in 2015; for newly published authors who show unusual promise in the children’s and young adults’ book field. Awards are given for fiction and nonfiction in each of three categories: primary, intermediate, and young adult. Books from all countries, published in English.
- Jane Addams Children’s Book Award [1953]"given annually to the children's books published the preceding year that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence"
- Michael L. Printz Award [2000]"an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature"
- National Book Award [1969]Categories have changed titles over the years, but include Children's Books (with multiple subdivisions) and Young People's Literature (the current category); "an American literary prize given to writers by writers and administered by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization"
- NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children [1977]"to honor a living American poet for his or her aggregate work for children ages 3-13"; annual 1977-1982; every three years 1985-2009; every two years beginning in 2011
- Newbery Medal [1922]"awarded annually ... to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children"
- Notable Books for a Global Society [1996]"The Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list was developed to help students, teachers, and families identify books that promote understanding of and appreciation for the world's full range of diverse cultures and ethnic and racial groups. ... Each year, the Committee selects twenty-five outstanding books for grades K-12 that reflect a pluralistic view of world society. These twenty-five titles represent the year's best in fiction, non-fiction and poetry."
- Orbis Pictus Award [1990]"an annual award for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children"
- Phoenix Award [1985]"for the most outstanding book for children published twenty years earlier which did not receive a major award at the time of publication"
- Pura Belpré Award [1996]"presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth"
- Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award [2001]"awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year"
- Schneider Family Book Award [2004]"The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences."
- Scott O’Dell Award [1984]"goes to an author for a meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults. Scott O'Dell established this award to encourage other writers--particularly new authors--to focus on historical fiction"
- South Asia Book Award [2012]To call attention to "high-quality children's and young adult books ... that portray South Asia or South Asians living abroad".
- Sydney Taylor Book Award [1968]"presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience"
- Theodor Seuss Geisel Award [2006]"given annually ... to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children’s literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States during the preceding year"
- USBBY Outstanding International Books [2006]"Beginning in 2006 USBBY has selected an honor list of international books for young people. ... For the purposes of this honor list, the term 'international book' is used to describe a book published or distributed in the United States that originated or was first published in a country other than the U.S."
Canadian awards for children's and young-adult literature
- Governor General’s Literary Award [1949]Awards for French-language children's titles began in 1987; "[t]he GGs, Canada’s national book awards, honour the best of our literature in seven categories, in both official languages. These Canada Council awards celebrate and promote the excellence of Canadian writers, illustrators and translators"
British awards for children's and young-adult literature
- Kate Greenaway Medal [1956]"for distinguished illustration in a book for children"; name changed in 2022 to The Carnegie Medal for Illustration
International awards for children's and young-adult literature
Unlike most of the American, Canadian and British awards listed above, which honor individual works, the two awards listed below honor an author's or illustrator's overall contribution to the field of juvenile literature. We endeavor to have representative works by each winner in our collection.
- Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award [2003]"presented to authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and those active in reading promotion work. The award may be presented to a single recipient or to several, regardless of language or nationality ... The award is designed to strengthen children’s rights at a global level. The attention garnered by the award leads to more translations and to more children having access to high-quality literature"
- Hans Christian Andersen Award [1956]Award given every two years. Initially only authors were considered; a separate category for illustrators was begun in 1966; "to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature"
Some recent award winners
¡Vamos! Let's go eat by
Call Number: 372.412 R2453vlgeISBN: 9781328557049Publication Date: 2020-03-24Little Lobo returns to share his love of food and wrestling in this delicious follow-up to Vamos! Let'sGo to the Market from Pura Belpré Medal-winning illustrator Raúl the Third. In this new Vamos! title, Let's go eat, Little Lobo is excited to take in a show with wrestling star El Toro in his bustling border town. After getting lunch orders from The Bull and his friends to help prepare for the event, Little Lobo takes readers on a tour of food trucks that sell his favorite foods, like quesadillas with red peppers and Mexican-Korean tacos. Peppered with easy-to-remember Latin-American Spanish vocabulary, this glorious celebration of food is sure to leave every reader hungry for lunch! Jam-packed with fun details and things to see, the Vamos! books are perfect for fans of Richard Scarry and Where's Waldo?I talk like a river by
Call Number: 372.412 S4274iISBN: 0823445593Publication Date: 2020-09-01What if words got stuck in the back of your mouth whenever you tried to speak? What if they never came out the way you wanted them to? Sometimes it takes a change of perspective to get the words flowing. "I wake up each morning with the sounds of words all around me. And I can't say them all . . . " When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he'd like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice. Compassionate parents everywhere will instantly recognize a father's ability to reconnect a child with the world around him.Honeybee by
Call Number: 595.799 F5973hoISBN: 9780823442850Publication Date: 2020-02-04Take to the sky with Apis, one honeybee, as she embarks on her journey through life! A tiny honeybee emerges through the wax cap of her cell. Driven to protect and take care of her hive, she cleans the nursery and feeds the larvae and the queen. But is she strong enough to fly? Not yet! Apis builds wax comb to store honey, and transfers pollen from other bees into the storage. She defends the hive from invaders. And finally, she begins her new life as an adventurer. The confining walls of the hive fall away as Apis takes to the air, finally free, in a brilliant double-gatefold illustration where the clear blue sky is full of promise-- and the wings of dozens of honeybees, heading out in search of nectar to bring back to the hive.Can You Crack the Code? by
Call Number: 652.8 S3997caISBN: 9781681195148Publication Date: 2019-03-26A fun and interactive look at codes throughout history, from Caesar's battlefield message to contemporary hackers.Codes can carry big secrets! Throughout history, lots of good guys and lots of bad guys have used codes to keep their messages under wraps. This heavily designed, fun, flippable nonfiction features stories of hidden treasures, war-time maneuverings, and contemporary hacking while explaining the mechanics behind the codes in accessible and kid friendly forms. Sidebars call out activities that invite the reader to try their own hand at cracking and crafting their own secret messages. This is the launch of an exciting new series that invites readers into a STEM topic through compelling historical anecdotes, scientific backup, and DIY projects.When you trap a tiger by
Call Number: 813.6 K2917whISBN: 9781524715700Publication Date: 2020-01-28Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother. Some stories refuse to stay bottled up... When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal--return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice...and the courage to face a tiger.Everything sad is untrue by
Call Number: 813.6 N3313evISBN: 9781646140008Publication Date: 2020-08-25A sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. It is a powerfully layered novel that poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it? "A patchwork story is the shame of the refugee," Nayeri writes early in the novel. In an Oklahoman middle school, Khosrou (whom everyone calls Daniel) stands in front of a skeptical audience of classmates, telling the tales of his family's history, stretching back years, decades, and centuries. At the core is Daniel's story of how they became refugees--starting with his mother's vocal embrace of Christianity in a country that made such a thing a capital offense, and continuing through their midnight flight from the secret police, bribing their way onto a plane-to-anywhere. Anywhere becomes the sad, cement refugee camps of Italy, and then finally asylum in the U.S. Implementing a distinct literary style and challenging western narrative structures, Nayeri deftly weaves through stories of the long and beautiful history of his family in Iran, adding a richness of ancient tales and Persian folklore.Turtle boy by
Call Number: 813.6 W8623tuISBN: 9780593121573Publication Date: 2020-05-05Seventh grade is not going well for Will Levine. Kids at school bully him because of his funny-looking chin. And for his bar mitzvah community service project, he's forced to go to the hospital to visit RJ, an older boy struggling with an incurable disease. At first, the boys don't get along, but then RJ shares his bucket list with Will. Among the things he wants to do: ride a roller coaster; go to a school dance; swim in the ocean. To Will, happiness is hanging out in his room, alone, preferably with the turtles he collects. But as RJ's disease worsens, Will realizes he needs to tackle the bucket list on his new friend's behalf before it's too late. It seems like an impossible mission, way outside Will's comfort zone. But as he completes each task with RJ's guidance, Will learns that life is too short to live in a shell.Before the ever after by
Call Number: 813.54 W8985befISBN: 9780399545436Publication Date: 2020-09-01Jacqueline Woodson's stirring novel-in-verse explores how a family moves forward when their glory days have passed and the cost of professional sports on Black bodies. For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone's hero. As a charming, talented pro football star, he's as beloved to the neighborhood kids he plays with as he is to his millions of adoring sports fans. But lately life at ZJ's house is anything but charming. His dad is having trouble remembering things and seems to be angry all the time. ZJ's mom explains it's because of all the head injuries his dad sustained during his career. ZJ can understand that--but it doesn't make the sting any less real when his own father forgets his name. As ZJ contemplates his new reality, he has to figure out how to hold on tight to family traditions and recollections of the glory days, all the while wondering what their past amounts to if his father can't remember it. And most importantly, can those happy feelings ever be reclaimed when they are all so busy aching for the past?Telephone tales by
Call Number: 853.914 R6855fa E5shISBN: 9781592702848Publication Date: 2020-09-08Every night, at nine o'clock, wherever he is, Mr. Bianchi, an accountant who often has to travel for work, calls his daughter and tells her a bedtime story. But since it's still the 20th century world of pay phones, each story has to be told in the time that a single coin will buy. Reminiscent of Scheherazade and One Thousand and one nights, Gianni Rodari's Telephone tales is composed of many stories--in fact, seventy short stories, with one for each phone call. Each story is set in a different place and a different time, with unconventional characters and a wonderful mix of reality and fantasy. One night, it's a carousel so beloved by children that an old man finally sneaks on to understand why, and as he sails above the world, he does. Or, it's a land filled with butter men, roads paved with chocolate, or a young shrimp who has the courage to do things in a different way from what he's supposed to do. (We also have this book in the original Italian, and in French and Russian translations.)Planting Stories: the Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by
Call Number: 921 B4524deISBN: 9780062748683Publication Date: 2019-01-15An inspiring picture book biography of storyteller, puppeteer, and New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, who championed bilingual literature. When she came to America in 1921, Pura Belpré carried the cuentos folklóricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. Today, these seeds have grown into a lush landscape as generations of children and storytellers continue to share her tales and celebrate Pura's legacy. Brought to colorful life by Paola Escobar's elegant and exuberant illustrations and Anika Aldamuy Denise's lyrical text, this gorgeous book is perfect for the pioneers in your life.The rise and fall of Charles Lindbergh by
Call Number: 921 L742flISBN: 9780525646549Publication Date: 2020-02-11Discover the dark side of Charles Lindbergh--one of America's most celebrated heroes and complicated men--in this riveting biography from the acclaimed author of The Family Romanov. First human to cross the Atlantic via airplane; one of the first American media sensations; Nazi sympathizer and anti-Semite; loner whose baby was kidnapped and murdered; champion of Eugenics, the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding; tireless environmentalist. Charles Lindbergh was all of the above and more. Here is a rich, multi-faceted, utterly spellbinding biography about an American hero who was also a deeply flawed man.Mario and the Hole in the Sky by
Call Number: 921 M7222ruISBN: 9781580895811Publication Date: 2019-11-05Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth's protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned--and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.Soldier for Equality by
Call Number: 921 S1275toISBN: 9781419736827Publication Date: 2019-09-03Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh brings to life the story of a Mexican-American war hero, José de la Luz Sáenz (1888-1953), known as Luz, who believed in fighting for what was right. Although he was born in the United States, he and his family experienced prejudice because of their Mexican heritage. When World War I broke out, Luz volunteered to join the fight. Because of his ability to quickly learn languages, he became part of the Intelligence Office in Europe. However, despite his hard work and intellect, Luz often didn't receive credit for his contributions. Upon his return to the US, he joined other Mexican-Americans whom he had met in the army to fight for equality. His contribution, along with others, ultimately led to the creation of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which is the oldest Latino civil rights organization. Soldier for Equality is based in part on Luz's diary during the war. It includes a biography of Luz's later years, an author's note, a timeline, a bibliography, and an index.Paper son: the inspiring story of Tyrus Wong, immigrant and artist by
Call Number: 921 W8723leISBN: 9781524771874Publication Date: 2019-09-24Before he became an artist named Tyrus Wong, he was a boy named Wong Geng Yeo. He traveled across a vast ocean from China to America with only a suitcase and a few papers. Not papers for drawing--which he loved to do--but immigration papers to start a new life. Once in America, Tyrus seized every opportunity to make art, eventually enrolling at an art institute in Los Angeles. Working as a janitor at night, his mop twirled like a paintbrush in his hands. Eventually, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime--and using sparse brushstrokes and soft watercolors, Tyrus created the iconic backgrounds of Bambi. Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki perfectly capture the beautiful life and work of a painter who came to this country with dreams and talent--and who changed the world of animation forever.