Aesop Prize Winners and Aesop Accolade Lists
The Children's Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society. For outstanding books incorporating folklore.
Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature
The Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP). Given in recognition of a U.S. work in English or Spanish which "authentically and engagingly presents the experience of individuals in Latin America or the Caribbean, or of Latinos in the United States."
American Booksellers Book of the Year, Children's Prize
Presented each year to the book voted by members of the American Booksellers Association as the one they most enjoy recommending. The ABBY was launched in 1991; the children's award was added in 1993.
American Library Association Children's Literature Awards
Winners are announced each year on the Monday of the American Library Association Mid-Winter Meeting (January/February). The Award presentation takes place at the ALA Conference (June/July).
Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children
Established 1977. National Council of Teachers of English. Presented once every three years to a poet in recognition of an entire body of work.
The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
Winners and Honor Books are announced each fall at the New England Library Association conference. One of the things that makes this list different from the Newbery and Caldecott lists is that books published in the U.S. but written by non-Americans are eligible. Since 1976, it has also included an award for nonfiction.
Caldecott Medal Books
Established 1938. A medal presented annually to the illustrator of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States in the preceding year. The recipient must be a citizen or resident of the United States. The winner is announced at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting (January/February), and the award is presented at the ALA summer conference.
Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College
Three awards: the Josette Frank Award (formerly the Child Study Committee Children's Book Award) for fiction, the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award for nonfiction, and the Claudia Lewis Award for poetry. Presented to works for children or young people that "deal realistically and in a positive way with problems in their world."
The Christopher Award
Established 1949. Winners in the Books for Young People category of the Christopher Awards, which are presented each February to works which "which affirm the highest values of the human spirit."
Coretta Scott King Award
Established 1969. Designed to commemorate the life and work of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination in continuing to work for peace and world brotherhood. Presented annually to an African American author and an African American illustrator for an outstandingly inspirational and educational contribution published during the previous year. The separate award for illustrator was added in 1979.
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America, Kids Love a Mystery brings together authors of juvenile and young adult mysteries with children, parents, teachers, and librarians in a nationwide celebration of mystery writing and reading that fosters literacy, deductive reasoning, and critical thinking skills.
Giverny Award
First presented in April 1998 to the "Best Children's Science Picture Book."
The Golden Kite Award
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has just announced that The Golden Kite Awards, given annually to members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators by their peers to recognize excellence in children's literature. Beginning with the 2006 competition, grant cash prizes of $2,500 will be given to author and illustrator winners in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration.
Jane Addams Book Award
Presented to the book that most effectively promotes the cause of peace, social justice and world community. Announced each year on September 6, Jane Addams' birthdate.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Presented once every three years to an author or illustrator for a body of work.
Margaret A. Edwards Award for Outstanding Literature For Young Adults
For lifetime achievement in writing for teenagers.
Michael L. Printz Award
The Printz Award is given by the American Library Association to the author of a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
Awarded for outstanding translated book for children. The award goes to the U.S. publisher responsible for the English-language edition of the work.
National Book Award for Young People's Literature
The Young People's category was added in 1996. This list also includes the Children's Books categories of the National Book Award/American Book Awards 1969-1983. Presented each year in November.
Native American Youth Services Literature Award
These guidelines for the American Indian Children's Book Award were created as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. “Books selected to receive the award will present Native Americans in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts”
Newbery Medal Books
Established 1922. A medal presented annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in the United States in the preceding year. The recipient must be a citizen or resident of the United States. The winner is announced at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting (January/February), and the award is presented at the ALA summer conference.
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Established in 1990 to promote and recognize excellence in nonfiction writing. The award is named in commemoration of the book Orbis Pictus (The World in Pictures) by Johann Comenius. It was originally published in 1657, and is considered to be the first informational book written specifically for children. Presented by the National Council of Teachers of English.
Pura Belpré AwardThe Belpre Award medal honors a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
The Sibert Medal is given by the American Library Association to the author (including co-authors and author-illustrators) of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year.
Schneider Family Book Awards
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. Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0–10), middle school (age 11–13) and teens (age 13–18). (Age groupings are approximations). The book must emphasize the artistic expression of the disability experience for children and or adolescent audiences. The book must portray some aspect of living with a disability or that of a friend or family member, whether the disability is physical, mental or emotional. Donated by Dr. Katherine Schneider.
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Presented for a work of historical fiction published by a U.S. publisher and set in the New World.
Theodor Seuss Geisel AwardThe Theodor Seuss Geisel Award medal honors 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.
Missouri and its Neighbors
Regional Awards
Missouri Mark Twain Book Award
The Mark Twain Award is a children's choice award selected byMissouri students in grades four through eight. It is sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Librarians and is presented annually.
Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award
The book to receive this award will be selected in April by students in kindergarten, first, second, and third grades.
Arkansas Charlie May Simon Award
The Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award for children's literature has been presented annually since 1971 to an author whose book has been selected through a vote taken by Arkansas school children in grades four, five and six. The purpose of the award is to promote better reading for children and to recognize Mrs. John Gould Fletcher, an outstanding Arkansas author who wrote under the pen name Charlie May Simon
Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award
Chosen by grade 4-8 students in Illinois schools, from a list of nominees.
Iowa Children's Choice Award
Books chosen for the master list are those written by American authors within the last five years. Titles are fiction or nonfiction, with a wide range of interests and reading levels appropriate for children in grades three through six. No textbooks are included.
Iowa Teen Award
Early teens in Iowa, grades 6-9, are encouraged to participate in Iowas Teen Award program. Participating students read books from an annual list of books and vote for their favorite title.
Kansas William Allen White Book Award
Established and directed by Emporia State University, founded in 1952 by the late Ruth Garver Gagliardo, honors the memory of one of the state’s most distinguished citizens by encouraging the boys and girls of Kansas to read and enjoy good books. The White Awards Program is supported in part by the Trusler Foundation.
Kentucky Bluegrass Award
An annual award for the best children's book as chosen by the students of the state of Kentucky.
Nebraska Golden Sower Book Award
The award's sponsors, the Nebraska Library Association, hope the program will sow seeds which stimulate children's thinking, introduce different types of literature, encourage independent reading, increase library skills, foster an appreciation for excellence in writing and illustrating.
Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Awards
The books on the Sequoyah Masterlists are selected by the Sequoyah Reading Teams. Criteria for selection include: published three years prior to the award date, author lives in the United States, originality, literary quality, interest, appeal, and developmentally appropriate for the designated age level.
Tennessee Volunteer State Book Awards
The purpose of the Volunteer State Book Award is to promote awareness, interest, and enjoyment of good new children's and young adult literature. The award also hopes to promote literacy and life-long reading habits by encouraging students to read quality contemporary literature which broadens understanding of the human experience and provides accurate, factual information. This award will honor outstanding books chosen annually by Tennessee students.
