Compiled by Suzy Piel
ABBY Award
This award, whose name is an acronym for the American Booksellers Book of the Year, results from surveying thousands of booksellers for the book "they most love to recommend." The stories often have a moral.
Year created: 1991
Jane Addams Children's Book Award
Peace, social justice, and world community are themes featured in the winners of this award. Its namesake, Jane Addams, was a social reformer who shared the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize for her work with underprivileged and oppressed woman and children, particularly immigrants.
Year created: 1953
Alex Award
Given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
Year created: 1998
Américas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature
This award is 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.
Year created: 1993
Hans Christian Andersen Award
This award is named for the nineteenth-century Danish author of such memorable and inspirational fairy tales as "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Red Shoes." The award honors the entire work of authors and illustrators, not individual titles, and is granted by an international jury selected by IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People).
Year created: 1956 (authors) 1966 (illustrators)
Mildred L Batchelder Award
An outstanding foreign-language book, subsequently published in English, is cited by this award. The award aims to promote the international exchange of quality children's books. Winning titles appeal to children from preschool to teens.
Year created: 1968
The Pura Belpré Award
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. The awards are given biennially.
Year created: 1996
Boston Globe - Horn Book Award
Librarians in New England judge these the best fiction, nonfiction, and illustrated books of the year. Sponsored by The Boston Globe, Boston's major newspaper, and The Horn Book, a well-known children's magazine.
Year created: 1967 (fiction) 1976 (nonfiction) 1967 (picture book)
Bulletin Blue Ribbons
Blue Ribbons are chosen annually by the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books staff and represent what they believe to be the best of the previous year's literature for youth.
Year created: 1990
Caldecott Medal
Distinguished American children's picture books are celebrated by this award, which is administered by the American Library Association. It is names for the nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. The award is considered one of the highest achievements in children's literature.
Year created: 1938
Carnegie Medal
Fiction published first in the United Kingdom is here honored by the British Library Association. The medal honors Andrew Carnegie whose philanthropies focused on public libraries and education in both American and the U.K.
Year created: 1936
Christopher Award
Lofty values of the human spirit, such as honor and charity, are featured in books that win this award. There are awards for books appealing to several age groups.
Year created: 1970
Edgar Allan Poe Award
The "Edgar" honors great suspense, detective, and spy works. There are two awards for young audiences. Judges are members of the Mystery Writers of America.
Year created: 1954 (juvenile book) 1989 (young adult)
The Margaret A. Edwards Award
Honors an author's lifetime achievement for writing books that have been popular over a period of time. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.
Year created: 1988
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
The belief that good books are preventive medicine for juvenile delinquency stimulated librarians and teachers in Vermont to establish this award. Middle-school children themselves choose their favorites from a list of 30 fiction and nonfiction titles compiled by adults. The award is named for a well-loved Vermont resident. Voters look for originality and sound moral values.
Year created: 1958
The Giverny Book Award
The Giverny Award is an annual award established by the 15 Degree Laboratory, currently based at Louisiana State University. The award is given to a book that teaches its young reader at least one important scientific principle, or encourages the reader toward specific science-related pursuits or inquiry. Books about plants and/or plant science will have preference.
Year created: 1998
Golden Kite Award
Writers and illustrators themselves vote for the best work of their peers. The well-respected Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has expanded its mission over the years to applaud books of nonfiction and illustration as well as fiction. The winner is a society member who has created a book that best addresses the fascinations and concerns of children.
Year created: 1973 (fiction) 1977 (nonfiction) 1982 (illustration)
Governor General's Literary Award
Canadian writers and illustrators are awarded this honor. Sponsored by the writing and publishing section of The Canada Council, this series of awards includes French-language books and English-language titles.
Year created: 1949
Kate Greenaway Medal
The best illustrated children's books in the United Kingdom are given this award. It is named for Kate Greenaway, the nineteenth-century English author and illustrator. Like the Carnegie Medal, this award is administered by the British Library Association.
Year created: 1956
Gryphon Award
Given annually to the author of an outstanding English language work of fiction or non-fiction for which the primary audience is children K-4. The title chosen best exemplifies those qualities that successfully bridge the gap in difficulty between picture books and full-length books.
Year created: 2004
Iowa Teen Award
Teenagers in Iowa vote for recipients of this award. Winning books feature the pangs and pains of adolescence. Eager to stimulate reading in schoolchildren, the Iowa Educational Media Association also created this award as a vehicle to give young people the chance to make significant decisions and to work with adults.
Year created: 1985
Coretta Scott King Book Award
Books by African-American authors and illustrators that are particularly education and inspirational receive this honor. Winning titles celebrate black history, spirit, and dreams in fiction and nonfiction. This award is name for the wife of the late social activist, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Year created: 1970 (author) 1979 (illustrator)
The Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature
This award honors books for younger readers (from "Young Adults" to picture books for beginning readers), in the tradition of The Hobbit or The Chronicles of Narnia . Books are nominated for the award and chosen by members of the Mythopoeic Society.
Year created: 1992
National Book Award for Young People's Literature
This award is given to recognize literary achievement in the genre of Young People's Literature. The goal is to enhance the public's awareness of exceptional books written by fellow Americans, and to increase the popularity of reading in general.
Year created: 1950
NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children
Poetry is honored in this award created by the National Council for Teachers of English. The council's intention is to foster the production of high-quality poetry for younger audiences. The poetry ranges from playful to thought-provoking verse.
Year created: 1977
National Jewish Book Award
How does being Jewish affect a person's life? Here are two National Jewish Book awards: one for the book or collection of stories that best addresses that theme, another for picture books.
Year created: 1952 (Author) 1983 (Illustrator)
Newbery Medal
The best American children's literature is granted this well-known distinction. This award is named for the eighteenth-century Englishman John Newbery, who was the first publisher and seller of children's books.
Year created: 1922
The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year
Remarkable picture books for all ages are honored in this well-publicized list. The books are chosen by the children's book editor of The New York Times, along with the help of a critic and an artist.
Year created: 1952
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Historical fiction set in the New World (North, South, or Central America) is celebrated by this award.
Year created: 1984
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Distinguished nonfiction is featured in the list of these winners. The award itself commemorates what is thought to be the first children's book, Orbis Pictus. This award is administered by the National Council of Teachers of English and is given for a book considered useful in classroom teaching.
Year created: 1990
Phoenix Award
A 20-year-old book which suffers from neglect is highlighted by this unique award. Named for the fabled bird that rises from the ashes to renewed life, the prize honors a book that did not win a major award at publication date. Yet its timeless literary merit is deemed worthy of special recognition two decades later by the teachers, scholars, librarians, and parents who belong to the Children's Literature Association.
Year created: 1985
Please Touch Museum Book Award
Very young children, ages 3 and younger, delight in these winning books. Featured are bright pictures and simple tasks that aim to teach something, such as counting. In 1995 a counterpart for children ages 4 to 7 was launched.
Year created: 1985 (ages 3 and under) 1995 (ages 4-7)
Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association.
Year created: 2000
Tomás Rivera Mexican-American Children's Book Award
This award was established by Texas State University–San Marcos to encourage authors, illustrators and publishers of books that authentically reflect the lives of Mexican American children and young adults in the Southwestern region of the United States.
Year created: 1995
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, established by the Association for Library Service to Children, is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc.
Year created: 2001
Smarties Book Prize
Light-hearted stories are honored by this prize named after Britain's top-selling confection. The prize is granted by a panel of grown-ups who have been coached by students.
Year created: 1985
Mark Twain Award
Pranks and perils in the lives of young people are often central to the books winning this award. Missouri schoolchildren, ages 9-13, choose their favorite from a list of 20 titles drawn up by various reading and children organizations in the state.
Year created: 1972
Western Heritage Award
To encourage writers who spin tales of the American West, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Western Heritage Center created this award. The books are funny, wild, and offer a unique perspective for a juvenile audience.
Year created: 1962
Whitbread Award
Popularity with children in Great Britain and Ireland is key to the novels winning this award.
Year created: 1972
William Allen White Children's Book Award
A flavor of the Midwest pervades the winners of this award. The winners are chosen by more than 50,000 Kansas schoolchildren. The award features books suitable for 9 - 13 year olds.
Year created: 1953
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Authors or illustrators whose entire body of work has made a lasting and substantial contribution to American children's literature are given this honor. This award is given every three years by the Association of Library Services to Children.
Year created: 1954
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
National Council for the Social Studies established the Carter G. Woodson Book Awards to honor the most distinguished social science books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States.
Year created: 1974
Young Reader's Choice Award
Children in the Pacific Northwest vote for winners of this, the oldest children's choice book award. The prize list includes titles which show up on surprisingly few other award lists.
Year created: 1940 (Ages 9-14) 1991 (Ages 15-18)
Adapted from:
Carlson, Laura, Sean Creighton, and Sheila Cunningham, ed. Literary Laurels: Kid's Edition . New York: Hillyard, 1996
and the American Library Association Website (http://www.ala.org).
