LibGuides: Juvenile / Children's Literature: Awards

Children's Literature Awards

Children’s Literature Book Awards Below is a list of the children’s literature book awards sorted by topic. Many can be found in the USC Upstate Library’s juvenile collection. Click on the name of the award to be directed to the official web site for the award. Use these web sites to find out the current and previous recipients of these awards. Award winners are often noted in the USC Upstate Library Catalog, you can search the catalog for the name of the award, such as "Newberry" or "Coretta Scott King".

General

John Newbery Medal
A comprehensive list issued by the American Library Association of all of the Newbery Medal and Honor winners from the award's inception in 1922 to the present day. ** You can search the USC Upstate Catalog for this award.**
Margaret A. Edwards Award
"honors an author's lifetime achievement for writing books that have been popular over a period of time. The annual award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by School Library Journal magazine. 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." – taken from the Margaret A. Edwards Award web site. ** You can search the USC Upstate Catalog for this award.**
Michael L. Printz Award
Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature – honors "a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association. ** You can search the USC Upstate Catalog for this award.**
Laura Ingalls Wilder Award
Presented annually to an author or illustrator whose work has, over a number of years, made a lasting contribution to literature for children and young adults. ** You can search the USC Upstate Catalog for this award.**
Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Poetry
The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award recognizes and encourages the publication of an excellent book of poetry or anthology for children and/or young adults. This award is given every three years. SCBWI reserves the right not to confer this award in any given year. ** You can search the USC Upstate Catalog for this award.**
Boston Globe - Horn Book Awards
Presented annually, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards reward excellence in children’s and young adult literature and are given in three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Picture Book. **Search library catalog for "Horn Book Award" **
The CILIP Carnegie Medal
Established in 1936 in memory of Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Medal is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children. The medal is awarded by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. **not marked in catalog records**
National Book Award - Young People's Literature
Recognizes the best of American literature to raise the cultural appreciation of great writing, promote the enduring value of reading, and advance the careers of established and emerging writers. From 1969-1983, various NBA children's awards were presented, and in 1996 the current Young People's Literature category was created. **Search National Book Award and JUV to see records**
William C. Morris YA Debut Award
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. The award's namesake is William C. Morris, an influential innovator in the publishing world and an advocate for marketing books for children and young adults.

History / Historical Fiction

James Madison Award
James Madison Award – honors the "book that best represents excellence in bringing knowledge and understanding of American history to children in elementary school and to middle-schoolers." This Award was given from 2003 to 2008.
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction Award
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Award goes to a meritorious book published in the previous year with a focus on historical fiction.

Illustration

Kate Greenaway Medal
The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, established in 1955, is awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.
New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year Award
New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year Award – “selection of the best illustrated children’s books of the year.” – taken from Children’s Books: Awards & Prizes 1996 edition. There is not an official web site for this award
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
Presented annually to the author and / or illustrator of the best American book for beginning readers.
Randolph Caldecott Medal
Honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. – taken from the American Library Association’s Literary and Related Awards web site.
Ezra Jack Keats Book Award
Known collectively as the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, the New Writer Award was established in 1985 and the New Illustrator Award in 2001 to recognize and encourage emerging talent in the field of children’s books.

Informational

NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
The NCTE Orbis Pictus Award was established in 1989 for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.
Robert F. Sibert Award
Presented annually to the author and / or illustrator of the best informational (nonfiction) book for children and youth.

Multicultural / Special Populations

Aesop Prize and Aesop Accolades
The Aesop Prize and Aesop Accolades are conferred annually by the Children’s Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society upon English language books for children and young adults, both fiction and nonfiction.
Américas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature
honors "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. The award is sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP)." – taken from the CLASP web site.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
Presented annually by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, the award honors and recognizes individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit, and includes categories of Young Adult, Children's, and Picture Book. (with image)
Children's Africana Book Awards
honors "accurate, balanced children's books on Africa. The awards focus specifically on books published in the United States about Africa." The award is sponsored by the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association. – taken from the Children’s Africana Book Awards web site.
Coretta Scott King Award
Presented annually to to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture. (with image)
John Steptoe New Talent Award
The John Steptoe New Talent Award is established to affirm new talent and to offer visibility to excellence in writing and/or illustration which otherwise might be formally unacknowledged within a given year within the structure of the two awards given annually by the Coretta Scott King Task Force.
Jane Addams Children's Book Awards
The Jane Addams Children's Book Awards are 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. (with image)
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
The Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States. (with image)
Pura Belpre Medal
Presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer or illustrator whose work best portrays the Latino cultural experience in literature for children or teens. (with image)
Sydney Taylor Book Awards
The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature. (with image)
Tómas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
Honors books that authentically reflect the lives of Mexican American children and young adults in the United States. Sponsored by the College of Education at Texas State University–San Marcos. – taken from Tómas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award web site.
American Indian Youth Literature Award
Presented every two years by the American Indian Library Association to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians.
Schneider Family Book Award
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. (with image)
Stonewall Book Awards
The Stonewall Book Awards are sponsored by the Rainbow Round Table (Rainbow RT) of the American Library Association (ALA). Awarded annually, the Stonewall Book Award recognizes excellence in LGBTQ literature. Specific awards include the following: •Barbara Gittings Literature Award •Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award •Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award •Stonewall Honor Books in Literature •Stonewall Honor Books in Non-Fiction •Stonewall Honor Books in Children’s and Young Adult Literature. (with image)
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
National Council for the Social studies established the Carter G. Woodson Book Award for the most distinguished social science books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States
Dolly Gray Award
The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award was initiated in 2000 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.

Science

Henry Bergh Children's Book Award
Honors "books that promote the humane ethic of compassion and respect for all living things." Sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Award given 2001 - 2008
Giverny Book Award
The Giverny Award is an annual children's science picture book award established in 1998 by Dr. Jim Wandersee and Dr. Elisabeth E. Schussler who was at that time affiliated with the 15º Laboratory at Louisiana State University.
American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for Children
Honors books which "promote effective science communication in print and broadcast media in order to improve the general public's appreciation of physics, astronomy, and allied science fields." Sponsored by the American Institute of Physics. – taken from Science Writing Award web site.
The Green Earth Book Award
The Green Earth Book Award is the nation’s first environmental stewardship book award for children and young adult books. **Library has several titles but they are not marked as award winners**

Format

Eisner Award - Best Publications for Kids and Teens
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, considered the “Oscars” of the comic book industry, are given out in more than two-dozen categories covering the best publications and creators of the previous year. It has gone through several iterations recognizing publications for kids and teens through the years. **library currently dose not hold any of these try the public library**
NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children
The National Council of Teachers of English wishes to recognize and foster excellence in children's poetry by establishing its Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children to honor a living American poet for his or her aggregate work for children ages 3–13.
Odyssey Award
Presented annually to the best audio book for children or young adults. ** Public Library has some of the winners but they are not marked as award winners**
Charlotte Huck Award
The NCTE Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children was established in 2014 to promote and recognize excellence in the writing of fiction for children. This award recognizes fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives by inviting compassion, imagination, and wonder.

Catalog

To find books that have won an award search the catalog for the title or author of the book if know or search for the name of the award such as "Newberry" and JUV.

Award Books

There are several books that discuss different awards and the winning titles and authors see below for a list of a few of these books.

Children's Book Award Handbook by Diana F. Marks; Susanne Frey (Illustrator)
Call Number: REF Z 1037 .A2 M37 2006
ISBN: 1591583047
Publication Date: 2006-03-30
Children's Book Awards International by Laura Smith
Call Number: REF Z1037 .A2 S46 2003
ISBN: 0786412887
Publication Date: 2003-02-24
Children's Book Prizes by Ruth Allen
Call Number: REF PR990 .A5 1998
ISBN: 9781859282373
Publication Date: 1998-07-01
Children's Books Awards & Prizes by Children's Book Council Staff
Call Number: REF Z 1037 .A2 C52
ISBN: 0933633033
Publication Date: 1996-09-01
Newbery Medal Books, 1922-1955 by Bertha M. Miller; Elinor W. Field
Call Number: REF PN 1009 .A1 M5
ISBN: 0876753969
Publication Date: 1955-01-01
Caldecott Medal Books, 1938-1957 by by Mahony Miller and Field
Call Number: REF PN 1009 .A1 M49 1957
ISBN: 9781399874786
Publication Date: 1957
Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books, 1956-1965 by Lee Kingman (Editor)
Call Number: REEF PN 1009 .A1 K5 1965
ISBN: 0876750021
Publication Date: 1965-01-01
Newbery and Caldecott medal books: 1956-1965 REF - PN 1009 .A1 K5 1965
Newbery and Caldecott medal books, 1966-1975 REF - PN 1009 .A1 N48 1975
Newbery and Caldecott medal books, 1976-1985 REF - PN 1009 .A1 N48 1986
The Newbery & Caldecott medal books, 1986-2000 : a comprehensive guide to the winners REF - Z1037 .A2 N492 2001
Winning Authors by Kathleen Long Bostrom
Call Number: REF PS490 .B67 2003
ISBN: 1563088770
Publication Date: 2003-09-30

Awards Lists Online

Below are links to comprehensive sources for children's book awards and award winners both internationally and in the United States.

ALA Children's Book Awards
A list, provided by the American Library Association's Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), of all the major American children's book awards, including links to winners and honors for each award.
Database of Award Winning Children's Literature (DAWCL)
Children's Literature
This database has over 9,600 records from 106 awards across six English speaking countries. Instructions for searching the database and an explanation of the indexed awards is included