Children's Book Awards and Other Literary Prizes

The Internet School Library Media Center (ISLMC) awards page includes major book awards and best books lists in children's literature and young adult literature of interest to librarians and teachers. Awards for nonprint media such as computer software or video for children and young adults are also included. The ISLMC is a meta site where teachers, librarians and students can browse selected links. Please visit the ISLMC Home Page. You can search this site, use an index or use a site map. Updated 5/5/02.


For an alphabetical list of awards, see Awards List

[Adult Book Awards] [Children's Book Awards (General)] [Nonprint Media Awards] [Lifetime Achievement Awards] [Historical Fiction] [International Publishing] [Magazines] [Multicultural Literature Awards] [Mystery Awards] [New Writers or Illustrators] [Nonfiction Awards] [Poetry] [Reference Books] [Science] [Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror] [Social Studies] [Traditional Literature (Folklore)] [Best Books Lists] [Best Sellers Lists] [State Awards] [Other Awards]

Adult Book Awards

Amazon Book Company Awards List
Award Web
Many awards, including science fiction, romance, Pulitzers, others.
Bookwire
Good awards site. Several awards.
National Book Awards
Given by U.S. publishers in various categories. Two cash award prizes for fiction and
nonfiction. Established in 1950. Called American Book Award from 1980-86.
Nobel Prize for Literature
O'Henry Awards
Award for short fiction
The Pulitzer Prizes
Official site

[Back to Top]

Children's Literature Awards

Alex Awards
From YALSA. Top adult books enjoyed by young adults.
Book Sense Book of the Year Award (formerly The ABBY Award)
American Booksellers Children's Book of the Year. From BookWeb.
For earlier ABBY Awards, see ABBYs
Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards
Given annually since 1967 by the Boston Globe & Horn Book Magazine.
Through 1975 two awards given-for outstanding text and for
outstanding illustrations. Since 1976 awards are: outstanding
fiction or poetry; outstanding nonfiction; outstanding illustration.
Caldecott Medal
Sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children's Division of the American
Library Association. Given to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture
book for children published in the United States during the preceding year. Only U.S.
citizens or residents are eligible.
Charlotte Zolotow Award
Given annually to the author of the best picture book text published in the
United States in the preceding year. Established in 1998 and administered
by the Cooperative Children's Book Center
Children's Book Award (Josette Frank Award)
From Bank Street Children's Book Committee. Given annually since 1943, the 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.; site also has awards for
poetry and nonfiction.
Elizabeth Burr Award
Since 1992 presented to a Wisconsin author/illustrator for distinguished
achievement in children's literature. Presented by Wisconsin Library Association.
Golden Kite Award
Presented by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators to children's book
authors and illustrators by their fellows
International Reading Association Children's Book Awards
Given for an author's first or second published book. Four awards will be
for fiction and non-fiction in two age categories: younger readers (ages 4-10);
older readers (ages 10-17). Books from any country and in any language copyrighted
during the award year are considered.
Jefferson Cup
Awarded by the Youth Services Forum of the Virginia Library Association for
quality writing in U. S., History, Historical Fiction, or Biography since 1983.
Michael Printz Award
Award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
From Young Adult Services Division. ALA
National Book Awards for Young People's Literature
Outstanding contribution to young people's literature.
Newbery Medal
Sponsored by the American Library Association. Given to the author of the most
distinguished contribution to children's literature published during the preceding year.
Only U.S. citizens or residents are eligible.
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2000
From National Council of Teachers of English
Notable Children's Books, American Library Association
Annual list from American Library Association
Parents' Choice Awards, 2002
Awards in print and nonprint categories
Phoenix Award
Established in 1985. Awarded by the Children's Literature Association. Awarded
annually to a book originially published in English twenty years previously
which did not receive a major award at the time of its publication.
Society of School Librarians International Awards
SSLI Awards given annually to the best book for young people in the following categories:
Elementary Language Arts - Picture Books; Elementary Language Arts, K-6 - Novels;
Secondary Language Arts, 7-12 - Novels; Social Studies - Elementary, K-6;
Social Studies - Secondary, 7-12; Science Books - Elementary, K-6;
Science Books - Secondary, 7-12.
Young Reader's Choice Award
Given by Pacific Northwest Library Association to promote reading for enjoyment.
Children select winners.
2002 Award Winners
Want a quick list? From Bulletin for Center of Children's Books.
See also 2001 Awards Winners.
SLJ Online. Awards Announcements
Check out the latest announcement on award winners at School Library Journal or
use the search function.
Children's Literature Web Guide
Numerous awards, including United States, Canada and other nations

[Back to Top]

Audiovisual Materials Awards

ALSC Awards and Notable
Earlier "Notable" lists from ALSC
Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video
Supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. First awarded in 1991 to honor
outstanding video productions for children released in the preceding year.
APA Audie Awards
Includes children's categories; excellence in audio publishing
BESSIE Award
Given by ComputED Learning Lab, San Diego. Recognizes innovative and content-rich
educational software appropriate for family purchase on the retail market
Bologna New Media Prize
International Award. Bologna (Italy) Children's Book Fair. Prize for excellence
in children's computer software
Booklist: Editor's Choice
Includes video, computer software, CD-ROMs, audio, audiobooks and distributors.
From Booklist.
Codie Awards
Excellence in computer software. From the Software Publishers Association (SPA).
Notable Children's Recordings
Given by Association for Library Service to Children, American Library Association
Notable Computer Software for Children
Given by Association for Library Service to Children, American Library Association
Notable Videos for Children
Given by Association for Library Service to Children
Notable Children's Web Sites 2000
Given by Association for Library Service to Children, American Library Association
Talkies Award
Given by the audio book industry of the United Kingdom to outstanding "talking" books
in both adult and juvenile categories. (2000 Award last found)

YALSA Selected Audio Books

From Young Adult Library Services Association of ALA
YALSA Selected DVD's and Videos
From Young Adult Library Services Association of ALA

[Back to Top]

Lifetime Achievements Awards

Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature
Given by the Tulsa Library Trust since 1991
Eleanor Farjeon Award
(United Kingdom) Awarded to an individual in recognition of their distinguished
contribution to the world of children's books. Winner is chosen from nominations
from members of the Children's Book Circle
Hans Christian Andersen Medals
International Award. Established in 1956. Awarded by
the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Awarded every two years to
one author and one illustrator in recognition of his/her entire body of work.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Award
Honors and author or illustrator whose books published in the U.S. over a period of
years made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.
Margaret A. Edwards Award
Given by the Young Adult Library Services Association of ALA for an author's lifetime
contributions in writing for young adults.
Sydney Taylor Body of Work Award
Established by Ralph Taylor, her husband, to honor outstanding contributions to books of
positive Jewish content for children.

[Back to Top]

Historical Fiction

Geoffrey Bilson Award
Awarded annually to a Canadian author of outstanding work
of historical fiction by Canadian Children's Book Centre
Jefferson Cup
Awarded by the Youth Services Forum of the Virginia Library Association for quality
writing in U. S. History, Historical Fiction, or Biography since 1983.
Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award
Award for a work of historical fiction from a U.S. publisher and set in the New World.

[Back to Top]

International Publishing

Australian Literary Awards and Prizes
Many awards in different categories.
Bologna Ragazzi Award
Bologna (Italy) Children's Book Fair. Awards for fiction and nonfiction by age groups,
infant (0-5 years); children (6-9 years); young adults (10-16 years). Check under
SHOW INFO on menu for Awards
Canadian Children's Literature Service
Awards and other information on children's literature.
Carnegie Medal [United Kingdom]
Sponsored by The Library Association (United Kingdom). Presented annually to an
outstanding book published in the United Kingdom
Kate Greenaway Medal [United Kingdom]
Presented by The Library Association (United Kingdom). Presented annually for the most
distinguished work in the illustration of children's books published in the
United Kingdom.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
Given to an American publisher for the most outstanding children's book
originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country.
Nestle Smarties Book Prize
Established in 1985 by Booktrust, sponsored by Nestle. United Kingdom children's
book award awarded annually to a work of fiction or poetry for children written in
English by a UK citizen, or an author resident in the UK in the year ending 31 October.
Whitbread Award for a Children's Novel [United Kingdom]
New Zealand Literary Prizes, Awards
Includes adult and awards in children's literature

[Back to Top]

Magazines

SCBWI Magazine Merit Awards
Given by Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) each year
to honor members' outstanding original magazine work published during that year.
Four plaques are give - one for fiction, one for non-fiction, one for
illustration, and one for poetry.
Paul A. Witty Short Story Award
Given to the author of an original short story published for the first
time during in a periodical for children.

[Back to Top]

Multicultural Book Awards

Americas Award
Given by Center for Latin American and Caribbean Stuides (CLASP) to
U.S. work published in the previous year in English or Spanish
which authentically or engagingly presents the experiences of individuals in
Latin America or the Caribbean or Latinos in the U.S.
Carter G. Woodson Award
Established by the National Council for the Social Studies in 1974 for the most
distinguished social science books appropriate for young readers which depict ethnicity
in the United States.
Coretta Scott King Award
Presented annually by the American Library Association to a black author and a black
illustrator whose works "encourage and promote" world unity and peace and serve
as an inspiration to young people.
John Steptoe Award for New Talent
Given to a black author and to a black illustrator for an outstanding
book; designed to bring visibility to a writer/artist at
the beginning of his/her career. ALA
National Jewish Book Awards
Includes awards for children's books and children's picture books
(Louis Posner Memorial Award).
Pura Belpre Award
Established in 1996. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Latino/Latina
writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino
cultural experience...for children and youth.
Sydney Taylor Book Awards 2001
From the Association of Jewish Libraries. to outstanding books of Jewish content
for children
Sydney Taylor Book Awards
Established by Ralph Taylor, her husband, to honor outstanding
books of positive Jewish content for children.
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award

[Back to Top]

Mysteries

Agatha Awards. Malice Domestic
Gives Agatha Awards for mysteries, including best novel, first mystery novel,
nonfiction and short story. Does not give a juvenile award.
BlackBird Mysteries Awards
Major book awards for mysteries; Agatha Christie Award; Dagger; Dilys Winn;
Edgar Awards; Anthony Awards; Hammett Prize; Macavity Awards; Nero Wolf Awards;
Shamus Awards
The Edgars
Presented for best mystery in a variety of categories since 1945
by Mystery Writers of America. Best juvenile novel was added
in 1989.

[Back to Top]

New Writers or Illustrators Award

Ezra Jack Keats Award
Annual award to an outstanding new writer of picture books for children
(age 9 and under); presented jointly by The New York Public Library and the
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

[Back to Top]

Nonfiction Awards

Bologna Ragazzi Award
From Bologna (Italy) Children's Book Fiction and nonfiction by age groups
The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award-Nonfiction
Fiction and poetry; nonfiction; picture books
Children's Book Guild. Award for Nonfiction
Since 1977, the Guild has honored "an author or author-illustrator whose total work has
contributed significantly to the quality of nonfiction for children."
Flora Stieglitz Award
From Bank Street Children's Book Committee. For merit to distinguished
and inspirational works of nonfiction.
Jefferson Cup
Awarded by the Youth Services Forum of the Virginia Library Association for quality
writing U. S. History, Historical Fiction, or Biography since 1983.
Orbis Pictus Award
Award for outstanding nonfiction for children. From NCTE's Committee on Using
Nonfiction in the Elementary Classroom. Given to an author.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
From ALSC; Awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished informational
book published during the preceding year
Society of School Librarians International
Gives awards for nonfiction, K-12.

[Back to Top]

Poetry Awards

American Academy of Poets : Awards & Prizes
Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children
Award from the National Council of Teachers of English to a living American poet in
recognition of the poet's aggregate body of work in children's literature.
Given annually until 1982. Now given every three years.
Claudia Lewis Award
From Bank Street Children's Book Committee. For merit to exceptional works of poetry
for children.
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
Award to a single volume of poetry published for children in a calendar year. The award
is now administered by the Penn State College of Education and University Libraries.
Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award
Monetary award given every three years to a promising new author of children's poetry
(for children and young adults up to Grade 12) who has published no more than
two books of children's poetry.
Poetry Society of America Awards
Adult awards only.
The Signal Poetry Award
Annual award for children's poetry from the specialist journal
Signal Approaches to Children's Books, Thimble Press.

[Back to Top]

Reference Books

Booklist: Editor's Choice
Includes current and former titles
Denali Press Award
From ALA and Denali Press. Achievement in creating reference works, outstanding
in quality and significance, that provide information specifically about ethnic
and minority groups in the United States.
MARS Best of Free Reference Web Sites
Recognizes outstanding reference sites on the World Wide Web under the auspices of
the Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS) of the Reference and User Services
Association (RUSA) of ALA.
RUSA Outstanding Reference Sources
Established in 1958 to recommend the best reference publications for small and
medium-sized libraries. American Library Association
RUSA Outstanding Reference Sources (for adults)

[Back to Top]

Science Awards

Giverny Book Award 2002
Award given by the 15 Degree Laboratory to the author and
illustrator of the book it has selected for recognition as "Best
Children's Science Picture Book"
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children
Given by National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council.
Annual. For science materials reviews, see NSTA Recommends
For book recommendations, see Science Books & Films Online (SB&F) Best Lists
Science Books & Films Editor's Choice Columns
Includes "Best Books for Children," "Best Books for Junior High
and High School Readers," "Best Films and Videos," and "Editor's
Choice Selections"
Society of School Librarians International. Best Science Books
Given by SSLI to the author of an outstanding science book. Annual Award

[Back to Top]

Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Awards

The Arthur C. Clarke Award
British science fiction award
Bram Stoker Award
From the Horror Writers Association (HWA). Awards for novel, first novel, long fiction,
short story, collections, nonfiction and life achievement, specialty press,
work for young people
Golden Duck Awards
Awards in the categories of picture book, middle grades (Eleanor Cameron Award)
and young adult (Hal Clement Award). Special awards are given when appropriate.
Candidates are selected from title copyrighted in the previous year;
however exceptions may be made for titles published outside the U.S.
Hugo Awards
Science fiction awards given by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS).
Includes also Gandalf, Campbell and Special Awards
Mythopoeic Awards
Honors works published within the last three years that make a significant contribution
to scholarship about the Inklings and genres of myth and fantasy studies.
Includes children's books.
SFWA Nebula Awards
Science fiction awards given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc.
For earlier winners see also Nebula Awards

[Back to Top]

Social Studies

Notable Children's Trade Books in the Social Sciences
From National Council for the Social Sciences.
Society of School Librarians International
Gives awards in social studies, K-12

[Back to Top]

Traditional Literature (Folklore)

Aesop Prize
From the Children's Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society for outstanding
book(s) incorporating folklore published in English for children
or young adults

[Back to Top]

Best Books Lists

ALA RUSA Notable Books
Note: Adult Books. Given by The Notable Books Council of the ALA Reference
and User Services Association. Titles selected for their significant contribution to
the expansion of knowledge and for the pleasure they can provide to adult readers.
Includes fiction, non-fiction and poetry
Barnes & Noble...Reader's Catalog. The 40,000+ Best Books in Print
Not awards per se, but a "Best Books List" which includes children's
literature for young readers.
Booklist: Editor's Choice
Booklist includes adult books, adult books for young adults, young
adult literature, reference books and media. From Booklist.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. Blue Ribbons Books 2001
Best of the previous year's literature for children and young
adults. Includes picture books, easy readers, fiction and nonfiction.
Children's Literature Choices
From Children's Literature. Annual best books list
Cuffies
Publishers select the best and the worst in children's literature.
Booklist from Publishers Weekly
Hungry Mind Review. 100 Best 20th-Century American Books
Not awards per se, but a "Best Books List" of adult titles
Modern Library. 100 Best Nonfiction
Modern Library. 100 Best Novels
Their pick of the 100 best novels of the 20th century
2002 Notable Children's Books
Given by Association for Library Service to Children, American Library Association.
For earlier lists, see also ALSC Awards and Notables
Radcliffe Publishing Course. 100 Best Novels
List selected by publishing students at Radcliffe College
SLJ Best Books 2001
Feature column from SLJ.
YALSA's Outstanding Books for the College Bound
YALSA Booklists. Best Books for Young Adults
From Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association
YALSA. Quick Picks for Young Adults
YALSA. Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
Children's Literature-Best Books Lists
Lots of lists from Children's Literature Web Guide

[Back to Top]

Best Sellers Lists

Amazon's 2002 Editors' Picks (Ages 9-12)
Amazon's 2002 Editors' Choice: Children's Books (Ages 4-8)
Barnes & Noble. Teens Top 10 Sellers
Barnes & Noble. Kids Top 10 Sellers
New York Times. Children's Bestsellers Updated weekly
Publishers Weekly Best Sellers

[Back to Top]

State Awards

Alabama Department of Education. Office of Technology Initiatives
2002-2003 Booklist is available for download at Emphasis on Reading Booklist, from Library Media.
Arizona Young Readers' Award
Arkansas Charlie May Simon and Diamond Awards
California Young Reader Medal Booklist
Young readers select recipients; primary, intermediate, middle/jr. high, and young
adult levels
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Award
Colorado Children's Book Award
Connecticut Nutmeg Children's Book Award
Delaware Blue Hen Book Award
Florida Sunshine State Young Readers
GA Child Lit Book Award
Hawaii Nene Award
Iowa Children's Choice Award
Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award
Kansas Reading Association. Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award
Kentucky Bluegrass Award
Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award
Maine Lupine Award
Maine Student Book Awards
Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Awards
Massachusetts Children's Book Award
Michigan Readers' Choice Award
Read Michigan
Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Award
Missouri Mark Twain Award
Missouri Show Me Readers Award
Nebraska Golden Sower Award
Nevada Young Readers' Award
New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award
New Jersey Garden State Children's Book Award
New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award
New York Charlotte Award
New York Knickerbocker Award
North Carolina Children's Book Award
North Dakota Flicker Tale
Ohio Buckeye Children's Book Award
Oklahoma Sequoyah Award
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Awards
Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award
Library Associations of Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana,
Oregon, Washington
Rhode Island Children's Book Awards
South Carolina Children's Book Award
Site includes children's Junior and young adult awards
South Dakota Prairie Pasque Children's Book Award
Tennessee Volunteer Children's Book Award
Texas Bluebonnet Award
Utah Children's Book Awards
Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award
Virginia Young Readers' Award
West Virginia Children's Book Award
Wisconsin Golden Archer Award
Wyoming Book Awards
Includes Buckaroo, Indian Paintbrush & Soaring Eagle Awards
State Award Books
See Carr Library site for listings

[Back to Top]

Other States

Christopher Awards
Established in 1949, Christopher Awards are presented to the producers, directors
and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials which affirm
the highest values of the human spirit. Includes young people category.
Jane Addams Book Award
Award to works fostering a better understanding of the people of the world toward the end
that wars may be avoided...
PEN/Norma Klein Award for Children's Fiction
Given by PEN American Center in honor of Norma Klein; Biennial prize recognizes an emerging
voice of literary merit among American writers of children's fiction
Children's Literature Guide
Visit to locate many other awards

[Back to Top]


Search
Tool

Return to:
Elementary Resources/Children's Literature
Middle & Secondary Resources/YA Lit

Home

Site Administrator Inez Ramsey, James Madison University