Choose the best reading you can! These are all awards with respected histories. Besides winners, most of the awards have an honors list which is also a good source of titles from which to choose.
Established in 1996, this award serves to honor internationally renowned Kansas author Bill Martin, Jr., as well as commend outstanding authors/illustrators. It also promotes in young children an appreciation for literature and encourages involvement in promoting quality picture books. Bill Martin Jr. Award home page.
The Children’s Choices project is cosponsored by the International Reading Association and the Children’s Book Council, since 1974. Children themselves evaluate the books, and provide reviews of their favorites. Go to the International Reading Association site for the lists.
The Coretta Scott King Award is given to African American authors and illustrators, for exceptional titles that reflect the African American experience. Awards are given for titles in three age levels. The CSK Award page is on the Association for Library Service to Children website.
The Ezra Jack Keats New Writers and New Illustrators Award is for authors and illustrators of picture books that portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family, and the multicultural nature of our world. Look at the beautiful Ezra Jack Keats website.
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is for good books for children in translation from all parts of the world. These are titles from many different languages, since 1979. The Batchelder home page is on the Association for Library Service to Children site.
The American Indian Youth Literature Award was created in 2006, as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. Criteria and winners are listed on the American Indian Library Association website.
The Newbery Medal is for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children up to age 14 each year since 1922. You will recognize many classics. The Newbery home page is on the Association for Library Service to Children site.
The Pura Belpré Award goes every year to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work for children and youth best celebrates the Latino cultural experience. It is named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré page is on the Association for Library Service to Children site.
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal goes to the author of the most distinguished informational book for children published in English each year. These are not to be missed if you are into history, science, medical discoveries, etc. The Sibert Medal home page is on the Association for Library Service to Children site.
The Schneider Family Book Award is a new award which honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. The American Library Association has the Schneider Family Award website.
The Sydney Taylor Book Award is for outstanding children’s books that portray the Jewish experience. Sydney Taylor was the author of the All-of-a-kind Family series, which you shouldn’t miss. The list is on the Association of Jewish Libraries site.
The William Allen White Award is Kansas’ kids’ choice award. Every spring two lists of titles at different age levels (grades 3-5 and grades 6-8) are selected, and children throughout Kansas read from the list. In April they can vote! See the list of award winners, and the list of this year’s nominees on the WAW website.
The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. This award is named in honor of Theodor Seuss Geisel, beloved author of many children’s books. Geisel Award home page.
The Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children’s Video honors the most outstanding video productions for children released during the previous year. Carnegie Medal home page.
The Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made over a period of years a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. Wilder Award home page.
The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction goes to an author for a 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. Scott O’Dell Award home page.
The National Book Award for Young People’s Literature is given out by the National Book Foundation with the goal of enhancing the public’s awareness of exceptional books written by fellow Americans, and to increase the popularity of reading in general. The best place to see the winners is on the Award home page.
NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children is an annual award for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children. Orbis Pictus home page.
The NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children was established in 1977 to honor a living American poet for his or her aggregate work for children ages 3-13. Award home page.
Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States. Award home page.