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Children's Book Awards The Aesop Prize is awarded by the Children's Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society (AFS). The Prize is for outstanding work in children's folklore. The winner, and a variable number of honor books called Aesop Accolades, are chosen annually by a Committee of three members appointed by AFS. The Prize and Accolades are announced at the AFS Annual Meeting, usually in October. The criteria state that the book must be published in English either in the current or prior year. Both fiction and nonfiction are eligible. The Prize is for a single book, not for lifetime achievement. For more information visit www.afsnet.org/sections/children.
The Claudia Lewis Award is administered by the Children's Book Committee (CBC) at the Bank Street College of Education. This annual Award began in 1998 in honor of a longtime member of the Bank Street College faculty. The Award is for the best poetry book of the year. The Award is presented each year at a ceremony at Bank Street College in March. For more information visit http://www.bankstreet.edu/bookcom/about_awards.html.
The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award is administered by the Children's Book Committee (CBC) at the Bank Street College of Education. This annual Award began in 1994 in honor of the longtime chair of the Children's Book Committee. The Award is for the best nonfiction book of the year that fulfills Ms. Straus' humanitarian ideals. The Award is presented each year at a ceremony at Bank Street College in March. For more information visit http://www.bankstreet.edu/bookcom/about_awards.html.
The Golden Duck Awards for Excellence in Children's Science Fiction Literature are administered by Super-Con-Duck-Tivity, a nonprofit organization devoted to encouraging science fiction. There is an Award for Picture Books, the Eleanor Cameron Award for Middle Grades, and the Hal Clement Award for Young Adults. The last two Awards are named for well-known children's science fiction writers. The Awards were established in 1992 and the Eleanor Cameron Award was added in 2002. The annual winners receive a cash prize and a scroll. The Awards are presented at the DucKon Convention held in late May or early June. A panel of experts appointed by Super-Con-Duck-Tivity decides upon the Awards and the criteria state that the books must be published in the year prior to the Awards in the United States or within the prior two years for a book first published outside of the U.S. For more information visit www.goldenduck.org.
The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature is administered by the Bank Street College of Education. The Award is in honor of Irma Simonton Black, a writer and editor of children's books and a founding member of the Bank Street Writers Laboratory. Her husband's name was added in 1992 in recognition of his support of the Award. The Award goes to a book for young children in which the text and illustrations work together to create an outstanding whole. Each year a committee of experts selects 20 to 25 children's books to present to the classes at the Bank Street School for Children. The students then choose four finalists, or Honor Books, to be sent to a number of schools in several states. The children in all the schools then elect the Award winner. The winner receives a scroll with a gold seal designed by Maurice Sendak. The Award is presented at a breakfast in New York City in May. For more information visit http://streetcat.bankstreet.edu/html/isb.html.
The Jeremiah Ludington Memorial Award was created by the Educational Paperback Association (EPA) in 1979 and it is named after the owner of the Ludington News Company who founded the EPA in 1975. The Award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the educational paperback business. The Board of the EPA chooses the winner. The winner is announced and the Award is presented at the EPA Annual Meeting, usually in January. The winner receives a certificate and $1000 is given in his or her name to a charity of the winner's choice. The Ludington Award is for lifetime achievement, not for any single book. For more information visit www.edupaperback.org. The John Newbery Medal is named in honor of an 18th century English bookseller. Frederic G. Melcher, a publisher of book-related magazines, proposed an award to recognize each year's most distinguished children's book and it was established by the American Library Association (ALA) in 1922. It is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA. The winner, and a variable number of Honor Books, are announced in the year following publication at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. The winner receives a bronze medal designed by Rene Paul Chambellan. The winner and the Honor Books are chosen by a committee appointed annually by ALSC. The Newbery Medal is generally recognized as the earliest award for children's books in the world. The criteria state that the book must be published in the U.S. in the preceding year and may not have been published elsewhere first. The author must be a citizen or resident of the U.S. The award may be made posthumously. All forms of writing—fiction, nonfiction and poetry—are eligible. The writing must be original work and intended for an audience of up to 14 years of age. The Award is for a single book, not for an author's body of work. For more information visit www.ala.org/alsc. The Josette Frank Award is administered by the Children's Book Committee (CBC) at the Bank Street College of Education. This annual Award began in 1943 as the “Children's Book Award” and was renamed in 1998 in honor of the longtime Executive Director of the Child Study Association of America. The Award is for the best fiction book of the year in which children deal with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally. The Award is funded by the Florence L. Miller Memorial Fund. The Award is presented each year at a ceremony at Bank Street College in March. For more information visit http://www.bankstreet.edu/bookcom/about_awards.html.
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award recognizes the publisher of the most outstanding children's book that was originally published outside the United States and then is published in translation in the U.S. It is named for a longtime children's librarian and executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). The first Award was given in 1968 and is administered by ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The winner is announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. The winner receives a citation and a commemorative plaque. Since 1994, honor recipients have been possible as well. It is not required that a winner of the Award be chosen every year. The criteria for the Award state that the publisher must have offices in the U.S. and publish books for the U.S. market. The book must be original work and intended for an audience of up to 14 years of age. The book must have been published in the U.S. in the year prior to the Award and simultaneous publication in the U.S. and abroad is acceptable. The book is judged by a committee appointed annually by ALSC on how well it helps facilitate the understanding of other cultures. For more information visit www.ala.org/alsc. The Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature is administered by the Mythopoeic Society. The Award recognizes fantasy or mythic literature for children that best exemplifies “the spirit of the Inklings,” a group of fantasy writers that includes J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams. The Mythopoeic Award was established in 1971 and in 1992 it was split into one Award for Adult Literature and one Award for Children's Literature. A variable number of finalists and the eventual winner are chosen by a committee appointed by the Mythopoeic Society. The Award is presented at the Society's Annual Conference, Mythcon, usually in late July or early August. The criteria for the Award state that the books must be published in the year prior to the Award. In the case of a series, the series will be eligible in the year the final volume is published. For more information visit www.mythsoc.org.
The PEN Center USA Literary Awards are sponsored by PEN Center USA, one of the two regional US affiliates of International PEN. International PEN was founded in 1921 by Catharine Amy Dawson Scott to protect the rights of writers, stimulate interest in the written word, and to foster a community among writers. The name PEN is taken from the types of members in the organization—poets, playwrights, essayists, editors, and novelists. The PEN Center USA Literary Awards are presented in a number of categories—Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Research Nonfiction, Poetry, Children's Literature, Translation, Journalism, Drama, Teleplay and Screenplay. The Awards are decided by a committee of judges appointed by PEN Center USA. The winners of each Award, and a variable number of finalists, are announced in August and presented with their Awards at a ceremony in October. The criteria for the Awards state that the works must be original and published in the U.S. in the year prior to the Awards. The author must live west of the Mississippi. The winners receive a $1000 cash prize. In addition to the Literary Awards, PEN Center USA also presents Lifetime Achievement Awards and an Award of Honor. For more information visit www.penusa.org.
The Pura Belpre Award is given to a Latino/Latina writer or illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children. It is named for Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian from the New York Public Library. The award was established in 1996 and is cosponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA), an affiliate of ALA. There are two distinct Medals, one that is for authors and one that is for illustrators. The winners, and a variable number of Honor Books, are announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. The Award is made biennially although it is not required that a winner be chosen every two years. The winner in each category receives a bronze medal. The criteria for the Award state that the recipients must be residents or citizens of the U.S. or Puerto Rico. Both fiction and nonfiction are eligible. The books must be original work and intended for an audience of up to 14 years of age. The books must have been published in the U.S. or Puerto Rico in the year prior to the Award. The Award may be made posthumously. This Award is for a single title, not for a body of work. For more information visit www.ala.org/alsc.
The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator of titles that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience for children. The Awards are donated by Dr. Katherine Schneider and administered by the American Library Association (ALA). The Awards are announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. The first set of Awards were given in 2004. Awards are given annually in three age groups—birth to 10, 11 to 13, and 13 to 18. The winners receive $5000 and a framed plaque. The winners must be citizens or residents of the United States and their original work must have been published in the previous three years. Fiction, nonfiction and picture books are eligible. For more information visit http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=bookmediaawards.
The Sydney Taylor Book Award is sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL). The Award recognizes the best in children's literature that authentically portrays the Jewish experience. The Award has been presented annually since 1968 when it was the Shirley Kravitz Children's Book Award. The Award was renamed for Sydney Taylor, author of the classic children's series about the All-of-a-Kind-Family, after his death in 1978. In addition to the Award for a specific book, there is a Body-of-Work Award that has been awarded periodically since 1971. The Award is decided upon by a Book Award Committee appointed by the AJL and normally announced in February. Winners receive a gold medal. There may also be a variable number of Honor Books that receive silver seals. For more information visit www.jewishlibraries.org.
International Awards
The BolognaRagazzi Awards are administered by the Bologna Children's Book Fair. These international Awards reward excellence in children's books in three categories—Fiction, Nonfiction and New Horizons. Books are judged based on their creativity, educational value and artistic design. The Awards, and a variable number of Honorable Mentions in each category, are presented at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in April of each year. For more information visit www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it.
The International Reading Association (IRA) Children's Book Awards are administered by the IRA. The Awards recognize the most promising writers of children's books. There are both Fiction and Nonfiction Awards and each is divided into the age groups of Primary, Intermediate and Young Adult. A cash prize goes with each Award and the Awards are presented at the IRA Annual Convention, which is usually in May. The criteria for the Awards state that the books may be published in any country in any language. Authors may have no more than two published works meant for an audience of preschool through age 17 to be considered. For more information visit www.reading.org.
For more information about children's book awards, see Children's Book Award Handbook, by Diana F. Marks, published by Libraries Unlimited in 2006. State Reading Lists
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The Alex Awards are named after Margaret Alexander Edwards, a longtime young adult specialist at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore, Maryland. The Awards honor ten books each year that were written for adults but have special appeal to young adult readers, aged 12-18. The Awards are administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) and was established in 1998. The Awards are sponsored by Booklist and the Margaret Alexander Edwards Trust. The ten winners, or fewer if enough good candidates are not available, are announced in an issue of Booklist as close to National Library Week in April as possible. Presentation may be at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June, although this is at the committee's discretion. The winners are selected by a committee of nine people appointed by YALSA who serve two-year terms. In addition, the committee has a consultant from Booklist who does not vote. YALSA may also provide a nonvoting administrative assistant. The winners receive medals designed by the Margaret Alexander Edwards Trust. The criteria for the Awards state that the books must be published in the preceding year and in English, either in the U.S. or abroad. The books must be from the publisher's adult list rather than from the juvenile list. For more information visit 
The Americas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature is sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP). The Award began in 1993 and recognizes outstanding works that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the U.S. There may be one or more winners of the Award each year and the Awards are presented at a summer ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Fiction, poetry, folklore and nonfiction are all eligible for the Award. The Award is chosen by a committee appointed by CLASP, and the committee also chooses a number of honor books, called Commended titles. For more information visit 
The Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy was created by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA). The first Award was given in 2006. The Award recognizes outstanding science fiction and fantasy novels for young adult readers published in the United States in the previous year. The Award is named for the late Andre Norton, a prolific and popular writer of adult and young adult science fiction and fantasy. Books are nominated by SFWA members and also by a special Andre Norton Award Jury of the SFWA. Then the SFWA membership votes for the Award winner. In addition to this new Andre Norton Award, the SFWA has the longstanding Nebula Awards that they present for adult science fiction and fantasy. Both the Nebula and Norton Awards are announced at the Nebula Awards Banquet in April or May of each year. For more information visit 
The Anne Spencer Lindbergh Prize is administered by the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation. The Prize is named in honor of the eldest daughter of Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator, and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Anne Spencer Lindbergh was an author of children's fantasy novels. She died of cancer in 1993. The Prize, started in 1996, is for an outstanding children's fantasy novel published in English from the previous two-year period. The winner receives a $5000 award. There may also be one or more Honor Books chosen, with an award of $1000. A panel of experts appointed by the Lindbergh Foundation chooses the winner and Honor Books biennially. For more information visit 
The Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature are awarded by the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA). The first Awards were presented in 2004. These Awards are in recognition of books published in the United States during the previous two years by or about Asian/Pacific Americans. There are Awards for adult titles, young adult titles, and young readers illustrated titles. Additionally, honorable mention titles are normally chosen in each category. The Award winners are chosen by an appointed committee of the APALA and announced in May of each year. For more information visit 
The Beacon of Freedom Award is presented each year to the best title introducing American history, from Colonial times through the Civil War, to young readers. The Award was created jointly by the Williamsburg Regional Library and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and first awarded in 2003. The name of the Award refers to comments made by John D. Rockefeller about Colonial Williamsburg as “a beacon light of freedom to the rest of the world.” The two organizations appoint a Beacon of Freedom Award Committee. The Committee chooses eight books each year to submit to the fourth, fifth and sixth grade students at a number of schools in the Williamsburg, Virginia area. The students then pick the Award winner. For more information visit 
The BookSense Book of the Year Awards are sponsored by the American Booksellers Association (ABA). They were established in 1991 as the American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) Awards, and renamed in 2000. The Awards honor books that ABA members most enjoy recommending to their customers. There is both an adult winner and a children's winner each year, as well as a variable number of Honor Books for each category. The winning authors receive $5000 and an engraved Tiffany glass prism. The Awards are for single books, not for a body of work. These Awards appear to have been discontinued in 2004. For more information visit 
The Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards for excellence in children's literature began in 1967. There are three categories of awards—Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction. The Boston Globe newspaper and The Horn Book journal, both of which review children's books, sponsor the Awards. The annual Awards, and up to two Honor Books in each category, are chosen by a committee of three library professionals appointed by the Horn Book staff. The Awards are announced each year in June. The criteria for the Awards state that the books must be published in the prior year in the U.S. The author or illustrator, however, does not need to be a resident or citizen of the U.S. The Awards are for specific books, not for a body of work. For more information visit 
The CALA Annual Best Book Awards were started in 2005 by the Chinese American Librarian Association and the first awards were announced in 2006. There are awards for both adult books and books for young readers. The Awards are meant to draw attention to the best books on Chinese subjects, or by authors of Chinese descent, or both. The Awards are chosen annually by an appointed committee of the CALA and then presented at the annual meeting of the CALA in June. To be eligible, books must be published in North America in the previous year in either Chinese or English. The Awards for Youth include the Best Chinese New Book, which is for novels, and the Best Illustrated Book, which is for picture books. In addition to the winner there may be Honorable Mention books selected as well. For more information visit 
The Carter G. Woodson Book Awards are administered by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). The Awards are named for a distinguished African American historian and educator who wrote books for both adults and young people. The Awards were established in 1974 to recognize the most distinguished social science books for young readers that depict ethnicity in the U.S. The books must be informational, written for the appropriate age range and published in the U.S. in the year prior to the Award. The author does not need to be a U.S. citizen. The Awards are presented annually in three age ranges—elementary, middle and secondary. A subcommittee of from 14 to 20 members appointed by NCSS decides on the Awards each year. A variable number of Honor Books may also be designated in each age range. The Awards are presented at the NCSS Annual Conference, which is usually during November. The winning authors receive a commemorative gift and a medallion. For more information visit 
The Charlotte Zolotow Award is administered by the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) at the School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Award was established in 1998 to honor the authors of picture books. It is named for a well-known children's author and children's book editor at Harper Junior Books. She was also an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Award is announced annually in March and the winner receives $1000 and a bronze medallion at a ceremony in the spring. The criteria state that the picture book must be directed at young children from birth to age seven, it must be published in the United States in the previous year, it must be originally written in English, and it may be fiction or nonfiction. Poetry and easy readers are not eligible. A committee of members of the Friends of the CCBC decides on the Award and they may also choose up to three Honor Books and up to ten Highly Commended books. For more information visit 
The Children's Africana Book Awards are administered by the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association (ASA). They were established in 1991 to recognize and encourage excellent children's books about Africa. Awards are given annually for Best Book for Young Children and Best Book for Older Readers. In addition, Honor Books in each category are announced each year. The Awards are presented at a luncheon at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., usually in November. The winners and Honor Books are chosen by a Committee appointed by the ASA. The rules of eligibility state that the book must be published in the U.S. in the year prior to the Award for an audience aged 4 to 18. For more information visit 
The Children's Crown Award is sponsored by the National Christian School Association (NCSA). The Award was started by Sandra Morrow and the Texas Christian Schools Association in 1993. The Award is for the most popular children's book for grades three through six that contains wholesome values, uplifting characters and edifying themes that inspire children toward positive goals. A committee of readers from member schools within NCSA nominates 20 books that have been published within the prior two years. Students at participating schools then vote for their favorite books. Winners and a variable number of runners-up are announced each spring. For more information visit 
The Children's Crown Gallery Awardis sponsored by the National Christian School Association (NCSA). The Award was established in 2000. The Award is for the most popular children's book for grades kindergarten through third that contains wholesome values, uplifting characters and edifying themes that inspire children toward positive goals. A committee of readers from member schools within NCSA nominates 10 books that have been published within the prior two years. Students at participating schools then vote for their favorite books. Winners and a variable number of runners-up are announced each spring. For more information visit 
The Christopher Awards are given by an organization founded in 1945 by Father James Keller, a Maryknoll Missioner, which he called the Christophers. It is a non-denominational organization that promotes the belief that every individual has the power and responsibility to change the world for the better. The Awards began in 1949 and are given annually to films, TV programs, books for adults, and books for children. The Awards are for exceptional works that affirm the highest values of the human spirit. There may be any number of winners each year in each category and the Awards are presented at a dinner in New York City in February. The winners receive a bronze medallion with the Christopher credo—“Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” For more information visit 
The Coretta Scott King Book Award is named for the widow of preacher and civil rights champion, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Award is for the most distinguished books by those of African descent that promote Dr. King's values of peace and world brotherhood. There is one Award for a work of fiction and another for the best illustrations. A John Steptoe Award for New Talent for African American authors and illustrators with less than three published works was established in 1995. The New Jersey Library Association started the CSK Awards in 1970. The Award for illustrations was added in 1974. Artist Lev Mills designed the CSK Award Seal in 1974. The Awards affiliated with the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) in 1980 and became American Library Association (ALA) Awards in 1982. A seven member national jury chooses the winners. The winners, and a variable number of Honor Books, are announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. Winners receive a framed citation, an honorarium, and a set of encyclopedias. For more information visit 
The E.B. White Read Aloud Award is sponsored by the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC). The Award was established in 2004 to recognize great read aloud books in the tradition of E.B. White's classic titles such as Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. One book is selected annually by the membership of ABC. The winner is announced the first Monday in April and the winner receives an engraved crystal book. Both picture books and novels are eligible. For more information visit 
The Edgar Allen Poe Awards are sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America (MWA). They are named for the famous American master of horror who lived from 1809 to 1849. There are 13 different categories of Awards—best novel, best first novel, best paperback original, best critical/biographical, best fact crime (nonfiction), best short story, best children's mystery, best young adult mystery, best TV series episode, best TV feature or miniseries, best motion picture screenplay, best play, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. The Awards are for excellence in mystery writing and the winners are chosen annually by judging panels appointed by the MWA for each category. The first Edgar Award for children's books was awarded in 1961. The Awards are announced in February and presented at a special banquet in New York City in late April or early May each year. The criteria for the Awards state that the work must be published in the U.S. with a copyright in the year prior to the Awards and each work may be entered in only one category. For more information visit 
The Ezra Jack Keats Awards are named after the well-known author and illustrator who died in 1983. The Awards are administered jointly by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and the New York Public Library. There is one Award for an outstanding new writer of picture books and another Award for an outstanding new illustrator of picture books. The Writer's Award was originally given biennially starting in 1983 but, since 1999, it has been an annual Award in the spring. The Illustrator's Award was added in 2001 and is also presented annually. A committee of experts in books and education chooses the winners. Each winner receives a silver medal and a $1000 honorarium. The criteria state that the picture books must be meant for children ages 9 and under and the author or illustrator must have published no more than five books. Extra emphasis is given to books that portray the universal qualities of childhood, strong families, and the multicultural nature of the world. For more information visit 
The Giverny Award was established in 1998 by Dr. James H. Wandersee and Dr. Elisabeth Schussler. Its purpose is to recognize the best children's science picture book published in a given year. The Award is administered by the 15 Degree Laboratory, a research lab currently located at Louisiana State University. The name refers to the French village in which Impressionist artists created numerous paintings that allow plants to be seen in new ways. The annual Award is announced in April and the winner receives a large plaque. The seals placed on winning books were designed by children's author and illustrator Molly Bang. The Award is decided upon by a committee appointed by the 15 Degree Laboratory. The criteria for the Award state that the book must be written in English and published within five years of the Award date. Preference is given to books about plants. For more information visit 
The Golden Kite Award is presented by the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). The Award, for excellence in writing or illustrating and for appeal to children, was established in 1974. There are four Statuettes given each year for fiction, nonfiction, picture book text, and picture book illustration. There are Honor Books in each category as well. The authors of the Honor Books receive a plaque. The winners must be members of SCBWI and the books must be original publications published in the prior year. Winners are announced each year by April 15. For more information, visit 
The Gryphon Award is sponsored by the Center for Children's Books (CCB) at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, publishers of the review journal The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. The Award began in 2004 to recognize outstanding works of fiction or nonfiction for which the primary audience is children in grades K to 4. Its focus is transitional books that bridge the gap between read aloud books and books for practiced readers. A committee appointed by the Director of the CCB presents the Award annually. The winner and a varying number of Honor Books are announced each year in March. The winner receives a check for $1000. The criteria for the Award state that the book must be an original work in the English language, published in the year prior to the Award. The Gryphon Award is for a specific book, not for a body of work. For more information visit 
The Henry Bergh Book Awards are sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Henry Bergh founded the ASPCA in 1866, as well as founding the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in 1874. There are five categories of Awards given—Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Illustration and Young Adult. The Fiction and Nonfiction categories are further broken down into three areas—Companion Animals, Environment & Ecology, and Humane Heroes. All Awards honor books that promote the humane ethic of compassion and respect for all living things through outstanding literary works or visuals. All Awards, and a variable group of Honor Books of each type, are presented annually and are chosen by a committee of experts appointed by the ASPCA. The Awards are presented at an ASPCA reception during the American Library Association Annual Meeting, usually in June. The criteria for the Awards state that the books must be published in English in the U.S. or Canada in the year prior to the Awards. The Young Adult Book Award must be for an audience between the ages of 13 and 17. The other Awards are for an audience up through the age of 12. For more information visit 
The James Madison Book Award is named after the 4th President of the United States. The Award was established by Lynne Cheney, an author, former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities and wife of Vice President Dick Cheney. The Award recognizes excellence in bringing knowledge and understanding of American history to readers aged 5 to 14. The James Madison Book Award Fund of the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Wyoming administers the Award. A Committee of the James Madison Book Award Advisory Council, which is chaired by Ms. Cheney and includes over 30 members from education, historians and the media, chooses the winners. The Award is announced annually in July and carries a cash prize of $10,000. A book must be historical fiction or nonfiction and published in the previous year to be considered. For more information visit 
The Jane Addams Children's Book Awards are administered by the Jane Addams Peace Association (JAPA), the educational affiliate of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). The Awards are named for the American social worker who was the first president of the WILPF and who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. The Awards were established in 1953 to honor a children's book each year that most effectively promotes the cause of peace and social justice. In 1993 a Picture Book category was added. Honor Books may be chosen by the committee of WILPF members as well. Winners are announced on April 28, the anniversary of the founding of WILPF. Winners receive a certificate and a cash prize. The books may be fiction, poetry or nonfiction, they must be published in the U.S. in the year prior to the award, and intended for an audience of aged 2 through 12. For more information visit 
The Lamplighter Award is sponsored by the National Christian School Association (NCSA). The Award was started by Sandra Morrow and the Texas Christian Schools Association in 1994. The Award is for the most popular children's book for grades 6 through 8 that contains wholesome values, uplifting characters and edifying themes that inspire children toward positive goals. A committee of readers from member schools within NCSA nominates 20 books that have been published within the prior two years. Students at participating schools then vote for their favorite books. Winners and a variable number of runners-up are announced each spring. For more information visit 
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal is named for the well-known author of children's books, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1867-1957. The award was established in 1954 and is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The first recipient was Laura Ingalls Wilder herself. The Medal was awarded every five years from 1960 to 1980, every three years from 1980 to 2001, and has been awarded every two years since then. The winner is announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. The winner receives a bronze medal designed by Garth Williams. A committee appointed biennially by ALSC chooses the winner. The criteria for the Award state that the winner has made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. To be considered, an author's books must be originally published in the U.S. and the author's active career in books must have occurred within 25 years of the Award. Only the books that are original works and are intended for an audience up to the age of 14 are considered. At least some of the author's books have to have been available for at least ten years prior to the award. The author need not be a U.S. citizen and the award may be made posthumously. For more information visit 
The Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award is administered by the International Reading Association (IRA). The Award is named for a famous children's poet and anthologist. The Award is given every three years to a promising new poet of children's poetry and is presented at the IRA Annual Convention, usually in May. A $500 cash prize goes to the winner. The criteria for the Award state that the poetry must be published, it must be for children up through grade 12, and the poet may have no more than two books of poetry published at the time of consideration. Translations of works published outside the U.S. may be considered. The Award was first presented in 1995. For more information visit 
The Margaret A. Edwards Award is named for a longtime young adult specialist at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore, Maryland. The Alex Awards are also named after Ms. Edwards. The Edwards Award is administered by the American Library Association's (ALA) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The winner is announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, usually in January. The presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, usually in June. The winner receives $2000 and a citation. The Award was started by School Library Journal as a biennial Award in 1988. It became an annual Award in 1990. The criteria state that the Award is given to a living author whose works have been helpful and popular among young people. Rather than being an award for one specific book, the Edwards Award is for lifetime achievement. The author must have had a book or books published in the U.S. no less than five years prior to nomination. For more information visit 
The Michael L. Printz Award is presented annually to a work for young adults that exhibits literary excellence. It is named for Mike Printz, a longtime and very active librarian at Topeka West (KS) High School, who died in 1996. The Award is administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) and was established in 1999. The winner and up to four Honor Books are announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. The winners are selected by a committee of nine people who serve two-year terms, five of who are appointed by YALSA and four of whom are elected by the members of YALSA. In addition, the committee may have an administrative assistant and a consultant from Booklist, neither of who may vote. The criteria state that the Award may be for fiction, nonfiction, poetry or an anthology. The book must be an original work published in the U.S. in the preceding year, although it may have been published elsewhere prior to that. The book must be intended for an audience between the ages of 12 and 18. The Award is for a single book, not for a body of work. For more information go to 
The National Book Awards are administered by the National Book Foundation (NBF). The Awards were started by a consortium of book publishing groups in 1950 to promote excellence in American literature and to increase the popularity of reading. Awards are given in four categories—Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Young People's Literature. The winners are chosen by a five-person panel appointed by the NBF for each category. The winner in each category receives $10,000 in cash and a crystal sculpture. There are also four short-listed titles announced in each category that receive a prize of $1000. The shortlists are announced in October of each year and the winners are announced at a ceremony in New York City in November. The criteria for the Awards state that the works must be original works published in the U.S. in the twelve months prior to the Awards. The authors must be U.S. citizens and living when the eligibility period begins. Ebooks are eligible, although folklore, fairy tales, translations of works published abroad, and anthologies are not. Submissions are made by the publishers of the books. For more information visit 
The Orbis Pictus Nonfiction Award is given by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). It is named after a book by Johannes Amos Comenius published in 1657, Orbis Pictus—The World in Pictures, which is considered to be the first book ever intended specifically for children. The Orbis Pictus Award was established in 1990. The Award, and up to five Honor Books, are presented at a luncheon during the Annual NCTE Convention, usually in November. The Award winner receives a plaque. The criteria for the Award state that the book must be nonfiction, excluding textbooks, folklore and poetry, and published in the U.S. during the previous year. It must exceed other books published in accuracy, organization, design, and style and be useful in classroom teaching for grades kindergarten through 8. The selection of the winner and Honor Books is made by NCTE's Orbis Pictus Committee of educators. For more information visit 
The Parents' Choice Awards are administered by the Parents' Choice Foundation. This nonprofit was founded in 1978 to provide information to parents who want to help their children to learn. Awards are given in the categories of audio recordings, books, toys, software, magazines, TV programs, home videos, DVDs, and video games. There is not one single winner in any of the categories. Rather, levels of Awards are given to works that meet the highest professional standards for each category. For instance, in 2003 there were 27 Gold Awards in books. The category of books is further subdivided each year into doing & learning books, fiction, homework helpers, nonfiction, paperbacks, picture books, poetry, reference books and storybooks. Awards for each year are generally released in two groups—Spring and Fall. The levels of Awards, in descending order, are Gold Awards, Silver Honors, Recommended, and Approved. For more information, visit 
The Phoenix Award for Children's Literature is sponsored by the Children's Literature Association (ChLA). The Award has been given annually since 1985 to a children's book of the highest literary merit that was published at least 20 years earlier but has not yet been adequately recognized. The Award is named after the fabled bird that is destroyed and then rises up anew from the ashes of its destruction. The winner and potential honor books are selected by a committee appointed by the ChLA and normally announced in May. The Award statue itself was designed by Caldecott-winning illustrator Trina Schart Hyman and sculpted by Diane Davis. For more information visit 
The Quill Awards are sponsored by Reed Business International and NBC Universal Television Stations. Reed is the publisher of Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, and Variety, among other publications. There are 20 categories of Awards, including the Book of the Year, Children's Book of the Year, Graphic Novel of the Year, Life Achievement and Rookie of the Year. Titles are nominated by a group of approximately 6000 subscribers of Publishers Weekly who are booksellers and librarians. Five top nominees in each category are then voted upon by the general public, either online or at bookstores and designated sites. The first year for the Quills was 2005. The nominees are announced in August and the winners are announced on a special NBC television program in October. For more information visit 
The Randolph Caldecott Medal is named in honor of the 19th century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The award was established in 1937 to recognize the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children each year. The Award was suggested by Frederic G. Melcher, the publisher of School Library Journal, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. The winner and a variable number of Honor Books are announced in the year following publication at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. The winner receives a bronze medal that was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan and taken from Caldecott's illustration for “The Diverting Story of John Gilpin.” The Medal winner and Honor Books are chosen by a committee appointed annually by ALSC. The criteria include that the book was published in the U.S. during the preceding year and it may not have been published elsewhere first. The artist must be a citizen or resident of the U.S. The Award may be made posthumously. The illustrations must be original work and the book must be intended for an audience of up to 14 years of age. The Award is for a book, not for an author's body of work. For more information visit 
The Regina Medal is sponsored by the Catholic Library Association. The Medal was established in 1959 to honor an individual's ongoing distinguished contributions to children's literature. The winner is normally announced in February of each year. This is an Award for lifetime achievement, not for a single book. For more information visit 
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award is given to the most distinguished informational book published in a given year. The Award is named for Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, a prebinder and distributor of books to schools and public libraries. The Award was established by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), in 2001. The winners, and a variable number of Honor Books, are announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, normally in January. Presentation is at the ALA Annual Meeting, normally in June. The winners receive a bronze medal. The winners are chosen by a committee appointed annually by ALSC. The criteria for the Award state that the recipient must be a resident or citizen of the U.S. The book must be original work, published in the U.S. in the previous year, and intended for an audience of up to 14 years of age. Poetry and folktales are excluded from consideration. The Award may be made posthumously and it is for a single work, not for a body of work. For more information visit 
The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction was established by Scott O'Dell, a well-known children's book writer, in 1982. The first recipient was Elizabeth George Speare in 1984. The Award recognizes excellence in historical fiction for children. The Award is decided annually in January by the Scott O'Dell Award Committee, which currently consists of Hazel Rochman, an editor for Booklist; Ann Carlson, a high school librarian; and Roger Sutton, Editor-in-Chief of The Horn Book. The criteria for the Award state that the book must be published in the U.S. in the previous year, intended for children, written in English by a citizen of the U.S., and set in the New World. The winner of the Award receives a $5000 prize. For more information visit 
The Sid Fleischman Humor Award was established by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in 2002. It was named after the award-winning author of humorous children's books who was also the recipient of the first Award. It is meant to honor excellence in humorous works for children. Only books published in the previous year are considered and the author must be a member of SCBWI. The judges of the SCBWI Committee for the Golden Kite Award nominate books submitted for that award to another panel of judges that then pick the winner of the Fleischman Award. The annual Award is announced by April 30 of each year. For more information visit 
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is an annual award for the outstanding book for beginning readers. It is named after the famous author of such books as Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat. The Award is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The first Award was announced at ALA MidWinter in January 2006 and presented at the ALA Annual Meeting in June 2006. The criteria for the Award state that winners must be citizens or residents of the United States and the book must be originally published in the U.S. in the previous year. The Award is for both the text and illustrations of the book. For more information visit 
The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award is administered by the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians (CACL), a division of the Canadian Library Association (CLA). Established in 1971, the Award is given annually to the illustrator of the most outstanding children's book published in Canada in the previous year. The Award is named after the illustrator of the first Canadian children's picture book, An Illustrated Comic Alphabet, published in 1859. The Award is presented at the CLA Annual Conference, which is normally in June. In addition to the winner, there are a number of short-listed titles announced each year. The illustrator must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. The Award is sponsored by the book distributor, National Book Service. For more information visit 
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was established in 2002 by the Government of Sweden in honor of the country's most famous children's book author. It is the world's largest children's book award in terms of monetary value at 5 million Swedish crowns or approximately $717,100. However, more than one winner may be named in a year to share the prize. The annual Award is chosen by a jury and administered by the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs. It is announced in March and a presentation ceremony is held in Stockholm in May. Winners that are well known in the United States include Maurice Sendak in 2003 and Philip Pullman in 2005. The Award is for lifetime achievement and may only be given to living people. Both authors and illustrators are eligible. For more information visit 
The Book of the Year for Children is administered by the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians (CACL), a division of the Canadian Library Association (CLA). Established in 1947, the Award is given annually to the most outstanding creative writing for children published in Canada in the previous year. In addition to a winner, there are a number of short-listed candidates each year. The Award is presented at the CLA Annual Conference, which is normally in June. The author must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. The Award is sponsored by the book distributor, National Book Service. For more information visit 
The Carnegie Medal was established by the British Library Association in 1936. It is now administered by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), which was formed by the merger of the Library Association and the Institute of Information Scientists in 2002. The Medal was named in honor of Scottish-born Andrew Carnegie, who made his fortune in the U.S. steel industry and whose largest philanthropic project was helping to establish over 2800 libraries in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. The Medal is for the most outstanding book for children published in the United Kingdom in the previous year. The winner receives a gold medal and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of his or her choice. In addition to the winner, a number of short-listed titles are announced each year. The shortlist is announced in May and the winner is announced at the British Library in London in July. For more information visit 
The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the Patron of the Andersen Awards. They are named for the great Danish writer of fairy tales who lived from 1805 to 1875. There are two Andersen Awards—one for writing and one for illustration. The Writing Award began in 1956 and the Illustration Award began in 1966. The Awards are presented biennially in even numbered years to living authors and illustrators whose works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. The national sections of IBBY nominate possible recipients and an international jury of children's literature experts appointed by IBBY makes the final selections. The Awards are announced in the spring of the year. Winners receive a gold medal and a diploma, which are presented during the IBBY Congress. For more information visit 
The Kate Greenaway Medal was established by the British Library Association in 1955 for the most distinguished illustration of a book for children. It is now administered by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), which was formed by the merger of the Library Association and the Institute of Information Scientists in 2002. The Medal is for the most distinguished illustration in a book for children published in the United Kingdom in the previous year and is named for a famous 19th century children's book artist. The winner receives a gold medal and £500 worth of books to be donated to a library of his or her choice. Since 2000, the winner has also received the £5000 Colin Mears Award, named after an accountant and children's book collector who provided funds for the Award. In addition to the winner, a number of short-listed titles are announced each year. The shortlist is announced in May and the winner is announced at the British Library in London in July of each year. For more information visit 
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