Awards

Alex Award http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/alex
Established in 1998, given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.

example: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (2004)

Andrew Carnegie Medal http://www.ala.org/alsc
Established in 1991. Awarded by ALSC and and named for Andrew Carnegie, famous for establishing funds to improve free public libraries, the Carnegie Medal honors the producer of the mostoutstanding video production for children released during the previous year.

examples: The Dot (2005), Giggle Giggle Quack (2004)

Batchelder Award http://www.ala.org/alsc
Established in 1966, given for work in translation. Named for Mildred L. Batchelder, former executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children (a believer in the importance of good books for children in translation from all parts of the world) and awarded by ALSC to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.

examples: The Shadows of Ghadames by Joëlle Stolz, translated from the French by Catherine Temerson (2004) or Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren (1984)

Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards http://www.hbook.com/awards/bghb/
Established in 1967, awards are announced each June, and awards are presented in an October ceremony. Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction from books published in the United States the previous year.
example:If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty, illustrated by Steven Kellogg (2006)

Caldecott Award http://www.ala.org/alsc
Established in 1938; award for illustration. Named for nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the ALSC, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

examples: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2005); Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (1942)

Coretta Scott King Award http://www.ala.org/ala/srrt/corettascottking/corettascott.htm
Established in 1970; awarded for illustration and writing. Named for twentieth century minister and activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is awarded annually by the Coretta Scott King Task Force of the ALA's Social Responsibilities Round Table, to authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the American Dream

example: The Land by Mildred Taylor (2002); Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport (2002)

John Steptoe Award for New Talent http://www.ala.org/alsc
Established in 1995. Named for black illustrator John Steptoe. The award is given to an up-and-coming black author and to a black illustrator for an outstanding book and was 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.

example: Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper (1995)

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award http://www.ala.org/alsc
Established in 1954, given for lasting contribution to children's literature (writing OR illustration). Named for Laura Ingalls Wilder, it is awarded by ALSC to honor 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.

examples: Laurence Yep (2004); Laura Ingalls Wilder (1954)

Margaret Alex Edwards Awardhttp://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/margaretaedwards/margaretedwards.htm
Established in 1988, given for lifetime achievement for writing books that have been popular over a period of time.

example: Ursula Le Guin (2004)

Massachusetts Book Award http://www.massbook.org/programs/mba.html
Established in 2000 and given to Massachusetts writers and illustrators.

example: Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos (2003)

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award http://www.salemstate.edu/education/mcba/
Selected by popular vote of Massachusetts students in grades 4-6 from quality titles nominated by librarians and teachers.

example: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (2003)

Newbery Award http://www.ala.org/alsc
Established in 1922; award for writing. Named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

examples: Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (2005); The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon (1922)

Orbis Pictus Award: http://www.ncte.org/
Established in 1990, given for best information book. Named for Orbis Pictus, believed to be the first nonfiction book for children, printed in 1657. It is awarded annually by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) for excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.

example: When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson: The Voice of a Century by Pam Munoz Ryan illustrated by Brian Selznick (2003)

Printz Award http://www.ala.org/yalsa
Established in 2000; award for writing. Named for twentieth century school librarian and YALSA activist Michael L. Printz. It is awarded annually by the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA), a division of ALA, for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.

examples: how i live now by Meg Rosoff (2005); Monster by Walter Dean Myers (2000)

Pura Belpre Award http://www.ala.org/alsc
Established in 1996. Named for the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library Pura Belpre. It is awarded every two years by the ALSC and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA), an ALA Affiliate, to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

example: An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio by Judith Ortiz Coferz

Scott O’Dell Award http://www.scottodell.com/sosoaward.html
Established in 1982, given for excellence in historical fiction, selected by a committee of librarians.

example: A River Between Us by Richard Peck (2004)

Sibert Informational Book Award http://www.ala.org/alsc
Established in 2001; given for best information books. Named for Robert F. Siebert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois. It is awarded annually by ALSC to the author of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year.

example:The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman (2005); Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss and What I Learned by Judd Winick (2001)

Selection Lists

Booklist Top Ten and Editor’s Choice http://www.ala.org/booklist/
Top Ten Choices in a variety of genres throughout the year, plus editor’s top picks every January.

Children’s Notables http://www.ala.org/alsc
Selected by the Association of Library Service to Children, Notables list are created for books, recordings, videos, and software.

Top Shelf Fiction, Best Science Fiction and Fantasy http://www.voya.com
Recommended annually by VOYA reviewers

YALSA Selection Lists http://www.ala.org/yalsa
Selected by the Young Adult Library Service Association, includes Best Books for Young Adults, Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, Outstanding Books for the College Bound, and Adult Books for Young Adults.