Children and Young Adult Literature Awards

Addams Book Award
Presented annually since 1953 by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Jane Addams Peace Association to the children's book that most effectively promotes the causes of peace, social justice and world community.

Alex Awards
Since 1998, the Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.

Batchelder Award
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award has been presented by the American Library Association since 1966 for outstanding foreign language book for children translated into English.

Belpré Medal
Since 1996, the Pura Belpre Award is presented biennially to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Boston Globe - Horn Book Award
Presented annually since 1967 for excellence in children's and young adult literature in three categories: picture book, fiction and poetry, and nonfiction.

Caldecott Medal
The Randolph Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children since 1938.

Christopher Award
Presented annually to writers and illustrators whose work affirms the highest values of the human spirit.

Costa Book Awards
Formerly known as the Whitbread Book Awards, this United Kingdom award has been given since 1971. The awards are given to outstanding books in five categories including one for best children's book.

Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards are given by the Mystery Writers of America to authors of distinguished works for Best Children's (since 1961) and Best Young Adult (since 1989) Mystery categories.

Edwards Award
Established in 1988, the Margaret A. Edwards Award is presented to an author for a lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.

Fleischman Humor Award
First presented by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in 2002, the Sid Fleischman Humor Award is given to the author whose work exemplifies the excellence of writing in the genre of humor.

Frank Award
Formerly the Children's Book Award, the Josette Frank Award is given each year by the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College to honor a children's fiction book that deals realistically and positively with problems in their world and has been awarded since 1943.

Geisel Award
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually (beginning in 2006) to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished beginning reader books who demonstrate great creativity and imagination in their literary and artistic achievements to engage children in reading.

Golden Kite Award
First given in 1973, the Golden Kite Award is presented by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for the best fiction, nonfiction, and picture book.

Great Lakes Great Books Award
Since 2004, the Great Lakes Great Books Award is given annually to five books chosen by Michigan students in grades K-12. Books are nominated by students, teachers, librarians, publishers, and others interested in excellent quality books for children and teens. Students read the books nominated for their grade level and vote for their favorite. Winning books are announced at the Michigan Reading Association's annual conference in March.

King Award
Given to African American authors and illustrators for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions that promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream.

Lewis Award
Presented annually by the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College since 1998, the Claudia Lewis Award honors the best poetry book of the year.

Mitten Award
The Mitten Award is an annual award presented through the Michigan Library Association's Children's Services Division to recognize one children's book that has captured the attention of the children's librarians throughout the State of Michigan for its ability to communicate through literature to an intended audience.

National Book Award
Since 1996, the National Book Foundation has awarded a National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children since 1922.

O'Dell Historical Fiction Award
Presented annually for an outstanding work of historical fiction for children or young adults since 1984.

Orbis Pictus Award
Awarded since 1990 by the National Council of Teacher of English to promote and recognize excellence in nonfiction writing.

Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is presented to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature since 2000.

Schneider Award
Beginning in 2004, the Schneider Family Book Award has been presented to authors of books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience in children, juvenile, and young adult literature.

Sibert Medal
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually since 2001 to the author of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.

Straus Award
The Flora Stieglitz Straus award has been presented, since 1994, by the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College to honor a distinguished work of nonfiction book or books which fulfill humanitarian ideals and serve as an inspiration to young people.

Thumbs Up! Award
The Thumbs Up! Award is given annually by the Michigan Library Association's Teen Services Division for an outstanding contribution to teen literature having both literary quality and teen appeal since 1987.

Whitbread Book Awards - see Costa Book Awards

Wilder Medal
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.

Woodson Award
The Carter G. Woodson Award is presented by the National Council for the Social Studies for the most distinguished children's social science books depicting ethnicity in the United States.

Children and Young Adult Recommended Booklist Websites

Best Fiction for Young Adults (formerly Best Books for Young Adults)
Since 1994, an annual booklist of significant adult and young adult titles are chosen, recommended for ages 12-18, and meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens.

Notable Children's Books
Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children's books, recordings, videos, and computer software.

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Selected annually by the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council since 1972.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12
Selected annually by the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council since 1973.