The IMTC and Main Library strive to provide a wide-range of award winning materials. The following pages provide call numbers for those that can be found on campus. If you are interested in an award winning book that isn't currently held by us, please let us know and we'd be happy to get it ordered!
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association.
The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year.
The Charlotte Zolotow Award is given annually to the author of the best picture book text published in the United States in the preceding year. Established in 1998, the award is named to honor the work of Charlotte Zolotow, a distinguished children's book editor for 38 years with Harper Junior Books, and author of more than 70 picture books, including such classic works as Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present (Harper, 1962) and William's Doll (Harper, 1972).
The award is administered by the Cooperative Children's Book Center, a children's literature library of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The winner is announced in January each year.
The Randolph Caldecott Medal annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children", beginning with 1937 publications.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Medal:
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.
The Stonewall Book Awards are a set of three literary awards that annually recognize "exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience" in English-language books published in the U.S.
(Theodore Seuss) Geisel Award:
The Geisel Award is named for famed childrens author Dr. Seuss. Established in 2006, the award is given by the American Library Association to the "author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year."
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.
The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. The annual award is administered by YALSA (Young Adult Literacy Services Association )and sponsored by School Library Journal magazine. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world. The Edwards award celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2013.
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented 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. It is co-sponsored 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 ALA affiliate.
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. As a children's librarian, storyteller, and author, she enriched the lives of Puerto Rican children in the U.S.A. through her pioneering work of preserving and disseminating Puerto Rican folklore.
The award is now given annually. It was given as a biennial award from 1996 through 2008.
The Schneider Family Book Awards:
The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Three awards are given annually to recognize and honor books for their distinguished portrayal of people living with a disabling condition.
Children's - Ages 0-8; Middle School - Ages 9-13; Teen - Ages 14-18
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction:
In 1982, Scott O'Dell established The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. The annual award of $5,000 goes to an author for a meritorious 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. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world.
To be eligible for the award, a book must have been published as a book intended for children or young people, it must be set in the New World (Canada, Central or South America, or the United States), it must be published by a publisher in the United States, and it must be written in English by a citizen of the United States.
William C. Morris YA Debut Award:
The William C. Morris YA (Young Adult) Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. The award's namesake is an influential innovator in the publishing world and an advocate for marketing books for children and young adults. William Morris left an impressive mark on the field of children's and young adult literature. He was beloved in the publishing field and the library profession for his generosity and marvelous enthusiasm for promoting literature for children and teens.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction:
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a November 1 - October 31 publishing year. The award winner is announced annually at the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting Youth Media awards, with a shortlist of up to five titles named the first week of December.
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Orbis Pictus Award was established in 1989 for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children. The name Orbis Pictus commemorates the work of Johannes Amos Comenius, Orbis Pictus-The World in Pictures (1957), considered to be the first book actually planned for children.
The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) established the Carter G. Woodson Book Awards for the most distinguished books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States. First presented in 1974, this award is intended to “encourage the writing, publishing, and dissemination of outstanding social studies books for young readers that treat topics related to ethnic minorities and race relations sensitively and accurately.” Books relating to ethnic minorities and the authors of such books rarely receive the recognition they merit from professional organizations. By sponsoring the Carter G. Woodson Awards, NCSS gives wide recognition to and encourages these authors and publishers.
The awards are given in three different categories: Elementary Level (Grades K-6); Middle Level (Grades 5-8); and Secondary Level (Grades 7-12)
The Aesop Prize and Aesop Accolades (honor books) are chosen annually by the Children’s Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society upon English language books for children and young adults, both fiction and nonfiction. Nominated books, which must be published in the year of the deadline or the year before, must be received by committee members no later than August 15. The winning books are announced at the annual meeting of the American Folklore Society each October.
American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award:
This award recognizes excellence in books by American Indians. By identifying and honoring outstanding writing and illustrations in the field of children's literature, the American Indian Library Association encourages authors, illustrators, editors, publishers, and tribal entities to create materials that "present Native Americans in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts."
This award is presented every two years.
Administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award was first given to its namesake in 1954. The award, a bronze medal, 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.
Winners of the award are announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting and receive the medal at the Annual Conference in June. Between 1960 and 1980, the Wilder Award was given every five years. From 1980 to 2001, it was awarded every three years. Beginning in 2001, it has been awarded every two years.
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