Children & Education: Children's Literature

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world. While the ALA offers awards for all types of books, articles, papers, research, age levels and professions, click on the image to see the ALA's complete list of "Book, Print, and Media Awards" for children and young adults.

(image from ala.org)

Some of the more popular Children's Literature awards are:

• The Theodore Seuss Geisel Award, an award for beginner reader books
• The Pura Belpre`Award is given to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work celebrates the Latino heritage and culture
• The Coretta Scott King Award is awarded to African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience
• The award to honor authors or illustrators whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children is the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award.

The Newbery Medal is awarded each year by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Newbery Medal winner and Honor Book (runners-up) can be fictional or informative, cover various genres, and should be at the top of your "To Read" list! Here is a full list of Newbery Medal winners and honor books since 1922.

The 2016 Newbery Medal winner and and honor books are:

(all images taken from ala.org)

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of Randolph Caldecott, a nineteenth-century English illustrator. The medal is awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. Each year the Caldecott Medal is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Just like Newbery books, Caldecott books can be all sorts of genres, fiction or not, realistic or completely abstract, and even in the form of chapter books too. Check out a list of Caldecott Medal winners and honor books since 1938.

The 2016 Caldecott Medal winner and honor books are:

(all images from ala.org)

Just like there are children's lit awards, there are also awards given out to Young Adult books as well; some of the more popular awards are:

• The Michael L. Prince Award, an award given for exemplary excellence in YA literature.
• The William C. Morris Debut Award celebrates a first time YA author.
• The Teen's Top Ten Award is put together by teens, for teens.

Emily Newton

Email: enewton@hfcc.edu

Reference Desk: 313.845.6377

Henry Ford College
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Dearborn, MI 48128