Awards and Best-of-the-Year Lists

Selected children’s and young adult literature awards and best-of-the-year lists.

• National
• Wisconsin
• International

National Awards and Best-of-the-Year Lists

AAAS/Subaru/Science Books and Films Prize for Excellence in Science Books
For outstanding science writing and illustration for children and young adults (American Association for the Advancement of Science/Science Books and Films)

Alex Awards
Annual list of 10 adult books that have special appeal to young adults (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association)

American Indian Youth Literature Award
For the best writing and illustration by and about American Indians(American Indian Library Association)

Américas Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award/Commended List
For outstanding books about Latin America or Latinos in the United States (Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs Committee on Teaching and Outreach)

Arab American Book Awards
Acknowledging books that “preserve and advance the understanding, knowledge, and resources of the Arab American community by celebrating the thoughts and lives of Arab Americans.” Includes “Children’s” and Young Adult” categories. (Arab American National Museum)

Asian Pacific American Award for Literature
For books by and about Asian Pacific Americans (Asian Pacific American Librarians Association)

Batchelder Award
For outstanding translated books (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children)

Best Fiction for Young Adults
Annual list of outstanding books for young adults (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association)

Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards
For excellence in literature for children and young adults (Boston Globe newspaper and Horn Book magazine)

CCBC Choices
Annual list of 200-250 recommended books from the prior publishing year (Cooperative Children’s Book Center–CCBC/University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Caldecott Medal
For most distinguished illustration in a picture book for children (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children)

Carter G. Woodson Book Awards
For most distinguished social science books depicting ethnicity in the United States (National Council for the Social Studies)

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books.
Annual list of “the best in multicultural books.”

Charlotte Zolotow Award
For outstanding writing in a picture book for young children (Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Children’s Africana Book Awards
For the best children’s books about Africa (Outreach Council of the African Studies Association)

Christopher Award
For a book that “affirms the highest value of the human spirt.” (The Christophers)

Core Science Fiction Notable Books
For notable children’s and young adult science fiction. Includes three lists: Golden Duck Picture Book list, Eleanor Cameron Middle Grade List, and Hal Clement Young Adult list.  (Core Notable Lists, American Library Association)

Coretta Scott King Award
For outstanding book by a Black author, and outstanding book by a Black illustrator, that promote “understanding and appreciation of the “American Dream” (Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, American Library Association)

Dolly Gray Award
For authentic portrayal of developmental disabilities in books for youth. (Council for Exceptional Children and Brigham Young University)

Ezra Jack Keats Awards
Annual awards given “to an outstanding new writer and new illustrator of picture books for children (age 9 and under).” (Ezra Jack Keats Foundation)

Golden Kite Awards
Recognizes excellence in seven categories of books for youth as determined by a jury of peers in writing and illustration. (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)

Great Graphic Novels for Teens
Annual list of recommended graphic novels for teens (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association)

Hans Christian Andersen Awards
For distinguished lifetime achievement of an author and an artist (International Board on Books for Young People)

Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
For promotion of peace, social justice, world community, and/or equality of the sexes and all races (Jane Addams Peace Association/Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom)

Kirkus Prize
For literary merit. Includes “Young Readers’ Literature” category. (Kirkus Reviews)

Lambda Literary Awards
For outstanding LGBTQ+ storytelling. Includes children’s, middle grade and young adult categories. (Lambda Literary)

Librarians’ Favorites
Annual list of best books of the year selected by librarians (Children’s Book Council).

Michael L. Printz Award
For excellence in young adult literature (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association)

Middle East Book Awards
Recognizing “quality books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to an understanding of the Middle East and its component societies and cultures” (Middle East Outreach Council)

National Book Awards
For literary achievement in young people’s literature (National Book Foundation)

National Jewish Book Awards
To recognize “authors, and encour­age read­ing, of out­stand­ing Eng­lish-lan­guage books of Jew­ish interest.” Includes picture book, middle grade and young adult categories.  (Jewish Book Council)

NCTE Charlotte Huck Award for Fiction
For “fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives.” (National Council of Teachers of English)

Newbery Medal
For most distinguished contribution to American literature for children (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children)

Notable (Social Studies) Trade Books for Young People
Annual list of recommended books about social studies. (Current list available to members only.) (National Council for the Social Studies with the Children’s Book Council)

Notable Books for a Global Society
Annual list of “outstanding trade books for enhancing student understanding of people and cultures throughout the world” (International Literacy Association)

Notable Children’s Books
Annual list of outstanding books for children (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children)

Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts
Annual list of recommended books for English/Language Arts (Children’s Literature Assembly/National Council of Teachers of English)

Odyssey Award
Annual award going to the producer of the best audio book for children and/or young adults (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children, Young Adult Library Services Association)

Orbis Pictus Award
For excellence in non-fiction (National Council of Teachers of English)

Outstanding International Books
Annual list of outstanding books originally published in countries other than the United States and published in the United States in the preceding year (United States Board on Books for Young People)

Outstanding Science Trade Books
Annual list of recommended children’s science trade books each year (National Science Teachers Association with the Children’s Book Council)

Pura Belpré Award
For outstanding book by a Latino/a author and a Latino/a artist (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children and REFORMA)

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Annual list of best books for reluctant young adult readers (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association)

Rainbow List
Annual list of books for children and teens that contain significant gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer or questioning (GLBTQ) content (American Library Association/Rainbow Round Table)

Regina Medal
Lifetime achievement award recognizing “continued, distinguished contribution to children’s literature” (Catholic Library Association)

Rise: A Feminist Book Project List (formerly Amelia Bloomer Project)
Annual listing of recommended feminist literature for ages birth through 18 (American Library Association/Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table)

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
For most distinguished informational (non-fiction) book for children (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children)

Schneider Family Book Award
For books that embody “an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences” (American Library Association)

Social Justice Literature Award
For books that “address social responsibility towards individuals, communities, societies, and/or the environment as well as invite reflection and socially responsible action by the reader.”  (International Literacy Association)

South Asia Book Award
For books that “accurately and skillfully” depict South Asia/South Asian experience, including the South Asian diaspora (South Asia National Outreach Consortium)

Stonewall Book Awards
For “exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.” Includes adult and youth categories. (American Library Association/ Rainbow Round Table)

Sydney Taylor Book Awards
For best Jewish children’s literature (Association of Jewish Libraries)

Teachers’ Favorites
Annual list of best books of the year selected by teachers (Children’s Book Council). (Formerly created in partnership with the International Literacy Association under the name “Teachers’ Choices.”)

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
For the most distinguished beginning reader (American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children)

We Are Kidlit Collective Annual Summer Reading List
Annual recommended list that “centers IPOC voices in children’s literature.”

Tomás Rivera Book Award
For most distinguished book for children and young adults about Mexican Americans (Texas State University)

USBBY Outstanding International Books
For international books (originating outside the U.S. and published or distributed here) deemed most outstanding each year (United States Board on Books for Young People)

Walter Awards
For books by diverse authors with diverse content. (We Need Diverse Books)

Will Eisner Comic Awards
For creative achievement in the comics industry. Includes categories for early readers, kids, and teens. (Comic-Con International)

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
Honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults. First given in 2010. (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association)

Wisconsin-Based Awards

Elizabeth Burr / Sheridan Worzalla Award
For distinguished achievement in children’s literature by a Wisconsin author (Wisconsin Library Association)

Golden Archer Awards
For best book chosen by Wisconsin K-12 students at four levels (Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association)

Selected Awards from Other Countries

Australian Children’s Book of the Year
To celebrate quality literature and contributions to Australian children’s literature. (Children’s Book Council of Australia)

Carnegie Medal for Illustration (formerly Kate Greenaway Award)
For outstanding illustration in a (British) book for children. (CILIP, Library and Information Association, Great Britain)

Carnegie Medal for Writing
For outstanding (British) book for children (CILIP, Library and Information Association, Great Britain)

Governor’s General Literary Awards
Annual Canadian book award given in a number of categories, including “young people’s literature”  (text and illustration) (Canada Council for the Arts/Governor General of Canada)