Awards and Best-of-the-Year Lists

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

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 Award
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.” One of the award categories is for “Children’s or Young Adult” books. (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)

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

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

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)

Children’s Book of the Year (Australia)
Annual Australian book award given in four categories: Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, and Picture Book (Children’s Book Council of Australia)

Children’s Choices
Annual list of best books selected by children (International Literacy Association with the Children’s Book Council)

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)

E. B. White Read-Aloud Awards
Annual award (established in 2004) for a picture book and book for older readers. A shortlist is also named. (American Booksellers Association)

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)

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

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)

International Latino Book Awards
For English, Spanish, and bilingual books in categories for adults and children, including bilingual picture book (Latino Literacy Now)

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)

Kate Greenaway Medal
For distinguished illustration in a (British) book for children (CILIP, Library and Information Association, Great Britain)

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)

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)

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)

Teacher’s Choices
Annual list of best books of the year selected by teachers (International Reading Association with the Children’s Book Council)

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)

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)

Young Adults’ Choices
Annual list of best books of the year selected by young adults (International Literacy Association with the Children’s Book Council)

Wisconsin-Based Awards

Arthur Tofte / Betty Ren Wright Children’s Book Award
For the best children’s book published by a Wisconsin writer in the contest year (Arts + Literature Laboratory) (formerly administered by the Council for Wisconsin Writers)

Elizabeth Burr / 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)

Diversity Focus

The awards and lists below are identity-based. Read more about them in the list on the left.

  • American Indian
    Youth Literature Award
  • Américas Award
  • Arab American Book Award
  • Asian Pacific American Award
  • Carter G. Woodson Awards
  • Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books
  • Children’s Africana Awards
  • Coretta Scott King Award
  • International Latino Book Awards
  • Middle East Book Awards
  • Pura Belpré Award
  • Rainbow List
  • Schneider Family Book Award
  • South Asia Book Award
  • Stonewall Book Awards (youth categories)
  • Sydney Taylor Book Awards
  • Tomás Rivera Book Award
  • We Are Kidlit Annual Summer Reading List