Award Winning Children's Books - 2012

The first children's book award, The Newbery Medal, is named for the eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newberry and was first awarded in 1922. The award is given annually by the Assocation of Library Service to Children, a divison of the American Library Association.

The purpose of the Newbery Medal was stated as follows: "To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children. To emphasize to the public that contributions to the literature for children deserve similar recognition to poetry, plays, or novels. To give those librarians, who make it their life work to serve children's reading interests, an opportunity to encourage good writing in this field."

The Randolph Caldecott Medal was named after 19th-century illustrator Randolph Caldecott and is given annually to the illustrator of the most distinquished American picture book as awarded by the Association of Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Assocation.

The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award was established in 2004 and first awarded in 2006. The Geisel award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children's literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States during the preceding year.

Theodor Seuss Geisel, who you may know as Dr. Seuss, was born in 1904 and published 46 children's books including The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. None of the Dr. Seuss books won a Newbery Medal or a Caldecott Medal.

The Mildred L. Batchelder award was established in her honor in 1966 The award is a citation to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.

Established in 2004, E.B. White Read Aloud Awards honor books that reflect the universal read aloud standards that were created by the work of the author E.B. White in his classic books for children: Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan.

In 2011, the Association of Booksellers for Children and the American Booksellers Association merged into one organization and the EB White Read Aloud Awards are presented as part of the Indies awards in the categories of Middle Reader and New Picture Book.

Books are awarded based on their universal appeal to read aloud. Books are given away in two categories: Award for Picture Books and Award for Older Readers and both awards also present honors books.

The American Booksellers Association in April presents the Indies Choice Book Awards. The winners represent the spirit of independing bookstores nationwide and are chosen by the owners and staff at ABA stores nationwide. The Indies is a movement representing Independent bookstores. The American Booksellers Association has had an annual award under the following names:

The Indies Choice Book Award - 2009 to Present
Book Sense Book of the Year Award - 2000 - 2008
American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) Award - 1989 - 1999

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.

Once every two years beginning in 2011, previously once every three year, The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award 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.

The Orbis Pictus award commemorates the work of Johannes Amos Comenius, Orbis Pictus-The World in Pictures (1657), considered to be the first book actually planned for children.

The Orbis Pictus award was established in 1990 and is given each year in January for excellence in the writing of nonfiction books for children.

The Golden Kite Awards is given annually to recognize excellence in children's literature. The Golden Kite Awards presents four winners and four honors books in the following categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration.

The first books were given Golden Kite Awards in 1973 and are the only children's literary award judged by a jury of peers. Eligible books must be written or illustrated by SCBWI members, and submitted either by publishers or individuals.

The Josette Frank Award is named after the 1st editor of the Children's Book Committee which began in 1909. Josette Frank remained a member for over sixty years. These award winning children's fiction book or books are honored for outstanding literary merit in which children grow emotionally and morally while dealing with problems in a positive and realistic way.

The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award is named after Flora Stieglitz Straus who chaired the Children's Book Committee for over 60 years. These award winning children's non-fiction book or books are honored for literacy that serves as an inspiration to young readers.

The Claudia Lewis Award is named after longtime member of the Children's Book Committee, esteemed poet, author, and teacher of children's literature, Claudia Lewis. The award winning children's poetry honors the best poetry book of the year for young readers.

For more information about these awards, visit The Children's Book Committee's website

The Jane Addams Children's Book Awards have been presented annually since 1953. The awards are given annually to children's books that promote peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races. The awards are announced on April 28, the anniversary of the founding of WILPF.

Jane Addams founded the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in 1915. She was a social worker who worked most of her life for peace, freedom, justice, and equality and is most renowned for her work at Hull House in Chicago. In 1931, Jane Addams became the first American women to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Christophers, as they are commonly called, were established by Father James Keller in 1945, who believed that every individual has the power and responsibility to change the world for the better. The Christophers award all types of media, including children's books. The awards encourage audiences and readers to use their best instincts on behalf of others, "affirm the highest values of the human spirit".

The Christopher award is a bronze medallion, 4 inches in diameter and is depicted on the right.

The 61st annual Christopher Awards were announced on April 15, 2010
The 62nd annual Christorpher Awards were announced on April 6, 2011

The Parents Choice Book Awards provides parents with new products that are right for children. The Parents Choice Awards are the oldest non-profit program to recognize quality children's media, including books.

The Parents Choice Awards have six different level of awards, the Parents' Choice Gold Awards, the Parents' Choice Silver Awards, the Parents' Choice Recommended Seal, the Parents' Choice Approved Seal, the Parents' Choice Classic Award, and the Parents' Choic FunStuff Award. To see all the winners please visit their website.

The Children's Choice Book Awards began in 2008 as the only national award voted on by children giving children a voice in their favorite books. The Children's Choice Awards are presented during Children's Book Week in May and are sponsored by the Children's Book Council.

Visit the following lens for Past Winners of the Children's Choice Book Awards.

The 2011 Children's Choice Book Awards will be presented and available on this page later in 2011.

The Horn Book Award is awarded to children's and young literature books by a panel of three independent judges in the categories of Picture Book, Non Fiction, and Fiction and Poetry. A winning book is awarded in each category and the judges may also present two honors books and give a special citation. Winning titles must be published in the United States, but unlike the Caldecott and Newberry Medals, the authors do not have to be citizens of the United States.

The 2011 Horn Book Awards will be presented in June 2011.