The list of awards below was originally published in Children and Libraries (Vol. 13, no. 3/Fall 2015) and has been updated since. The issue's theme was diversity. The list contains a sampling of book awards and recommended reading lists that highlight high-quality literature for young people about diverse peoples and triumphs of the human spirit.
American Library Association (ALA)
Alex AwardALA, YALSA
Focus: ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults (ages 12 through 18).
Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
ALA, YALSA
Focus: the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18).
Coretta Scott King Book AwardsALA, Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table
Focus: books that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
Michael L. Printz Award
ALA, YALSA
Focus: a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
ALA, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table
Focus: books with significant and authentic GLBTQ content.
Focus: books with significant feminist content.
ALA
Focus: books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.
Stonewall Book AwardsALA, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table
Focus: books relating to the GLBT experience.
ALA Affiliates
American Indian Youth Literature Award
American Indian Library Association
Focus: writing and illustrations by and about American Indians.
Asian/Pacific American Award for LiteratureAsian/Pacific American Librarians Association
Focus: books about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage.
Sydney Taylor Book Award
Association of Jewish Libraries
Focus: books that authentically portray the Jewish experience.
Other Organizations
Jane Addams Children's Book Awards
Jane Addams Peace Association
Focus: books that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and equality.
Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs
Focus: books that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the U.S.
Arab American Book AwardArab American National Museum
Focus: books written by and about Arab Americans.
Award for Excellence in Poetry and Annual Notable List of Poetry Books and Verse Novels for Children
National Council of Teachers of English
Focus: Award honors a living American poet for their aggregate work, list reflects the best poetry and verse novels for children each year
Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year
Bank Street College of Education
Focus: Annual list of outstanding titles considering literary quality, accuracy, the potential impact on young readers, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes.
Charlotte Huck Award®
National Council of Teachers of English
Focus: Outstanding Fiction for Children
The Christopher Awards
The Christophers
Focus: media that affirm the highest values of the human spirit.
Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award
Council for Exceptional Children
Focus: books that appropriately portray individuals with developmental disabilities.
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Focus: books that portray universal qualities of childhood, strong and supportive family, and multiculturalism.
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia, Asia for Educators, and Committee on Teaching about Asia
Focus: Books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to an understanding of East and Southeast Asia.
Middle East Outreach Council
Focus: books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to understanding of the Middle East.
Orbis Pictus Award®National Council of Teachers of English
Focus: Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
South Asia National Outreach Consortium
Focus: books that portray South Asia or South Asians living abroad.
We Need Diverse Books
Focus: books that best exemplify Myers’s commitment to providing children with powerful mirrors and windows.
National Jewish Book Award
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
Texas State University
Focus: literature that depicts the Mexican American experience.
Skipping Stones Honor Awards
Skipping Stones Magazine
Focus: multicultural and nature books.
National Council for the Social Studies
Focus: social studies-related books that depict ethnicity and race relations sensitively and accurately.