About the Award
In June of 1954, ALSC presented a special award to Laura Ingalls Wilder for her lasting and substantial contribution to literature for children. Thereafter, the ALSC Board established an ongoing award to recognize the lifetime achievement of a children’s author and/or illustrator to next be awarded in 1960. The award was known as the Wilder Medal between 1960 and 2017. The name was changed to the Children’s Literature Legacy Award in 2018.
Between 1960 and 1980, the Award was given every five years. From 1980 to 2001, it was awarded every three years. From 2003-2015, it was awarded every two years, and since 2016 the award has been given annually.