Schneider Family Book Award

Administered by:

Award and Frequency

Eligibility

1. The person with the disability may be the protagonist or a secondary character.
2. Definition of disability: Dr. Schneider has intentionally allowed for a broad interpretation by her wording, the book “must portray some aspect of living with a disability, whether the disability is physical, mental, or emotional.”  This allows each committee to decide on the qualifications of particular titles. 
3. Books with death as the main theme are generally disqualified.
4. The books must be published in English.
5. The award may be given posthumously.
6. Term of eligibility extends to publications from the preceding year.
7. Books previously discussed and voted on are not eligible again.

Application Instructions

Application Instructions:

1. Complete the online application for each submitted title.
2. Send one copy of each submitted title to the ALA Awards Program. (ALA Awards Program - Governance Office, 225 N Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60602)
3. Send one copy of each submitted title to the Schneider Family Book Awards Jury members. (please email governance@ala.org for address information)
4. Titles submitted for the Schneider Family Book Awards will not be returned. 
5. Books must be received by December 1 to be considered for the award.

Contact Information

Selection Criteria

1. Content
   • May be fiction, biography, or other form of nonfiction.
   • Must portray the emotional, mental, or physical disability as part of a full life, not as something to be pitied or overcome.
   • Representation of characters with disabilities should be realistic avoiding exaggeration or stereotypes.
   • Person with disability should be integral to the presentation, not merely a passive bystander.
   • The theme must be appropriate for and respectful of the intended audience age.
   • Information on a disability must be accurate.
2. Style
   • Should be engaging with distinctive use of language for plot and character development and setting delineation.
   • Book should be judged on its own merit as a self-contained  entity, not as part of a series, and irrespective of supportive materials such as a CD or other supplemental material.
3. Illustration in picture books
   • Text and images should complement each other, with differentiated contrast between text, pictures, and background.
   • Format and typeface must be of age appropriate size, clearly readable, and free of typographical errors.
   • Layout should be easy to follow enhancing the flow of the story or information.

Notification