I have created this blog as my final project for LIBR 130 on Awards for Children's Literature. Here you will find basic background information about awards that are very well known (such as the Newbery) as well as some that you may not have heard of. I have also included awards specifically for Washington state. Check along the side to find titles of awards that you would like to learn more about and the link will take you right there. If you're reading the blog all the way through, click "Older Posts" at the bottom to take you to the next page. Or, if you don't want to have to click through pages, click on "May" on the left side and that will make this blog one huge page.
Anything that is highlighted will take you to a website for more information and those that say "winner" will take you to a page with previous winners as well as the current winner. My intent is for this to be a quick reference with links and a bibliography to take you to more information.
The awards are in order from the earliest to the latest except for the regional awards which are all at the end.
The ALA and WLMA websites have more in depth background on many of these awards if you are interested in digging deeper.
Abbreviations that you will see in this blog:
ALA = American Library Association
ALSC = Association for Library Services to Children, a division of the ALA
WLMA = Washington Library Media Association
YALSA =Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the ALA
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Ideas for Your Library
There are many ways to use this blog as a springboard to library lessons and/or collaboration with other teachers.
*Use the information on this blog to see the new award winning books. You may want to develop your library collection...what better way than to include award winning books! Do you need more multicultural literature? Check out the Coretta Scott King or the Pura Belpré Awards.
*If your budget is tight, create a "Books for Birthdays" (and other special events) promotion. Have a list of award winning books appropriate for your level. Parents of students can order (through you) a book and have a label placed in the front signifying the child's name, event, and date.
*Ask your PTA, ASB, or community business if they will provide funds to buy books in a certain award category. Put book labels in the front of those books to thank the donor(s).
*Hold mock elections to choose a book that the students will vote on. Students can nominate books in a particular category - best illustrations, best picture book, best teen adventure novel...choose a category you'd like to have the students devour. You could choose to have a range of publishing dates...or not. You set the boundaries, the students will read many books to decide which is their favorite and vote. Kids will encourage their friends to read their favorite book in order to vote on them. You can name this award after your school, such as "Skyline's Best Picture Book Award". Everyone wins because they've read some great books. Works with all age groups.
*After teaching about the Newbery and Caldecott Awards, go to Clinton Ave Elementary School for some quizzes and games about these awards. Beware, they can be tough!
*Set up displays of award winning books. Many children will have heard of the Newbery and Caldecott Awards. Have they heard of the Golden Key or the Michael L. Printz Award? Find as many of the books as you can, teach about them a bit, and see them fly off the shelves.
*Show a video about an award. The Pura Belpré Award is a short, 12 minute video that promotes Latina and Latino writing. I found it very endearing and would imagine children wanting to try writing and illustrating to keep their heritage alive, no matter what their background. Use this as a kick-off to a unit on cultural background. Video information is in the bibliography.
*Have students make trading cards of award winning books. You can keep it to one award or have them do many, perhaps just the books your library owns. On the backs include author, illustrator, year published and year of award. Then photocopy (in color if available) and give to students when they finish reading a book. What a collection they could gather!
*Have students write congratulatory letters to the authors or illustrators of award winning books that they have read. Have them include praise for the book, being specific about their favorite parts or scenes.
*Interview me! Have the student do research on award winning authors or illustrators and learn all they can. Set up a "talk show" with a host(ess) who will ask basic questions of the author/illustrator (student) in a mock interview. Kids would love to dress up to play their part.
*Map it! Mark places on a map to show 1)Where winning authors/illustrators reside. 2)Settings of award winning books. 3)Countries where authors/illustrators live(d).
*If you're doing the Young Readers Choice, Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, or Sasquatch Award, use the tallied votes to make graphs to show students and compare voting patterns. It also makes a good example for teaching Excel graphing. This may part of your curriculum.
*Collect facts (from this blog and the links provided) about the award(s) you are teaching. Create a Jeopardy-type game with the information.
*See the book Children's Book Awards by Diana F. Marks for many activities and worksheets designed around specific awards (see bibliography). It also contains detailed background on the people for whom the awards are named. You may want a copy for your library!
*To see a calendar of when awards are announced, click DAWCL Calendar of Awards. Mark on your own calendar when the awards you are interested in are announced and bookmark the above website.
*Use the information on this blog to see the new award winning books. You may want to develop your library collection...what better way than to include award winning books! Do you need more multicultural literature? Check out the Coretta Scott King or the Pura Belpré Awards.
*If your budget is tight, create a "Books for Birthdays" (and other special events) promotion. Have a list of award winning books appropriate for your level. Parents of students can order (through you) a book and have a label placed in the front signifying the child's name, event, and date.
*Ask your PTA, ASB, or community business if they will provide funds to buy books in a certain award category. Put book labels in the front of those books to thank the donor(s).
*Hold mock elections to choose a book that the students will vote on. Students can nominate books in a particular category - best illustrations, best picture book, best teen adventure novel...choose a category you'd like to have the students devour. You could choose to have a range of publishing dates...or not. You set the boundaries, the students will read many books to decide which is their favorite and vote. Kids will encourage their friends to read their favorite book in order to vote on them. You can name this award after your school, such as "Skyline's Best Picture Book Award". Everyone wins because they've read some great books. Works with all age groups.
*After teaching about the Newbery and Caldecott Awards, go to Clinton Ave Elementary School for some quizzes and games about these awards. Beware, they can be tough!
*Set up displays of award winning books. Many children will have heard of the Newbery and Caldecott Awards. Have they heard of the Golden Key or the Michael L. Printz Award? Find as many of the books as you can, teach about them a bit, and see them fly off the shelves.
*Show a video about an award. The Pura Belpré Award is a short, 12 minute video that promotes Latina and Latino writing. I found it very endearing and would imagine children wanting to try writing and illustrating to keep their heritage alive, no matter what their background. Use this as a kick-off to a unit on cultural background. Video information is in the bibliography.
*Have students make trading cards of award winning books. You can keep it to one award or have them do many, perhaps just the books your library owns. On the backs include author, illustrator, year published and year of award. Then photocopy (in color if available) and give to students when they finish reading a book. What a collection they could gather!
*Have students write congratulatory letters to the authors or illustrators of award winning books that they have read. Have them include praise for the book, being specific about their favorite parts or scenes.
*Interview me! Have the student do research on award winning authors or illustrators and learn all they can. Set up a "talk show" with a host(ess) who will ask basic questions of the author/illustrator (student) in a mock interview. Kids would love to dress up to play their part.
*Map it! Mark places on a map to show 1)Where winning authors/illustrators reside. 2)Settings of award winning books. 3)Countries where authors/illustrators live(d).
*If you're doing the Young Readers Choice, Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, or Sasquatch Award, use the tallied votes to make graphs to show students and compare voting patterns. It also makes a good example for teaching Excel graphing. This may part of your curriculum.
*Collect facts (from this blog and the links provided) about the award(s) you are teaching. Create a Jeopardy-type game with the information.
*See the book Children's Book Awards by Diana F. Marks for many activities and worksheets designed around specific awards (see bibliography). It also contains detailed background on the people for whom the awards are named. You may want a copy for your library!
*To see a calendar of when awards are announced, click DAWCL Calendar of Awards. Mark on your own calendar when the awards you are interested in are announced and bookmark the above website.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Newbery Medal
The children's award that started them all - the Newbery Medal.
Purpose -The Newbery Medal is awarded to a book considered "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children" (children being those up to the age of 14)(Newbery & Caldecott Awards, 1).
History -This was the first children's book award ever created. It was started in 1922 by Fredric G. Melcher. It is named for John Newbery, an 18th-century English bookseller.
Facts -
*The author must be a citizen or resident of the United States.
*The books considered are published in the previous year only.
*At one time, the committee decided both the Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners. In 1978, separate committees were created, one for each of the awards.
*Compilations and reprints are not allowed, but poetry, nonfiction, and fiction are all considered.
*Fifteen people serve on the committee to chose the winner.
*Books are marked with a gold-foil seal.
Recent winner - Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Purpose -The Newbery Medal is awarded to a book considered "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children" (children being those up to the age of 14)(Newbery & Caldecott Awards, 1).
History -This was the first children's book award ever created. It was started in 1922 by Fredric G. Melcher. It is named for John Newbery, an 18th-century English bookseller.
Facts -
*The author must be a citizen or resident of the United States.
*The books considered are published in the previous year only.
*At one time, the committee decided both the Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners. In 1978, separate committees were created, one for each of the awards.
*Compilations and reprints are not allowed, but poetry, nonfiction, and fiction are all considered.
*Fifteen people serve on the committee to chose the winner.
*Books are marked with a gold-foil seal.
Recent winner - Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Caldecott Medal
Purpose - The Caldecott Medal was created to encourage American illustrators to create memorable illustrations that lived up to the standard of Randolph Caldecott's books which include Sing a Song for Sixpence and Hey Diddle Diddle.
History - The Caldecott Medal was first awarded in 1938 and was named after the 19th century British illustrator, Randolph Caldecott. This is the second award created for children's books. Mr. Caldecott was born in England and illustrated pictures for newspapers, travel books, as well as two books by Washington Irving. Shortly after moving to America, he died.
Facts -
*Winning illustrators must be U.S. citizens or residents.
*A different group of fifteen people meet each year to choose the Caldecott Medal and Honor book recipients.
*The books are awarded a gold-foil seal which lets librarians, teachers, parents, and children easily recognize a winner
*Winning the Caldecott helps to ensure that a book will remain on library and bookstore shelves for many years.
*Winning books have a greater chance at being translated into other languages or made into a video, movie, or stage production.
Recent winner Locomotive by Brian Floca
History - The Caldecott Medal was first awarded in 1938 and was named after the 19th century British illustrator, Randolph Caldecott. This is the second award created for children's books. Mr. Caldecott was born in England and illustrated pictures for newspapers, travel books, as well as two books by Washington Irving. Shortly after moving to America, he died.
Facts -
*Winning illustrators must be U.S. citizens or residents.
*A different group of fifteen people meet each year to choose the Caldecott Medal and Honor book recipients.
*The books are awarded a gold-foil seal which lets librarians, teachers, parents, and children easily recognize a winner
*Winning books have a greater chance at being translated into other languages or made into a video, movie, or stage production.
Recent winner Locomotive by Brian Floca
Friday, May 21, 2010
Jane Addams Book Award
Purpose - This annual award is given to books for children that promote peace, monority group equality, world issues, and equality for both men and women.
History - This was the fourth children's book award created in the United States. It was first awarded in 1953.
Originally, the award was given to one book per year, but in 1993 a picture book category was added so the award now goes to two books per year. Honor books are also selected. The award is named for Jane Addams who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. She was also the first woman to with this prize.
Facts -
*Books may be poetry,fiction, or nonfiction.
*Winners receive certificates as well as a cash prize.
*Adminstered by The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the Jane Addams Peace Association.
Recent winners - Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson and We've Got a Job by Cynthia Levinson.
History - This was the fourth children's book award created in the United States. It was first awarded in 1953.
Facts -
*Books may be poetry,fiction, or nonfiction.
*Adminstered by The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the Jane Addams Peace Association.
Recent winners - Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson and We've Got a Job by Cynthia Levinson.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Purpose -Every two years, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal is given to an author or illustrator whose work has made a "substantial and lasting contribution" (ALA).
History - The first award was given to Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) herself in 1954 for her great accomplishments in writing for children. From 1960-1980, the medal was given every five years. From 1980-2001, every three years an award was given. Now, since 2001, the award is given every two years. Laura Ingalls Wilder is best known for her Little House books and won the Newberry Honor Award for five of her books. Winners of the medal must have more than one book published and the author's work must be available for at least 10 years before receiving the prize.
Facts -
*Administered by the ALSC.
*Books must be published in the United States, but can be previously published in another country.
Recent winner - The 2013 winner is
Katherine Paterson whose books include Bridge to Terabithia, The Great Gilly Hopkins, and The King's Equal.
History - The first award was given to Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) herself in 1954 for her great accomplishments in writing for children. From 1960-1980, the medal was given every five years. From 1980-2001, every three years an award was given. Now, since 2001, the award is given every two years. Laura Ingalls Wilder is best known for her Little House books and won the Newberry Honor Award for five of her books. Winners of the medal must have more than one book published and the author's work must be available for at least 10 years before receiving the prize.
Facts -
*Administered by the ALSC.
*Books must be published in the United States, but can be previously published in another country.
Recent winner - The 2013 winner is
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Hans Christian Andersen Award
Purpose -The Hans Christian Andersen Award is an international award given every two years to an author and illustrator who has made a significant contribution to children's literature. 
History -This award has been given to an author since 1956. Illustrator awards were added in 1966. Hans Christian Andersen was born in Denmark in 1805. He tried acting and writing for adults, but was not successful until he started writing stories for children. He is best known for his fairy tales. He died in 1875.
Facts -
*Administered by International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
*The Queen of Denmark is the Patron of the Andersen Awards, giving a gold medal and a diploma to the recipients.
*The recipient of the award must be living.
*This award is also called the "Little Nobel Prize."
.
Recent winner - The 2012 author winner is Maria Teresa Andruetto of Argentina. The winning illustrator for 2012 is Peter Sis from Czech Republic.
History -This award has been given to an author since 1956. Illustrator awards were added in 1966. Hans Christian Andersen was born in Denmark in 1805. He tried acting and writing for adults, but was not successful until he started writing stories for children. He is best known for his fairy tales. He died in 1875.
Facts -
*Administered by International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
*The Queen of Denmark is the Patron of the Andersen Awards, giving a gold medal and a diploma to the recipients.
*The recipient of the award must be living.
*This award is also called the "Little Nobel Prize."
.
Recent winner - The 2012 author winner is Maria Teresa Andruetto of Argentina. The winning illustrator for 2012 is Peter Sis from Czech Republic.
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