Have you ever wondered what a certain book award is for and who awards it? Here are some of the prestigious honors that are given to books on an annual basis.
The Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded by the American Library Association (ALA) to the best children's picture book published during the previous year in the United States. The Caldecott Medal was created in response to concerns that the artists creating picture books for children were not getting as much recognition as the authors of children's books. Caldecott Medal winners for the last 5 years are:
- 2010: The Lion and the Mouse written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
- 2009: The House in the Night illustrated by Beth Krommes, written by Susan Marie Swanson
- 2008: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
- 2007: Flotsam by David Wiesner
- 2006: The Hello, Goodbye Window illustrated by Chris Raschka and written by Norton Juster
The Newbery Medal
The Newbery Medal is also awarded by the ALA, this time for the best contribution to children's literature published during the previous year in the United States. Winners from the last 5 years are:
- 2010: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
- 2009: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- 2008: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
- 2007: The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
- 2006: Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
Other notable awards granted by the ALA include:
- The Batchelder Award is given to the most distinguished book published in another language outside of the United States and then translated to English.
- Pura Belpré Award is given to the Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose book best highlights the Latino culture.
- The Geisel Award, named after Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) is a new annual award given to the best book for beginning readers.
Marie Rippel is the author of All About Spelling, the spelling program that is guaranteed to work. For more information, see these articles on literacy.
