Interested in knowing which children's books received awards and medals, or have been named on special "Best Book" lists?  This page lists websites for many important awards, from Florida's Sunshine State Young Reader's Program annual lists through the Newbery and Caldecott Medals, to important awards given in Great Britain and Canada.

The Sunshine State Young Reader's Awards is a statewide reading motivation program for students in grades 3-8. Over 101,000 students read enough books to qualify for voting in the statewide balloting for the favorite book for the year.

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English Illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Services to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The 2010 Caldecott Medal winner is The Lion & the Mouse, illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers).  The screech of an owl, the squeak of a mouse and the roar of a lion transport readers to the Serengeti plains for this virtually wordless retelling of Aesop’s classic fable. In glowing colors, Pinkney’s textured watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the relationship between two very unlikely friends.

The Newbery Medal was named for the eighteenth-century British bookseller, John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Services to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The 2010 winner is When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books. Twelve-year-old Miranda encounters shifting friendships, a sudden punch, a strange homeless man and mysterious notes that hint at knowledge of the future. These and other seemingly random events converge in a brilliantly constructed plot.

The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.  It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association. The 2010 winner is Going Bovine by Libba Bray published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House.  Cameron, a sixteen-year-old slacker, sets off on a madcap road trip along with a punk angel, a dwarf sidekick, a yard gnome and a mad scientist to save the world and perhaps his own life.

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, established by the Association for Library Services to Children in 2001, is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.  The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois, and is sponsored by the company. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream, written by Tanya Lee Stone, published by Candlewick Press.  Women in space – not a big deal now, but it took more than 20 years for NASA to recognize that women have the Right Stuff.  This is the story of the women aviators and aspiring astronauts known as the “Mercury 13,” who in the early 1960’s repeatedly proved themselves capable but could not overcome prevailing prejudices. Meticulously researched and handsomely illustrated with archival materials, Stone’s insightful, passionately written chronicle is sure to inspire.

The Batchelder Award honors Mildred L. Batchelder, a former executive director of the Association of Library Services to Children.  This award, established in her honor in 1966, is a citation awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. The 2010 winner is A Faraway Island, written by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck, and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.  Originally published in Swedish in 1996 as En ö i havet, A Faraway Island was  The book tells the story of two Jewish sisters from Vienna, Austria, twelve-year-old Stephie and her younger sister Nellie, who are sent by their parents to Sweden to escape the Nazis. Nellie adapts easily, but Stephie faces painful challenges. This engaging novel explores the importance of family, friendship and personal growth.

The Coretta Scott King Awards are presented annually by the Coretta Scott King Committee of the American Library Association's Ethnic Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). The 2010 winner is Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Born into slavery in 1838, Bass had a hard life and a strong sense of right and wrong. Bass was one of the most feared and respected lawman in Indian Territory. During his career, he made more than 3,000 arrests but killed only fourteen men.

My People
illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr., written by Langston Hughes, published by ginee seo books, Atheneum Books for Young Readers.  Smith’s vibrant sepia photographs celebrate the beauty and diversity of African Americans. The close-ups of illuminated faces filled with jubilant, loving expressions emerge from black backgrounds and capture the spirit of Langston Hughes’ eloquent poem.
 

The Pura Belpré Award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.  The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian from the New York Public Library. Belpré Author Award for 2010 is Return to Sender, written by Julia Alvarez, published by Alfred A. Knopf.  Ms. Alvarez explores the thin line that separates American citizens and undocumented persons in her brilliantly told novel.  After Tyler’s father is unable to maintain the family farm, he hires undocumented workers, resulting in an interdependent relationship that mirrors current social and political conditions in the United States. Alvarez humanizes a situation by giving a voice to millions of immigrants experiencing similar hardships. This outstanding novel about the solidarity between two children of different cultures will resonate in the hearts of readers of any age.

The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. The award is named for the world-renowned children’s author, Theodor Geisel. "A person’s a person no matter how small," Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, would say. "Children want the same things we want: to laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted." The 2010 winner is Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!, written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes, published by TOON BOOKS, a division of RAW Junior, LLC. A perfect example of a graphic novel designed just for young readers, siblings Benny and Penny encounter trouble when curiosity about a mysterious neighbor leads them into unexpected adventures. The characters' emotions are revealed in the rich artwork within each panel. Children will connect with the realistic dialogue and page-turning appeal of the story. They will be thrilled to enter the world of graphic novels.

The Edgar Allan Poe Awards® for Mystery/Suspense Fiction (the "Edgars®) are named after the MWA's (Mystery Writer's Association) patron saint, Edgar Allan Poe, and are awarded to authors of distinguished work in various categories of the genre.