I picked up a book the other day and it had a medal on it. The medal said that the book had received a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor. I had no idea what that meant. It didn’t look like any Dr. Seuss book that I had ever seen. It got me thinking. It would be helpful to know just how a children’s book earns different honors and awards. I decided to check it out and here is what I found….
|
Award Name |
Who gets it? |
Who gives it? |
How often? |
Some past winners… |
| The Randolph Caldecott Medal | -The artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year | American Library Association,Association for Library Service to Children Division | Every Year | -“The Lion & the Mouse” by Jerry PinkneyThe Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick |
| Newbery Medal | -The most distinguished American children’s books published the previous year | American Library Association,Association for Library Service to Children Division | Every Year | -“Dead End in Norvelt” by Jack Gantos“Moon over Manifest” by Clare Vanderpool |
| Michael L. Printz Award | -The best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit | American Library Association, YALSA | Every Year | -“Looking for Alaska” by John Green“American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang |
| Coretta Scott King Award | -The outstanding African American author and illustrator (2 awards a year) of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values | American Library Association | Every Year | -“One Crazy Summer” Rita Williams-Garcia, author“Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave” Bryan Collier, illustrator |
| Theodor Seuss Geisel Award | -The author and illustrator of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year | American Library Association,Association for Library Service to Children Division | Every Year | “Tales for Very Picky Eaters” written and illustrated by Josh Schneide“Are You Ready to Play Outside?” by Mo Willems |
| Robert F. Sibert Award | -The author and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. | American Library Association,Association for Library Service to Children Division | Every Year | -“The Wall: Growing Up behind the Iron Curtain” by Peter Sís |
| Margaret A. Edwards Award | -The author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. | American Library Association, YALSA | Every Year | Lois LowryWalter Dean MyersJudy Blume |
Sources of information:
- ALSC and ALA Web pages- http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/aboutcaldecott/aboutcaldecott
- http://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz
- http://www.ala.org/emiert/cskbookawards
- http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geiselaward
- http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal
- http://www.ala.org/yalsa/edwards
- All of the imagines on this post are owned by The American Library Association
So, next time you are checking out a book and it has a nice big medal on it, hopefully you will remember this post! Enjoy!
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