Children's Literature: Awards & Reading Lists

Named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, it is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

Named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery, it is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

An award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.

The awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.

This award is named for the world-renowned author, Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Suess. The winner(s) are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination in an effort to engage children in reading.

Founded in 2001, awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.

Established in 1988, the award honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, that have been popular over a period of time. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and their role and importance in society.

This award, honoring Mildred L. Batchelder, 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 later translated into English and published in the United States.

This award was first given to its namesake in 1954 and honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.

Honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.

Started in 1998, the Alex Awards are given to ten books written the previous year for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.

Named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library, the Pura Belpre award is presented to a Latina/Latino writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latin cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Complete list of ALA awards including award descriptions and previous years' winners.

The 2X2 Reading List is a project of the Children’s Round Table, a unit of the Texas Library Association. The 2X2 Committee‘s charge is to produce a list of 20 recommended books for children, age two to grade two.

The Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) reading program was established in 1979 to encourage Texas children to read more books, explore a variety of current books, develop powers of discrimination, and identify their favorite books.

The Texas Lone Star list is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table. The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6, 7, or 8 to explore a variety of current books.

The Tayshas reading list is designed to give students in grades 9-12 a large variety of books to read for pleasure.

The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6-12 to explore a variety of current books for recreational reading.

The purpose of the SPOT list is to encourage youth in grades 6-12 to explore a variety of current, quality books from Texas authors and illustrators. Interaction between authors, illustrators, students and librarians of Texas is encouraged.

The annual list of Lariat award winners calls attention to outstanding fiction published during the year intended for recreational reading for adult readers.

Nonfiction gems for all ages. The list is intended for recreational reading and is not designed to support any particular curriculum.

A bilingual reading list to encourage children ages 5-12 to explore multicultural books and realize the benefits of bilingualism.