Juvenile Award Lists

Young Adult Library Services Association award given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.

Association for Library Services to Children 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.

Association for Library Services to Children award 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.

Young Adult Library Services Association list of books, recommended for ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. The list comprises a wide range of genres and styles, including contemporary realistic fiction, fantasy, horror, science fiction and novels in verse.

Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association annual annotated book list of well-written and well-illustrated books with significant feminist content, intended for young readers (ages birth through 18).

Booklist selection of outstanding books that mixes popular appeal with literary excellence, the Books for Youth editorial staff has chosen the titles below as best-of-the-year fiction, nonfiction, and picture books.

Booklist selection of the year’s best personal reading for teenagers among adult books published.

Association for Library Service to Children award to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Most award books are available in the Oesterle Library's juvenile collection.

Each year a committee of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) identifies the best in multicultural books. According to the CSMCL criteria, "best" is defined as: worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to books, best should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels that reflect and encourage the interests of children and youth in exemplary ways.

American Library Association award that 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 through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences.

This page contains numerous links to websites and blogs discussing the importance of diverse children's literature and reviewing titles.

Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table of the American Library Association award recognizing outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.

The Disability in Kidlit Honor Roll is a list of young adult and middle grade novels we enthusiastically recommend. All titles have been thoroughly vetted by disabled readers.

The Diverse BookFinder is a comprehensive collection of children’s and young adult books featuring Black and Indigenous Peoples and People of Color (BIPOC). We’ve cataloged and analyzed picture books fitting this criteria since 2002 and have added early readers, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult novels published since 2022.

Identifying book titles that mirror the wide range of diverse readers and the unique characteristics of a family unit can be a difficult task. The Diverse Families Bookshelf was established as a finding tool to help bridge the gap between readers and books.

Young Adult Library Services Association award honoring an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are considered the “Oscars” of the comics world. Named for the pioneering comics creator and graphic novelist Will Eisner, the awards are given out in over 30 categories during a ceremony each year at Comic-Con International: San Diego.

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8)
Best Publication for Kids (ages 9-12)
Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17)

Young Adult Library Services Association award for the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18).

This blog, written by a self-described "writer, marketer, activist, and parent" is full of book lists that feature diverse authors and topics.

Association for Library Services to Children award to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children’s literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States during the preceding year.

Young Adult Library Services Association list that presents graphic novels published in the past 16 months that are recommended reading for teens aged twelve to eighteen.

Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table of the American Library Association award to affirm new talent among African American authors and illustrators and to offer visibility to excellence in writing and/or illustration which otherwise might be formally unacknowledged.

In April 2003, ISLMA approved the establishment and support of The Monarch Award: Illinois’ K-3 Readers’ Choice Award. The name Monarch was chosen because of its familiarity to K-3 children and to symbolize the growth, change and freedom that becoming a reader brings. The Monarch is designed to encourage children to read critically and become familiar with children’s books, authors and illustrators.

Young Adult Library Services Association award honoring a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.

Association for Library Service to Children award to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Most titles are available in Oesterle Library's juvenile collections.

National Council for the Social Studies list of trade books written primarily for children in grades K-8. The selection committee looks for books that emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences, present an original theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are easily readable and of high literary quality, and have a pleasing format and, when appropriate, illustrations that enrich the text.

National Council of Teachers of English award for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.

National Science Teachers Association book list of recommended trade books for science.

Young Adult Library Services Association award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.

This award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually 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.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association list of recommended books dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual, trangendered and questioning issues and situations for children up to age 18.

The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award is an annual award given to the author of the book voted most outstanding by children in grades four through eight in participating Illinois schools. The award is named in honor of Rebecca Caudill who lived and wrote in Urbana, Illinois, for nearly 50 years. The award is given in recognition for her literary talent and the universal appeal of her books which have touched the hearts of many children and young adults.

American Library Association award honoring an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

Association for Library Services to Children award honoring the most distinguished informational book published in English in the preceding year for its significant contribution to children’s literature.

More than 100 carefully selected lists of multicultural and social justice books for children, young adults, and educators.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Round Table of the American Library Association award presented to English language books that have exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered experience.

This page lists sites that offer recommendations for diverse titles.

Association for Library Services to Children award honoring 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.

National Council for the Social Studies awards for the most distinguished books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States.