Awards

                                            

Awards

It is extremely important for librarians to be familiar with book and media awards. After a librarian can access data by using demographic reports or through surveys and conversations with students and staff, she will be able to have a better understanding of the population she serves.  She will have to assess her collection and decide what area can improve to meet the needs of her patrons. If she is not familiar with these awards, she will be lost. These awards provide high quality, age appropriate, innovative, and diverse titles that can revive her collection and provide equitable access for all. She will always have current and popular titles for her students.  

Printz

The Michael L. Printz award, sponsored by Booklist, is given to the best book written for teenagers. It is named after a passionate librarian from Topeka, Kansas and active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association. The nominated book can be fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or anthology. And, it must be written for students twelve to eighteen years of age. A committee gathers and focuses on the following: story, voice, style, setting, accuracy, characters, theme, illustrations, and design. The award is announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting as part of the Youth Media Awards. It is celebrated yearly with a special program and reception at the ALA Annual Conference.

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction

The Young Adults Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, presents the best nonfiction book published for young adults with the YALSA’s Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. The award is announced is announced at the ALA Youth Media Awards.

Great Graphic Novels for Teens

YALSA lists the best graphic novels for teenagers. This list is compiled yearly, and it includes both fiction and nonfiction graphic novels that have been proven to be enjoyed and preferred by teens. To be considered, young adult and adult titles must focus on the struggles and lives of teens.  

Best Fiction for Young Adults

YALSA presents an annual list of fiction titles that are published for young adults. This list helps librarians add books to their collection that are appealing to students that are 12 to 18 years of age. “Titles are selected for their demonstrated or probable appeal to the personal reading tastes of young adults. Appeal and popularity are not synonymous. Titles from a series should be considered on their individual merits. In addition to the question of appeal, blogging team members should consider the following when assessing titles: language, plot, style, setting, dialog, characterization, and design.” (ALA).

Margaret A. Edwards Award

The Margaret A. Edwards Award is given by YALSA to an author for significantly impacting the lives of young adults through his talent and writing skills. It is awarded to authors who help teens answer questions they have about their lives, the world around them, and their purpose in life. The School Library Journal funds this award and presents the winning author with a $2,000 cash prize.

When selection a book, the committee will focus on the following questions:

1. Does the book(s) help adolescents to become aware of themselves and to answer their questions about their role and importance in relationships, society and in the world?

2. Is the book(s) of acceptable literary quality?

3. Does the book(s) satisfy the curiosity of young adults and yet help them thoughtfully to build a philosophy of life?

4. Is the book(s) currently popular with a wide range of young adults in many different parts of the country?

5. Do the book(s) serve as a "window to the world" for young adults?

Margaret A. Edwards Award Policies and Procedures. (2018, February 21). Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://www.ala.org/yalsa/bookawards/edwards/policies

Alex Award

The Alex Award is awarded to books that are specifically written for adults but are also appealing to young adults. The committee looks at the books that were published the year before and prints the list of ten winning books annually. This award is funded by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust. Edwards was an administrator of young adult programs in Baltimore. She valued the interests of young adults and made it a point to provide books for those who were unable to visit the library. Edwards was called Alex (by her friends); the award is named after her nickname. The committee pay special attention to books that are appealing and interesting to young adults and focus on the titles’ language, plot, style, setting, dialog, characterization, and design.

Odyssey Award

The Odyssey award is presented annually by the Association for Library Service to Children and the Young Adult Library Association to the most outstanding audio book created for children or young adults. To be considered for this award, the audio book must meet a certain criterion. The committee pays close attention to the quality of the production of the audio book and focus on the exciting narration, excellent sound quality, and enhancing music and sound effects. The qualifying audio book can be published in a foreign country but must be available in English in the United States.  

Morris Award

The William C. Morris Award is presented at the ALA’s Youth Media Awards to authors whose recently published titles have positively impacted young adult literature. This award was named after Morris who was a valuable contributor to the publishing and library science fields. He was admired for his kindness and passion as an advocate for children and young adult’s literature. To be considered for this award, the book must be well written, be appealing to young adults, and must be written by authors who have been published for the first time.

Outstanding Books for the College Bound

The list of Outstanding Books for the College Bound is geared towards secondary or high school students that need specific knowledge to prepare for their future. After high school, students must be ready for this new and exciting stage of life. This list provides them with wisdom in a variety of academic subjects that can prepare young adults for the challenges they will be facing such as mastering a college entrance exam; it is updated every five years. It also molds or shapes them into well rounded lifelong learners with an immense hunger for new information. This list not only benefits students that are getting ready for college but also librarians, educators, and parents. The committee focuses on titles that follow the American Library Association Bill of Rights.

Popular Paperbacks

It is every librarian’s job to promote the love of reading among young adults. The list of Popular Paperbacks consists of ten books and is designed to revive in young people the desire to read for fun and not simply because they must. This list tremendously contributes to young adults’ understanding and knowledge by providing a variety of subjects and topics. The committee looks at both adult and young adult titles. To be considered, titles must be popular, and quality is not as important. This list is composed of titles that are appealing to the needs or interests of young adults and promote diversity.

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

The idea of children disliking reading is every librarian’s nightmare. To motivate young adults to

rekindle their love for reading, YALSA releases a list of fiction and nonfiction titles. This list is updated annually, and its sole purpose is to encourage teens to read for pleasure. For books to make it to this honorable list, the committee requires for the books to be well written and looks at physical appearance and style.

Readers’ Choice

YALSA’s Readers’ Choice is a list of young adult literature that is organized by genres. The purpose of the list is to motivate librarians, educators, teens, and anyone who enjoys young adult literature to vote for the most popular books among young adults.  Nominations for the Reader’s Choice are updated monthly which serves as an excellent resource for librarians who wish to maintain an equitable collection that will appeal to young readers. Everyone is encouraged to nominate titles, but only YALSA members can vote for the final list. The list is included in the November issue of YALSA e-news. To be considered, books must meet certain criteria. They must be published “between November 1 of the prior year and October 31 of the current year” (YALSA). They must specifically be written for young adults and must be considered popular among teens. “Titles must be identified with one of the stated broad categories: horror/thriller, mystery/crime, nonfiction, realistic fiction, romance, science fiction/fantasy, and the ‘wild card’ that each committee chooses annually.” (YALSA).

Readers' Choice List Policies & Procedures. (2011, December 13). Retrieved October 19, 2018, from http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklists/readerschoice/policies

Teens Top Ten

Teens have the opportunity to select their favorite books of the previous year. Nominations are done by members of teen book groups from different schools and public libraries around the country. Teens can vote online, and their nominations are posted on the Thursday of National Library Week. The finalists are announced the week following Teen Read Week which is a young adult literacy project created by YALSA with the sole purpose of inspiring young adults to read and visit the library regularly.

Amazing Audio books

Each year, a team of several YALSA members get together to compile a list of distinguished audio books that have significantly impacted young adults. The Amazing Audio Books Blogging Team votes for audio books that have been published with the past two years; its contents must appeal to listeners between 12 and 18 years of age. The team looks at excellent audio quality that engages the listener through its entertaining use of voice, music, sound effects, and language.

YA Choices

The Young Adults’ Choices program has been developing yearly lists of innovative books that promote reading and motivate young adults to read. Since these books are chosen by teens, the list is made up of popular books that are written for young adults. Every year, over 12,000 students from different parts of the United States select 30 books that are provided by publishers.  YA Choices list is an excellent resource for parents, educators, and librarians that wish to provide teens with popular and interesting books at school or at home.

Lone Star Reading List

Texan public and school libraries from the Young Adult Round Table have joined forces to create a list of suggested titles for young adults in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. The books in this list encourage students to read for pleasure.  In ordered to be considered, books must have been published within the past two years and must have been reviewed in a scholarly journal.

TAYSHAS Reading List

TAYSHAS Reading List originated in Texas and was created by Jack Alton Strawn, a librarian from San Antonio. In 1996, Strawn received a request for a reading list for Texan students. In a short period of time, Strawn created a program and developed the very first list that was featured at that year’s conference. The purpose of this project is for teens to read for fun and encourage them to never stop learning.

Maverick Reading List

The Maverick Reading List was created in Texas by students for students. Alicia Holton and Tuan Nguyen were driven by the love of graphic novels. With the help of several librarians, these bright students created the Maverick Graphic Novels Reading list to encourage young adults to enjoy books in graphic novel format. The list was proposed in 2008 and finally published in 2010.

Edgar Award for Mystery

The Edgar Award for Mystery Award is named after Edgar Allan Poe. “All books, short stories and television shows in the mystery, crime, suspense, and intrigue fields are eligible for Edgar® Awards in their respective category if they were published or produced for the first time in the U.S. during the 2018 calendar year” (Mystery Writers of America). This year’s winners will be presented at the 72nd Gala Banquet which will take place on the 26th of April in New York.

Edgar Award Category Information. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2018, from http://mysterywriters.org/edgars/edgar-award-category-information/

NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children

In 1977, the National Council of Teachers in English founded the Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children to recognize an American poet whose work has positively impacted children three to thirteen years of age.   The selecting committee focuses on the excellence of the poet, quality and creativity of the poem, and its appeal to children. The NCTE wishes to encourage authors to write poetry for children and to educate teachers and children in poetry.

Orbis Pictus

The NCTE established the Orbis Pictus Award in 1989 with the desire to recognize high quality nonfiction literature for children. It was named after Orbis Pictus-The World in Pictures, the first book intentionally written for children, authored by Johannes Amos Comenius in 1658.  Publishers, NCTE members, and educators may nominate informational books. The nominated book must meet certain criteria to be considered for this award. The reviewing committee focuses on the titles’ accuracy, organization, design, and style.

Batchelder Award

The Batchelder Award is a unique award.  It was created to recognize an American publisher for publishing a children’s book that was originally written and published in a foreign country in a language other than English. Its goal is to expose American children to rich cultures that will enhance their learning experiences. To be considered for this award, the translated book must have kept its original essence and flavor, should be well written, and be very good in quality.

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction was established in 1982 by Scott O’Dell to honor an author whose (historical fiction) work has impacted children and young adults. The winners are chosen every year and receive a monetary reward of $5,000; rewards are presented at the ALA Conference or during the Winter meeting. O’Dell’s wish was to motivate writers to concentrate on historical fiction and encourage young adults to read about historical events that shaped the world they live in. To be eligible for this award, a book must be published by an American publisher and written by an American author. The book must be written for children or young adults and should take place in Canada, Central or South America, or the United States.

Pura Belpré Award

The award is named after the first Hispanic female to work as a librarian at the New York Public Library, Pura Belpré. The Association for Library Service to Children and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking have joined forces to honor Hispanic authors or illustrators whose work shows the world the richness, flavor, and rhythm of the Hispanic culture. A children’s book author and illustrator are presented with a medal at the Annual Conference of the American Library Association every year. The selecting committee will focus on the richness of the book, its portrayal of the Hispanic culture, the excellence of the text, and the quality of the illustrations.  

Schneider Family Award

The Schneider Family Award is awarded to an author or illustrator of a book that incorporates children or young adults with mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. To qualify for this award, the text and illustrations should reflect the life of a child or young adult living with a disability, it should be well written, and its illustrations must enrich the contents of the book. Every year, three awards are presented to authors and illustrators which receive a monetary reward of $2,500 each at the ALA Awards ceremony.

Sibert Award

The Association for Library Service to Children established in 2001 the Robert F. Silber Information Book Award. It was created to honor authors and illustrators of the most notable informational book published in the U.S. during the previous year. This award is named after “Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois” (ALSC). Titles must meet certain criteria to qualify for this award. The text and illustrations must be exceptional and engaging. It must be well written and accurate. It should include supportive features that make the text interesting to children. This award is presented annually by the ALSC.

Terms and criteria. (2016, January 13). Retrieved October 19, 2018, from http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal/sibertterms/sibertmedaltrms

Stonewall Award & Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award

The Stonewall Book Award is the first award to honor and recognize Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender literature. The Stonewall Book Award added an award in honor of Mike Morgan and his partner of 40 years, Larry Romans. The ALA is grateful for their financial contribution and their time dedicated to GLBTRT. The winning authors or editors are recognized at the ALA Annual Conference in the summer; they are presented with a plaque and $1,000. The reviewing committee will look at eligible titles in adult literature, adult nonfiction, and children’s and young adult literature. To be considered for this award, the book must significantly contribute to the LGBT experience.  

Stonewall Children's & Young Adult Literature Award named for Mike Morgan and Larry Romans. (2012, December 27). Retrieved October 19, 2018, from http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2012/01/stonewall-children’s-young-adult- literature-award-named-mike-morgan-and-larry