Celebrating Excellence in Children's and Young Adult Literature

The Newbery Medal is an annual award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. It is named after John Newbery, an influential English publisher in the 18th century, recognized for pioneering children’s literature. The Newbery Medal was the first children’s book award in the world.

The Newbery Medal aims to encourage original creative work in children’s books and recognize the importance of children’s literature. Winners are chosen by a committee comprised of educators, librarians, book reviewers, publishers, and children’s literature experts.

Honor Books: In addition to the Newbery Medal winner, the committee may also recognize notable runners-up as Newbery Honor Books.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal is an annual award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. It is named after Randolph Caldecott, an influential children’s illustrator from the 19th century. His illustrations, innovative in that time period, brought humor and a sense of action to children’s stories.

The Caldecott Medal recognizes that picture books are unique. They provide children with a visual experience. Both the art and the text work together to create the story, but the pictures display exceptional art techniques and are essential to the plot, characters, and interpretation of the story.

Winners are chosen by a committee comprised of educators, librarians, book reviewers, publishers, and children’s literature experts.

Honor Books: In addition to the Caldecott Medal winner, the committee may also recognize notable runners-up as Caldecott Honor Books.

The Coretta Scott King Medal is an annual award given by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table (CSKBART), comprised of members of the American Library Association (ALA). This award promotes distinguished award-winning children and young adults’ literature by African American authors and illustrators that depicts the appreciation of Black culture and universal human values and experiences. The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to honor Coretta Scott King for her courage to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

The awards are given in author and illustrator categories for youth ages preschool to 12th grade. Each award is presented to a Black creator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions.

Honor Books: In addition to the Coretta Scott King Medal winner, the committee may also recognize notable runners-up as Coretta Scott King Honor Books.

The Michael L. Printz Medal is an annual award given by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas high school librarian who was an active member of YALSA and dedicated his life to ensuring that his students had access to quality literature. This award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of ALA.

This award recognizes the best in the field of materials for young adults, readers from ages 12-18. The award promotes the importance of the young adult genre while also inspiring a wider readership of books published for that age group. All forms of writing–fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, graphic novels, anthologies–are eligible.

Honor Books: In addition to the Printz Medal winner, the committee may also recognize up to four notable runners-up as Printz Honor Books.