Children's Book Awards from the American Library Association (ALA)
- Caldecott AwardAwarded by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
- Newbery AwardAwarded by the American Library Association for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
- Michael L. Printz AwardAwarded annually by the American Library Association for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
- Coretta Scott King AwardsGiven by the American Library Association to African American authors and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions.
- Pura Belpré AwardEstablished in 1996 by the American Library Association. Presented 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.
- Best Books for Young AdultsList honoring the best books published each year for teens.
- Children’s Notable ListsList of notable children's books, videos, recordings and computer software from the American Library Association.
- Choices Reading Lists: Children, Young Adult & Teacher Choices listsA unique list in that children, young adults and teachers vote on their favorite books. A good source to see what children and young adults say they like to read.
- Mildred L. Batchelder AwardThis award, established by ALA in Mildred L. Batchelder's honor in 1966, 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 subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.
- Robert F. Sibert Informational Book AwardAwarded annually by the American Library Association to the author (including co-authors or author-illustrators) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.
- Schneider Family Book AwardGiven by the American Library Association, this award honors an author or illustrator of a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
- Theodor Seuss Geisel AwardAwarded by the American Library Association for the most distinguished contribution to beginning reader literature.
International Awards
2009 Kate Greenaway Award (Great Britain)
- Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature (DAWCL)This site has over 8,000 records from 86 awards across six English-speaking countries (United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Ireland).
Other Children's Literature Awards
Each year, teachers, librarians, and associations such as the National Council of Social Studies and the National Science Teachers Association review books published in the previous year to select the best ones. Here are some of the top awards.
2010 Winners of the Kentucky Bluegrass Award
Peter Spit a Seed at Sue by Jackie French Koller, selected by K-2 grade readers.
Swindle by Gordon Korman, selected by 3-5 grade readers.
* The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, selected by 6-8 grade readers.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, selected by 9-12 grade readers.
- Kentucky Bluegrass AwardAn annual award for the best books as chosen by the students of Kentucky.
- Américas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult LiteratureBooks that authentically present the experience of individuals in Latin America or the Caribbean, or of Latinos in the U.S.
- Boston Globe-Horn Book AwardsThe Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the field of children’s and young adult literature. Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction.
- Carter G. Woodson Book AwardNational Council for the Social Studies established the Carter G. Woodson Book Awards for the most distinguished social science books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States. This award is intended to “encourage the writing, publishing, and dissemination of outstanding social studies books for young readers that treat topics related to ethnic minorities and race relations sensitively and accurately.
- Dolly Gray Award for Children's Literature in Developmental DisabilitiesAward by the Council for Exceptional Children to recognize authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional children's books that appropriately portray individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Ezra Jack Keats AwardThe Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Awards are given annually to an outstanding new writer of picture books for children (age 9 and under) and are presented jointly by the New York Public Library and the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.
- Jane Addams Book AwardBooks that promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community and the equality of the sexes and all races.
- NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for ChildrenNational Council of Teachers of English sponsored award.
- The Nature Generation Green Earth Book AwardThe Green Earth Book Award honors books that "inspire a child to grow a deeper appreciation, respect, and responsibility for his or her natural environment."
- Notable Trade Books for Young PeopleYearly listing of notable books selected by the National Council of Social Studies.
- Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12Yearly listing of outstanding science books selected by the National Science Teachers Association.
- Scott O'Dell Award for Historical FictionAwarded for a meritorious book published in the previous year with a focus on historical fiction.
- Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book AwardPresented to authors or illustrators who authentically reflect the lives of Mexican American children and young adults in the United States.