The Children's Literature Association seeks:
To encourage serious scholarship and research in children's literature. To enhance the professional stature of the graduate and undergraduate teaching of children's literature. To encourage high standards of criticism in children's literature throughfellowships and scholarships to assist members in researchan annual award for the most significant critical article written about children's literature
an annual award for the most significant book of criticism, history or scholarship in the field of children's literature
the Phoenix Award, for the most outstanding book for children published twenty years earlier which did not receive a major award at the time of publication
an annual conference devoted to the discussion and exploration of children's literature
an annual award for the best undergraduate paper written about some aspect of children's literature