Main

International Awards Archives

June 10, 2007

Américas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature

The Américas Award is given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. By combining both and linking the Americas, the award reaches beyond geographic borders, as well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere.

Established in 1993. Sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP).

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

Astrid Lindgren is Sweden’s favourite author and one of the world’s most popular. She passed away in 2002 at the age of 94, but her stories will live forever. To honour her memory and promote children’s and youth literature around the world, the Swedish government has founded an international prize in her name: The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

The award, of five million Swedish crowns, is the world’s largest for children’s and youth literature, and the second-largest literature prize in the world.

From the Swedish people to the world

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is in many ways an award from the Swedish people to the world. This is partly because it is paid for by public funding, but also because of the wide and deep affection for Astrid Lindgren and her works from generations of Swedes. The books about Pippi Longstocking, Karlsson on the Roof and her other beloved characters can be found on most bookshelves in Sweden, often so well read that they are almost falling apart.

Illustrations are at least as important as words in most children’s books, and many such books have strong roots in oral storytelling. That is why it is so natural that the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is more than just a literature prize. Or rather it is a literature prize in the widest possible sense of the phrase. Not only authors are eligible. Illustrators, story-tellers and people or organisations that make valuable contributions to the promotion of reading can also be recognised.

Few have done as much for children’s right to be children, and for their imaginations, as Astrid Lindgren. She was always on the children’s side. Fearless as Pippi Longstocking. As imaginative as Emil in the Soup Tureen. Compassionate like the brothers Lionheart.

This award in Astrid Lindgren's name will give children’s and youth literature the place it deserves in the world. The prize can attract new, gifted story-tellers, authors and illustrators and encourage them to create good literature.

The prize is also a signal to institutions and organisations around the world that good children’s and youth literature is worth millions. And our children are worth more than millions.

Good children’s literature gives the child a place in the world, and the world a place in the child.

Bisto Awards

The CBI Bisto Awards are the leading annual Children's Book Awards in Ireland. Now in their 17th year, the awards have been sponsored since their inception by Bisto (RHM Ireland). The Awards are made annually by Children's Books Ireland to authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland.

Established in 1990. Sponsored by Children's Books Ireland.

Esther Glen Award

The Esther Glen Award is offered annually by LIANZA, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa.

It recognises the most distinguished contribution to literature for children by an author who is a citizen or resident of New Zealand.

Established in 1947. Sponsored by the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa.

June 11, 2007

Hans Christian Andersen Awards

Every other year IBBY presents the Hans Christian Andersen Awards to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature.

The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international recognition given to an author and an illustrator of children's books. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the Patron of the Andersen Awards.

The nominations are made by the National Sections of IBBY and the recipients are selected by a distinguished international jury of children's literature specialists.

The Author's Award has been given since 1956 and the Illustrator's Award since 1966. The Award consists of a gold medal and a diploma, presented at a festive ceremony during the biennial IBBY Congress. A special Andersen Awards issue of IBBY's journal Bookbird presents all the nominees, and documents the selection process.

Established in 1956. Sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People and the Nissan Motor Company.

International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honor List

The IBBY Honour List is a biennial selection of outstanding, recently published books, honouring writers, illustrators and translators from IBBY member countries. The IBBY Honour List is one of the most widespread and effective ways of furthering IBBY's objective of encouraging international understanding through children's literature.

The titles are selected by the National Sections which can nominate one book for each of the three categories. For a country with a substantial and continuing production of children's books in more than one language, up to three books may be submitted for writing and translation in each official language.

Important considerations in selecting the Honour List titles are that the books are representative of the best in children's literature from the country and that the books are suitable for publication throughout the world. It provides insight into the diverse cultural, political and social settings in which children live and grow and it can be used by all those involved with developing educational and literacy programmes and publishing initiatives to develop exemplary “international” collections.

Established in 2004. Sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People.

IRA Children’s Book Awards

Children’s Book Awards are given for an author’s first or second published book written for children or young adults (ages birth to 17 years). Awards are given for fiction and nonfiction in each of three categories: primary, intermediate, and young adult. Books from any country and in any language published for the first time during the 2006 calendar year will be considered. Each award carries a monetary stipend.

Established in 1975. Sposnored by the International Reading Association.

Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award

The IRA Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award is given every three years to a promising new poet of children’s poetry (for children and young adults up to grade 12) who has published no more than two books of children’s poetry. A book-length single poem may be submitted. The award is for published works only. Poetry in any language may be submitted; non-English poetry must be accompanied by an English translation.

Established in 1995. Sponsored by the International Reading Association.

Jane Addams Children's Book Awards

The Jane Addams Children's Book Awards are given annually to the children's books published the preceding year that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence.

Established in 1953. Sponsored by Jane Addams Peace Association.

June 12, 2007

Paul A. Witty Short Story Award

This award is given to the author of an original short story published for the first time during 2006 in a periodical for children. The award carries a US$1,000 stipend. The short story should serve as a literary standard that encourages young readers to read periodicals.


Established in 1986. Sponsored by the Internaional Reading Association.

Society of School Librarians International Book Awards

The Society of School Librarians International (SSLI) gives annual awards in various categories to outstanding trade books for young people, published in the preceding year.

Possibly dormant.

Established in 1995. Sponsored by The Society of School Librarians International.