Children's Literature and Librarianship

Scope:This guide is a selective list of electronic and print resources for school library media specialists and children's librarians. The list is divided into common subject areas; items within those subject areas are listed in descending order by publication year. Email the subject specialist at kpatter@umd.edu for more information.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

American Library Association (ALA): http://www.ala.org

ALA Library

Events and Conferences

AWARD-WINNING BOOKS

Internet Resources:

For more information and lists of award winners, click on the links below, or visit the main Book and Media Awards page, on the American Library Association website .

Alex Awards
Ten outstanding adult fiction and non-fiction books that will appeal to a broad cross-section of teen readers.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award
"This award, established in 1966, is given 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. ALSC gives the award to encourage American publishers to seek out superior children's books abroad and to promote communication among the peoples of the world."

Pura Belpre Award
"This award, established in 1996, is 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 Adults
Recommended reading, fiction and nonfiction, for young adults ages 12 to 18.

Caldecott Medal
"The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children."

Andrew Carnegie Medal
"The Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video, supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, was awarded for the first time in 1991 to honor outstanding video productions for children released during the previous year."

Children's Notables Lists
The year's "best of the best" in children's books, recordings, videos, and computer software.

Margaret A. Edwards Award
"Established in 1988, this annual award honors an author's lifetime achievement for writing books that have been popular over a period of time. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world."

Coretta Scott King Award
"Given to African American authors and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions, the Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream."

Newbery Medal
"The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."

Outstanding Books for the College Bound and Lifelong Learners
"Links to information on the Outstanding Books for the College Bound list. [The list] is organized into five academic disciplines: history, humanities, literature and language arts, science and technology, and social sciences and includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, biography and drama. [Works are selected] using a variety of criteria: readability, cultural and ethnic diversity, balance of view points, and variety of genres and title availability."

Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
"Links to the Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults lists from 1997 to the present along with information on the list policies and procedures and nomination form."

Michael L. Printz Award
"The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association."

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
"The Quick Picks committee seeks books that teens, ages 12-18, will pick up on their own and read for pleasure. The list is geared to the teenager who, for whatever reason, does not like to read. The visual appearance of a book and the standard considerations in the quality of content are equally important when selecting books for reluctant young readers."

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal (Non-fiction)
"The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, established by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2001, is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year."

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award
This award "honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. The award was first given to its namesake in 1954."

Children's Literature and Librarianship

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