Book awards celebrate outstanding literary achievements and highlight the best books across various genres and categories. These prestigious accolades recognize exceptional storytelling, creativity, and impact. Below are details about the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards (YMA) as well as information other well-known awards for young people's literature.
The John Newbery Award - the American Library Association's yearly award for the best children's book published in the previous year.
The Coretta Scott King Award - named in honor of Coretta Scott King and to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this award is given to children's and young adult books by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience
Pura Belpré Award - named for the first Latina librarian at New York Public Librarian this award is given to children's and young adult books by Latinx authors and illustrators that portray, affirms and celebrates the Latinx cultural experience.
The Schneider Family Book Awards - named for Dr. Katherine Schneider, the first blind student to graduate from Kalamazoo Public School system, in recognization of the librarians who provided her with books in Braille. It is to honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal - named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.
Stonewall Book Award - The first and most enduring award for GLBT books is the Stonewall Book Awards, sponsored by the American Library Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table. Since Isabel Miller's Patience and Sarah received the first award in 1971, many other books have been honored for exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.
The Sydney Taylor Book Award - presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature.
Asian/Pacific American Book Award - The Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature honors and recognizes individual works by Asian/Pacific American authors that highlight Asian/Pacific American cultures and experiences.
American Indian Youth Media Awards - identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.
National Book Award for Young People's Literature - established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in the United States. Since 1989, the Awards have been overseen by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate the best literature published in the United States, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in our culture.
The Michael Printz Award - annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year.
William C. Morris Award - honors a book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.
Alex Awards - given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults - honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.
The following awards from above also have a Young Adult Category and/or have honored YA books in the past.
The Coretta Scott King Award - named in honor of Coretta Scott King and to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this award is given to children's and young adult books by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience
Pura Belpré Award - named for the first Latina librarian at New York Public Librarian this award is given to children's and young adult books by Latinx authors and illustrators that portray, affirms and celebrates the Latinx cultural experience.
The Schneider Family Book Awards - named for Dr. Katherine Schneider, the first blind student to graduate from Kalamazoo Public School system, in recognization of the librarians who provided her with books in Braille. It is to honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal - named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.
Stonewall Book Award - The first and most enduring award for GLBT books is the Stonewall Book Awards, sponsored by the American Library Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table. Since Isabel Miller's Patience and Sarah received the first award in 1971, many other books have been honored for exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.
The Sydney Taylor Book Award - presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature.
Asian/Pacific American Book Award - The Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature honors and recognizes individual works by Asian/Pacific American authors that highlight Asian/Pacific American cultures and experiences.
American Indian Youth Media Awards - identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.
National Book Award for Young People's Literature - established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in the United States. Since 1989, the Awards have been overseen by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate the best literature published in the United States, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in our culture.
National Book Awards
Booker Prize
Pulitzer Prize
Hugo Award
Lambda Award