Awards

Wow! I had no idea there are so many different awards for children's books! I am also impressed by the awards given to international books that have been written in a language other than English and translated into English for publication in the U.S. I also learned how many awards are given out just in Texas by the TLA. As a parent of a child who loves graphic novels, I am excited to learn that there is an award for graphic novels written for grades K-5. As a bilingual teacher I am happy to see both Belpre Award for Latino/Latina writers and illustrators as well as TLA's Tejas Star Award for multicultural books that promote the cognitive and economic benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism.

ALA Awards:

• Newbery - honors author of most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
• (Randolph) Caldecott - honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children
• Coretta Scott King - outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values
• (Mary Hill) Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award - honors an author, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children's literature of any country, who then presents a lecture at winning host site
• (Mildred L.) Batchelder Award - given to most outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English, in a country other than US, translated into English for publication in US
• (Pura) Belpre - honors Latino write and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate Latino cultural experience
• Sibert - honors author(s)  and illustrator(s) of most distinguished, informational book published during preceding year
• Schneider Family - honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies artistic expression of the disability experience for child or adolescent audiences
• Geisel - honors the author and illustrator of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children's literature known as beginning reader books published in US preceding year
• Odyssey - best audiobook produced for children or young adults, available in English in US
• (Laura Ingalls) Wilder - honors and author or illustrator whose books, published in US, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children

International Literacy Association: 

• Children's Choices - list of brief reviews of approximately 100 titles, each of which has been recommended by children themselves
• Teacher's Choices - approximately 30 books rated by teams of teachers, librarians, and reading specialists as outstanding for curriculum use
• Young adults' choices - descriptions of approximately 30 books selected by teenage reviewers 

Texas Library Association (TLA) Awards and Lists:

• 2x2 - Age 2 through 2nd grade (released in January)
• Texas Bluebonnet Award - 3rd-6th grade (released in October at Texas Bluebonnet Festival)
• Tejas Star - Ages 5-12, bilingual (December) to encourage children 5-12 to explore multicultural books and discover the cognitive and economic benefits of bilingualism and multiculturalism
• Lone Star - 6th-8th grade (December)
• Tayshas - high school (December)
• Maverick - graphic novels grades K-5
• Spirit of Texas reading programs for middle school and high school

National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE):

• NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry - honors living American poet for his/her work for children ages 3-13
• Orbis Pictus Award - outstanding non-fiction for children

I would like to learn about new books for my students each time a new list is released as well as eventually be a part of the nominating process. I would love to learn how to get students involved in the selection process, especially for International Literacy Association's Children's and Young Adult's Choice lists. I would also like to learn from authors by attending one of the (Mary Hill) Arbuthnot Honor Lectures. I noticed that Jacqueline Wilson (author of "Brown Girl Dreaming," off our list) is the 2016 recipient and will be giving the lecture in South Carolina in spring of 2017. I loved that book and would love to hear her speak. I would like to periodically post (either on my website or blog) or distribute a book list for teachers by grade level of all books receiving these awards. An annotated bibliography would be ideal. I would like to hold library curriculum nights in which I can focus on a few of these books and share them with parents so they can know what to read with their children or get for their children to read. I would also like to advertise some of these books in my library, either in cases, on bulletin boards, on the wall, on top of shelves, or even in my lessons. I feel like I have learned about so many new books that I want to share with my own children just by doing this assignment that I want to share with other parents so they can learn about great books for their kids, too.