Children's Book Awards

The John Newbery Award began in 1922. Named after John Newbery (1713-1767), an English publisher and bookseller who was the first person to ever print and sell books for children, this medal is given each year to the author whose new book makes the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

2020 John Newbery Medal: “New Kid,” written by Jerry Craft,

Newbery Medal Winners 1922 - Present

Named after English artist and illustrator Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886), the Caldecott Medal was first given in 1938. It is awarded each year to the illustrator of the most distinguished new American picture book for children.

2020 Caldecott Medal: “The Undefeated,” illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938 - Present

The Red Clover Award is a Vermont children's choice award. Named after the state flower, the Red Clover Award began in 1997 and is given each year to the picture book Vermont students in grades K-4 vote as their favorite from a list of 10 pre-selected books.

2020 Red Clover Award: Potato Pants! by Laurie Keller.

Red Clover Award Winners, 1997 - Present

Named after Vermont writer Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879-1958), the DCF Award is a Vermont children's choice book award that began in 1957. Students in grades 4-8 who have read at least five books from a pre-selected list of 30 fiction and nonfiction chapter books may vote for their favorite. Whichever book receives the most votes is the DCF book winner for that year.

2020 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award: Small Spaces by Katherine Arden.

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Winners, 1957 - Present

Established in 1996, this Award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Awards honor a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of children's or young adult literature.

2020 Belpré Medal: “Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln,” illustrated by Rafael López

Pura Belpré Award Winners, 1996 - Present

First given in 1970, the Coretta Scott King Award annually recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.

2020 Coretta Scott King Author Award: Jerry Craft, author of "New Kid".

2017 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award: Kadir Nelson, illustrator of "The Undefeated" written by Kwame Alexander

Coretta Scott King Award Winners, 1970 - Present

The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. Begun in 2006, the award is named after Theodor Seuss Geisel, Dr. Seuss' real name.

2020 Geisel Award: “Stop! Bot!” written and illustrated by James Yang.

Geisel Award Winners, 2006 - Present