Recommended Reading

Awards:

Numerous organizations around the world honor quality literature written for young people. Listed below are some of those.

• Alex Awards – honors the best adult books for young adults. Presented by the American Library Association (ALA) annually.
• Black-Eyed Susan Book Award – honors outstanding books selected by Maryland students. Presented by the Maryland Education Media Organization annually since 1992.
• Boston Globe / Horn Book Awards – given for excellence in children’s and young adults’ literature. Presented by The Boston Globe and The Horn Book, Inc. annually since 1967.
• Bulletin’s Blue Ribbons – for the best in literature for youth. Presented by The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books annually since 1990.
• Carter G. Woodson Book Awards - for the most distinguished social science book depicting ethnicity in the United States. Presented by the National Council for the Social Studies annually since 1974.
• Caldecott Medal - presented to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book for children published in the U.S. during the preceding year. Presented by the ALA annually since 1938.
• Coretta Scott King Award – given to one black author and to one black illustrator whose books are outstanding, inspirational, and educational. Presented by the ALA annually since 1970.
• Jane Addams Children's Book Award - honors books that promote peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races. Presented by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Jane Addams Peace Association annually since 1953.
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal – presented to "an author or illustrator whose books, published in the U.S., have over a period of years made substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children." Presented by the ALA every three years since 1954.
• Margaret A. Edwards Award - honors an author's lifetime achievement for writing books that have been popular with teenagers. Presented by the ALA annually since 1988.
• Maryland Children’s Book Award Program – honors books selected by Maryland students. Presented by the State of Maryland International Reading Council annually since 1988.
• Michael L. Printz Award for Literary Excellence in Literature for Young Adults – for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult (ages 12 through 18) literature. Presented by the ALA annually beginning in 2000.
• Mildred L. Batchelder Award – awarded to the publisher of a book for children considered the most outstanding book originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and later translated into English and published in the United States. Presented by the ALA annually since 1966.
• Newbery Medal - awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in the U. S. during the preceding year. Presented by the ALA annually since 1922.
• Pura Belpre Award – honors Latino/Latina writers and illustrators. Presented by the ALA biennially since 1996.

Recommended Materials Lists:

There are also many lists of recommended materials for young people on a variety of themes. The following list is a sampling of what is available.

Chessie Program 

• YALSA - Booklists - Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA, a division of ALA)

• Children’s Notables - Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC, a division of ALA)

Suggested Books for Reading is Fundamental List (ALSC)

Notable Social Studies Books for Young People - National Council for the Social Studies

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children -National Science Teachers Association

Children's Choices - International Reading Association

Young Adults' Choices - International Reading Association

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