Laura Ingalls Wilder Literacy
Award Medal
Photo Images originated from the U.S. National Archive & Records
Administration & are used in this project for educational purposes
only.
Quote: It is best to be honest, truthful, and make the most
of what we have. Be happy and cheerful with simple
pleasure. Have courage when things go wrong
American Writer
• Author of the “Little House”
book series – a total of seven
books.
• She wrote five historical fiction
books about her childhood.
• She wrote one book Farmer
Boy about her husband’s
childhood on a farm in New
York State.
• These Happy Golden Years
was written about her first four
years of married life.
• Laura won her “namesake”
award.
August 25, 1885
Laura Ingalls married Alamanzo Wilder
•Laura Ingalls was born in
1867 in Wisconsin.
•Her childhood was spent
traveling by covered wagon
and her dad farming in four
states Wisconsin, Missouri,
Kansas, and Minnesota.
•She became an elementary
school teacher and married
Almanzo Wilder.
•They had a daughter named
Rose born in 1886.
•Laura died at age ninety in
Mansfield, Missouri.
Quote: “The longest lives are short;
our work last longer.”
• Daughter of Laura Ingalls
Wilder
• She encouraged her
mother to write fiction &
became her agent, editor,
& collaborator.
• First female real-estate
agent in California.
• She became a nationally
known journalist writing
for the San Francisco
Bulletin & Sunset
Magazine.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
• A bronze medal that honors an author or illustrator
who has made a substantial contribution to
children’s literature over the years.
• The award is administered by the Association for
Library Service to Children, a division of the
American Library Association.
• The award is given every two years. Winners
receive the award at the annual American
Library Association conference in June.
• The author and illustrators work must be
published in the United States.
Past Winners of the
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
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2003: Eric Carle
2001: Milton Meltzer
1998: Russell Freedman
1995: Virginia Hamilton
1992: Marcia Brown
1989: Elizabeth Speare
1986: Jean Fritz
1983: Maurice Sendak
1980: Theodore S. Geisel
(Dr. Seuss)
• 1975: Beverly Clearly
• 1970: E.B. White
• 1965: Ruth Sawyer
• 1960: Clara Ingram
Judson
• 1954: Laura Ingalls
Wilder
Garth Williams
Illustrator & Designer
Illustrator & Designer
• Garth is the beloved illustrator
of the “Little House” books.
• He designed the bronze Laura
Ingalls Wilder medal.
• In 1947, he visited Almanzo
and Laura Wilder and retraced
the steps of the Ingalls family.
• He illustrated other popular
books such as the goldenbook
Mister Dog, Stuart Little, and
Charlotte’s Web.
•Most recent winner of
the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award
2005 Winner!
• He wrote The Lost Garden,
The Khan’s Daughter, &
Dragonwings.
• Laurence liked fantasy books
because “children leave their
everyday world & adjust to a
new situation when they go to
school.”
• Laurence says, “ when you
write it doesn’t have to be
grand just about everyday
happenings from a different
perspective.”
Another recent winner of the
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
2003 Winner!
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He wrote the popular books
The Very Hungry Caterpillar,
The Very Busy Spider, and
Pancakes, Pancakes.
Carle has illustrated more than
70 books, many of which he
also wrote.
His art work is created in collage
technique, using hand
painted papers, which he cuts &
layers to form bright and cheerful
images.
The theme of his stories are
drawn from his extensive
knowledge and love of nature.
One thing is for sure when you read a book
chosen for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award
Medal, the works have been chosen because of
the substantial contribution to children’s literacy
over the span of years. Children will read these
books and continue to read these books in the
generations to come!