Book Awards
The Coretta Scott King Awards are presented
annually by the American Library Association to
honor African-American authors and illustrators
who create outstanding books for children and
young adults. Initially, the award was established
in 1969 to recognize authors and then was
expanded to include a separate award for
illustrators in 1979. These awards are given to
commemorate the life and work of the late Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., and to honor Mrs. Coretta
Scott King(1926-2006)for her continuing efforts in
working for peace and civil rights issues.
In 1969, while attending the American Library Association Meeting in New
Jersey, Mabel McKissick and Glyndon Greer, two school librarians, had a chance
meeting at a booth when both were trying to get a poster of the late Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. It was a time of great turmoil in the country. Both women loved
children's literature and were discussing that African American authors and
illustrators had not been distinguished with awards for their work. John Carroll,
publisher at the booth where the two were trying to get a poster asked them why
they didn't start an award to do so. From that seed of an idea, the Coretta Scott
King Award was born.
Criteria:
1. Must portray some aspect of the black experience, past, present, or future.
2. Must be written/illustrated by an African American
3. Must be published in the U.S. in the year preceding presentation of the
Award.
4. Must be an original work
5. Must meet established standards of quality writing for youth which include:
-Clear plot
-Well drawn characters, which portray growth and development during the
course of the story.
-Writing style which is consistent with and suitable to the age intended
accuracy
6. Must be written for a youth audience in one of three categories:
-Preschool-grade 4
-Grades 5-8
-Grades 9-12
Particular attention will be paid to titles which seek to motivate readers to develop
their own attitudes and behaviors as well as comprehend their personal duty and
responsibility as citizens in a pluralistic society.
Illustrations should reflect established qualitative standards.
Charlie May Simon
Book Award
2012 Nominees
Charlie May Simon
1897-1977
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The first prominent
children’s book author from
Arkansas.
Wrote almost 30 books in
her lifetime.
Married to another writer.
The two lived in a home
overlooking the Arkansas
River in Little Rock.
An award was created in her
name in 1971 and is given to
an outstanding book chosen
by Arkansas students in
grades 4-6.
The Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award for children's
literature has been presented annually since 1971 to an author
whose book has been selected through a vote taken by Arkansas
school children in grades four, five and six. The purpose of the award
is to promote better reading for children and to recognize Mrs. John
Gould Fletcher, an outstanding Arkansas author who wrote under the
pen name Charlie May Simon.
Charlie May Simon was born August 17, 1897, at Monticello,
Arkansas, but moved to Memphis at an early age. She attended
Memphis State University, Stanford University and the Chicago Art
Institute. She returned to Arkansas after she married John Gould
Fletcher in 1936. Throughout her lifetime, Mrs. Fletcher traveled
extensively, gathering information for her many prize winning
biographies. She lived at Johnswood, her home in Little Rock, until
her death in 1977.
An award that is given to a author that has
wrote the most distinguished children’s book
of the year.
Book Selection
The Children’s School
Librarian’s Sections of
the American Library
Association decides who
wins the Newbery
Award.
John Newbery
1713-1767
John Newbery was an English publisher and
bookseller. He established juvenile literature
as an important branch of the publishing business.
Although he published his books anonymously,
it is assumed that he planned and wrote a number
of them himself.
In 1921 the Newbery medal was established by Frederic Melcher to be
awarded by the American Library Association to the most distinguished
children's book of the year written by an American.
Criteria
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The book must be published in English in
the United States the previous year.
The author must be a citizen or resident of
the United States.
The book must relate to a child audience.
The book must contribute to literature.
The book must stand alone and not as a
part of a multimedia presentation
The Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenthcentury English illustrator Randolph Caldecott.
This has been awarded annually by the American Library
Association since 1938 "to the artist of the most
distinguished American picture book for children." There is
one medal winner and usually a number of honor books.
Frederic G. Melcher suggested in 1937 the establishment of a
second annual medal to the Newbery Medal.
This medal is to be given to the artist who had
created the most distinguished picture book of
the year and named in honor of the nineteenthcentury English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott
(1846-1866).
Terms
1. Medal shall be awarded annually to the artist of the most
distinguished American picture book for children published by an
American publisher in the United States in English during the
preceding year.
2. There are no limitations as to the character of the picture book
except that the illustrations be original work.
3. The award is restricted to artists who are citizens or residents of
the United States. Books published in a U.S. territory or U.S.
commonwealth are eligible.
Michael L. Printz Award
Eligibility
1. The award-winning book may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or an anthology.
2. As many as four honor titles may be selected.
3. Books must have been published between January 1 and December 31 of
the year preceding announcement of the award.
4. To be eligible, a title must have been designated by its publisher as being
either a young adult book or one published for the age range that YALSA
defines as "young adult," Adult books are not eligible.
5. Works of joint authorship or editorship are eligible.
6. Books previously published in another country are eligible (presuming an
American edition has been published during the period of eligibility).
7. If no title is deemed sufficiently meritorious, no award will be given that
year.
Printz was a school librarian at
Topeka West (KS) High School for
many years and retired from teaching
in 1994.
He was active in YALSA and
served on the Best Books for
Young Adults Committee and the
Margaret A. Edwards Award
Committee. He had a passion for
books and reading. Finding the
right book for the right student at
the right time was not just a
slogan to Mike-he lived it.
Arkansas Diamond Award
The Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award was established
in 1998 to encourage reading for students in Grades K-3.
•The award was established to encourage reading for students in
grades K-3.
•The award is selected by an annual vote.
•Children in Grades K-3 must have read at least three of the titles
from the annual reading list and select one title.
• Voting is done each year in April.
Arkansas Teen Book Awards
The purpose in establishing this award is to encourage young
adults across Arkansas to read. The award will recognize books in
two divisions: Level 1, 7th-9th grade and Level 2, 10th-12th grade.
The books chosen for the final teen reading lists were read and
voted on by teachers and librarians across Arkansas.
Guidelines
1. Unless the book can stand on its own, it must be the first in a
series.
2. Copyright date goes by the hardback edition unless it was
originally published as paperback.
3. Translations going by the US copyright date.