Book Awards Celebrating Diversity

We are continuing our look at award winning children’s books with a focus on awards for diverse books today.  And, there are many to discover, so let’s get started.

Book Awards Celebrating Diversity

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Most of these awards are announced during the ALA mid-winter conference usually held in late January or early February.

Ezra Jack Keats Award

The Ezra Jack Keats Award is great for discovering new writers and illustrators.  

EJK Award is given annually to an outstanding new writer and new illustrator by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

The EJK Award Committee includes authors and illustrators, scholars and librarians.  It celebrates all ethnic and social groups.  Winners are announced the second Tuesday of March.

Here are some past winners to use with young children.

Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker (2021 Writer Award Winner)

Layla’s Happiness by Mariahdessa Ekere Tallie and Asleigh Corrin (2020 Illustrator Award)

Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan (2019 Writer Award Winner)

And, you can see all the EJK winners HERE.

Coretta Scott King Award

In 2019, we celebrated 50 years of the Corretta Scott King Award.

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to 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. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.  

American Library Association

Here are some previous winners of the award.  See all the winners HERE.

Me and Mama illustrated and written by Cozbi A. Cabrera (2021 Illustrator Honor Book)

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o and Vashti Harrison (2020 Illustrator Honor Book)

Schneider Family Book Award

Note the younger children winner in this award category.

The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

American Library Association

Here are some previous winners and you can see all the winners HERE.

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel (2021 Honor)

A Friend for Henryby Jenn Bailey (2020 Honor)

Pura Belpré Award

Now, let’s look at the Pura Belpré Award.

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

American Library Association

And, here are some of the past winners.  A complete list can be found HERE.

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat by Raúl Gonzalez (2021 Youth Illustrator Winner)

Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte(2020 Honor Book for Illustration)

My Papi Has a Motorcycleby Isabel Quintero and Zeke Peña (2020 Honor Book for Illustration)

American Indian Youth Literature Awards

Let’s turn to the American Indian Youth Literature Awards. This award is given biennially.

AIYLA identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.

American Indian Library Association

Past winners include the following books.  See a complete list HERE.

Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi’idim by Brenda J. Child (2020 Award Winner)

Birdsong by Julie Flett (2020 Honor Book)

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

Let’s wrap up with the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.

The goal of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit.

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association

Adult, youth, and children’s books are awarded including a picture book award.  Here are a few of the picture book past honorees.

Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim (2021 Honor Book)

Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed (2020 Honor Book)

Enjoy discovering new books with these award winners.