We’ve talked about some of the big awards given to children’s books. Now, it’s time to turn our attention to some lesser-known awards that definitely should be on your radar.
Book Awards for Kids’ Books
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Cybils
I’ve had the honor of serving on the Cybils award committee several times. Cybils stands for Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards. Two rounds of panelists judge the books. And, the awards have been given since 2006.
Cybils Awards works to recognize books written for children and young adults that combine both the highest literary merit and popular appeal.
Cybils
New season winners are announced on Valentine’s Day. Here are some favorites from past winners in the board book, picture book, and easy reader cateogries. To see all winners, click HERE.
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes (2020 Fiction Picture Book Winner)
Jump! by Tatsuhide Matsuoka (2019 Board Book Winner)
Yasmin the Superhero by Saadia Faruqi (2019 Easy Reader Winner)
Llamaphones by Janik Coat (2018 Board Book Winner)
Bookstagang Awards
This newer award was started by the talented Alessandra Requena, who has spearheaded an amazing community of bookstagrammers, in 2019. I’ve had the pleasure of be a part of this community for the past year.
The Bookstagang awards involve lots of scoring and discussing. Judges are selected from bookstagrammers on Instagram. Margaret Kingsbury, a 2021 Bookstagang judge, gives us a behind the scenese look at how the Bookstagang Awards are chosen on Book Riot.
There are so many fun categories from Best Read Alouds, Best Foodie Books, and Best Conversation Starters. Here are some of my favorite 2021 winners. You can see the complete list of winners HERE.
What Happened to You? by James Catchpole (2021 Read Aloud Winner)
Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter (2021 Read Aloud Winner)—>Look for the Everybody in the Red Brick Building Book Dive coming in February 2022
Eyes That Kiss in the Cornersby Joanna Ho (2021 Future Classic Winner)
My Book of Butterflies by Geraldo Valério (2021 Most Innovative Non-Fiction Winner)
Children’s Choices List
The neat thing about the Children’s Choices List is that all the winners are selected by KIDS! The project is co-sponsored by the CBC and the International Literacy Association (ILA).
Here are a few favorites. And, you can acess more privous winners HERE.
The Good Egg by John Jory (2020 K-2 Winner)
I Say Ooh You Say Aah by John Kane (2019 K-2 Winner)
Poor Louie by Tony Fucile (2018 K-2 Winner)
Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp (2017 K-2 Winner)
Add a few of these books to your read-aloud line-up.
For more award winning book lists, check out these posts.
Early Childhood Award Winning Books
Book Awards That Celebrate Diversity
Do you know of more awards that should be on this list? Leave a comment and let me know.
Nadine Poper says
I TOO AM WAITING EXCITEDLY FOR THE yma WINNING BOOKS TO BE ANNOUNCED. i PREP MY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WEEKS IN ADVANCE. tHEY KNOW ABOUT ALL THE MEDALS AND WE DO A MOCK CALDECOTT WITH CURRENT BOOKS THAT ARE BEING WELL RECEIVED. i CAN’T WAIT.
Terry Doherty says
Awwwm Thanks Jodie.