Awards for Children's Books, Writers and Illustrators
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Established by the Swedish Government, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world's largest award for literature for children and young readers. The 2011 Award goes to Australian author Shaun Tan who the jury said "is a masterly visual storyteller, pointing the way ahead to new possibilities for picture books. His pictorial worlds constitute a separate universe where nothing is self-evident and anything is possible . . . people are always present, and Shaun Tan portrays both our searching and our alienation. He combines brilliant, magical narrative skill with deep humanism".
Blue Peter Award
The shortlist is selected by a panel of expert judges and voted for by more then 200 Blue Peter viewers from 10 selected schools across the country.
Booktrust Awards
The categories are:
- Baby Book Award - The best book for babies under one year old
- Pre-School Award - Up to five years of age
- Best New Illustrator
- Teenage - Awarded for contemporary teenage fiction for 13-16 year olds each year it includes novels, collections of short stories and graphic novels. Entries are submitted by publishers and judged by a nominated panel that may include authors, librarians, students and journalists. It is supported by the designated website, Bookheads, that promotes the prize and books for young people as well as carrying comments and reviews from young people and well-known personalities on their favourite books.
Branford Boase Award
Awarded annually for the most promising first novel to a first-time writer of a book for young people. At the same time, it marks the important contribution of the editor in identifying and nurturing new talent.
British Book Awards: WH Smith Children's Book of the Year
One of the categories of the annual book trade awards.
Carnegie Medal
Awarded annually by CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals,
for an outstanding book for children and young people.
Children's Laureate
Awarded every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of children's books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field. The appointment recognises and highlights the importance of exceptional children's authors in creating the readers of tomorrow. Anthony Browne has been announced as the Children's Laureate for 2009-2011, taking over from Michael Rosen and becomes the 6th Children's Laureate.
Costa Children's Book Award (formerly The Whitbread Award)
One of the categories of the Costa book awards, there are three judges - usually an author, a bookseller and a journalist. They select a shortlist of four books, which includes the winner. The criteria are to select well-written, enjoyable books that they would strongly recommend anyone to read.
Eleanor Farjeon Award
Awarded to an individual in recognition of their distinguished contribution to the world of children's books. The winner is chosen from nominations from members of the Children's Book Circle. The latest winner is the chair of the Children’s Book Circle charity, Adam Lancaster, founder of National Non-Fiction Day, and tireless supporter of the promotion of reading to young people.
Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
Awarded to an outstanding work of fiction (not picture books) for children written by a British or Commonwealth author. The winner is chosen by a panel of authors and the review editor for The Guardian's children's books section.
Kate Greenaway Medal
Awarded annually by CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.
Red House Children's Book Award
The only major children's book prize in the UK decided by the readers. The award is made annually to the best work of fiction for children after hundreds of books have been read and voted for by children.
The categories are:
Roald Dahl Funny Prizes
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize is the first prize of its kind; founded to honour those books that make young people, and all of us (including the judging panel made up of leading children’s author, illustrators and comedians. It was created in 2008 by Michael Rosen as part of his work as Children’s Laureate.
School Library Association Information Book Award
The Information Book Award will be an annual event and is a major development for information books, being designed to support school libraries and to reinforce the importance of non-fiction whilst highlighting the high standard of resources available and includes an exciting opportunity for schools to take part in the Children’s Choice voting in September.
UK Literacy Association Children's Book Award
The UKLA Children’s Book Award is a national award conferred by education professionals and it is held in high esteem by teachers, who regard the shortlist as a reliable indicator of the best books of the year for inclusion in class and school collections.
For more information call 01296 382268 or email sls@buckscc.gov.uk
