Reviewing Sources &
ALA/ALCS Awards Criteria
Top Recommended School Library Reviewing Sources
Per the American Library Association
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable Children’s Books
BookList
School Library Journal
We Need Diversity Books website
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Books for Young Adults
Common Sense Media which gives ratings from parents, students, teachers, librarians, and field experts.
ALA, ALSC Awards and Honor Criteria
The Newbery Medal honors the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
The Caldecott Medal honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
(Mildred L.) Batchelder Award
The Batchelder Award is given to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.
The Belpré Award honors a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children’s literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States during the preceding year.
(Robert F.) Sibert Informational Book Medal
The Sibert Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year.
Children's Literature Legacy Award
The Legacy Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.
Awarded to books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults (ages 12 through 18).
Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
The best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18).
Recommended reading for ages 12 to 18.
Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Awarded to books that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
Michael L. Printz Award
Books that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
Books that portray universal qualities of childhood, strong and supportive family, and multiculturalism.