World Literary Awards

Literary Awards

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580 literary awards

Shevchenko National Prize

Established
1961
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Committee for the National Prize of Ukraine named after Taras Shevchenko; awarded by decree of the President of Ukraine
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Plays, Scripts, and Screenplays
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around November
Announcement Period
around March
Literature (fiction / artistic)Literature (non-fiction / documentary / critical)Journalism and narrative journalismPerforming arts (theatre, music, others)Other arts (folk and visual)Music artsTheatre artsVisual artsCinematography (historically)Architecture (historically)

Ukraine's highest state prize for achievements in culture and the arts, established in 1961 and awarded annually in multiple categories.

Prize: Medal, diploma and an annually determined monetary award. Up to five prizes are awarded each year across the nominations; the monetary amount is set each year by the President of Ukraine.

Adriano González León Biennial Novel Prize

Established
2004
Frequency
Biennial
Organizer
PEN de Venezuela; Grupo de Empresas Econoinvest; Grupo Editorial Norma
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Open
NovelLiterary awardFor unpublished works

Venezuelan biennial literary award for unpublished novels written in Spanish, established in 2004.

National Arts Merit Awards

Established
2002
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Outstanding NewcomerOutstanding Female MusicianOutstanding Male MusicianOutstanding SongOutstanding AlbumOutstanding Music VideoOutstanding Fiction BookOutstanding Children's BookOutstanding First Creative Published BookOutstanding Female DanceOutstanding Male DancerOutstanding ActressOutstanding Screen Production (Television Series)Outstanding Screen Production – Short FilmOutstanding Mix Media WorkOutstanding 2 Dimensional WorkOutstanding 3 Dimensional WorkOutstanding ExhibitionOutstanding Journalist (Print)Outstanding Journalist (TV)Outstanding Journalist RadioOutstanding Online MediaOutstanding ComedianOutstanding PoetOutstanding Actor (Film and TV)Outstanding Actress (Film and TV)Outstanding Screen Production (TV)Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)Outstanding Screen Production (Full-length Film)Outstanding Promoter of the YearPersonality of the YearService to the Arts AwardLifetime Achievement AwardPeople's Choice Award

Zimbabwe's premier arts awards, organized by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ). Celebrating outstanding achievement across music, literary arts, theatre, visual arts, film and television, dance, and more, the awards have been held annually since their inaugural ceremony in February 2002.

Carnegie Medal for Writing

Established
1936
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around October
Announcement Period
around March
Children's literatureYoung adultEnglish-language

An annual British literary award recognizing outstanding English-language books for children or young adults, first published in the UK. Established in 1936, it is administered by CILIP and is the UK's oldest children's book award.

Prize: Gold medal and donation of books worth £500 to a library specified by the winner. Since 2016, a £5,000 cash prize from the Colin Mears bequest.

Randolph Caldecott Medal

Established
1938
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) / American Library Association (ALA)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around January–February
Children's booksPicture booksIllustrationAmerican literary awards

An annual award presented to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States. Administered by ALSC, a division of ALA, the winner receives a bronze medal.

Prize: Bronze medal (awarded to the winner)

Children's Book Council of Australia Awards

Established
1946
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around September
Announcement Period
around May
CBCA Book of the Year: Older ReadersCBCA Book of the Year: Younger ReadersCBCA Book of the Year: Early ChildhoodCBCA Book of the Year: Picture BookChildren's Book of the Year Award: New IllustratorEve Pownall Award for Information BooksDame Annabelle Rankin AwardNan Chauncy AwardCrichton Award for Children's Book Illustration (1988–2018)Leila St John AwardLady Cutler AwardBooks I Love Best Yearly (BILBY) — Queensland BranchCanberra’s Own Outstanding List (COOL Awards)KOALA AwardsKROC AwardsWAYRBAYABBA

Australian children's literature award. Established by CBCA in 1946, it is a historic award that honors winners annually in multiple categories.

Prize: Honorary awards such as Book of the Year for each category (certificates and commendations). In early instances, flowers (camellias) were awarded. Funding is supported by foundations, donations, and sponsors.

Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature

Established
1975
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Canada Council for the Arts
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around November
Children's literatureEnglish-languageCanadian literary awardWriting

Annual literary award given to children's works (writers) written in English in Canada.

Prize: Winners receive prize money and prestige. At the establishment in 1975, it was set at 5,000 Canadian dollars per category.

Jane Addams Children's Book Award

Established
1953
Frequency
Once a year (no change)
Organizer
Jane Addams Peace Association (no change)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
Children's literaturePeace awardSocial justiceInternational understanding

An annual literary award given to outstanding works in children's books that promote peace and social equality (social justice). Established in 1953.

Prize: Honorary award (no public information on prize money or goods)

Children's Literature Legacy Award

Established
1954
Frequency
Once a year (currently). 1954–1980: Every 5 years (6 times: 1954,1960,1965,1970,1975,1980), 1980–2001: Every 3 years, 2001–2015: Every 2 years
Organizer
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureLifetime achievement award (Lifetime Achievement)For authors and illustrators

An ALSC-sponsored lifetime achievement award honoring authors and illustrators of children's books for their significant and sustained contributions to children's literature over many years.

Prize: Bronze medal (honorary award). No publicly announced monetary prize.

Hans Christian Andersen Award

Established
1956
Frequency
Biennial (every two years)
Organizer
International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureInternationalAuthor award (Writing)Illustrator award (Illustration)

IBBYs biennial international award recognising one living author and one living illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children literature.

Prize: Hans Christian Andersen Medaille (gold medal) and a diploma; presentation at the IBBY Congress

Carnegie Medal for Illustration (formerly the Kate Greenaway Medal)

Established
1955
Frequency
Once a year (annual)
Organizer
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around October
Announcement Period
around June
Children's book illustration awardPicture books / Children's literatureIllustrations / Visual expression

Annual award recognizing outstanding achievements in UK children's book illustration. Organized by CILIP.

Prize: Gold Medal. Books worth £500 donated to the library selected by the winner. £5,000 cash prize awarded due to a 2000 bequest.

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (now Vermont Golden Dome Book Award)

Established
1957
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Vermont State PTA and Vermont Department of Libraries
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around April
Announcement Period
around May
Children's literatureMiddle-gradeChildren's choice awardStatewide (Vermont) book award

Children's book award selected by votes from schoolchildren in Vermont. Established in 1957. Renamed to "Vermont Golden Dome Book Award" in 2020.

Prize: The author of the winning work is invited to Vermont and provided with opportunities to meet children, give lectures, and interact.

Nienke van Hichtum-prijs (Nienke van Hichtum Prize)

Established
1964
Frequency
Biennial (every 2 years)
Organizer
Jan Campert-Stichting (Jan Campert Foundation)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureDutch literary award

A biennial literary award presented to Dutch children's literature. Organized by Jan Campert-Stichting, established in 1964.

Prize: Prize money (€6,000)

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize

Established
1965
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
The Guardian (newspaper)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Children's literatureYoung adultChildren's fictionYoung adult fiction

Annual literary prize hosted by The Guardian newspaper for children's and young adult fiction published in the UK.

Prize: Literary prize for children's fiction awarded to the author (awarded to the author of the winning work). Includes publicity and other benefits from The Guardian newspaper.

Sydney Taylor Book Award

Established
1968
Frequency
Annual
Organizer
Association of Jewish Libraries
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureJewish literatureYoung adult / Teen literatureLiterary award

Annual medals awarded to outstanding children's and teen books that authentically portray the Jewish experience, presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries.

Prize: Gold medal (one per category) and silver seals for Honor Award winners. No general cash prize for the medal; separate Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award awards $1,000.

Coretta Scott King Award

Established
1970
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Coretta Scott King Book Award Round Table (American Library Association: ALA)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around January
Children's literatureYoung adult literatureIllustrationAuthor awardsIllustrator awardsJohn Steptoe Award for New TalentCoretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

An annual ALA literary award that honors outstanding depictions of the African American experience in children's books and young adult literature.

Prize: Winning books receive a medal, Honor (runner-up) books receive a certificate. Winning books feature the Coretta Scott King Award seal on their covers.

Tir na n-Og Awards

Established
1976
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Books Council of Wales (Welsh Books Council / Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around May–June
Children's literatureEnglish awardWelsh-language award (Primary/Secondary)

Annual literary award targeting children's books from Wales. Consists of one English award category and two Welsh-language award categories (Primary/Secondary).

Prize: Prize money is awarded to the winning work in each category, and honored at the official venue

Nestlé Smarties Book Prize

Established
1985
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
BookTrust / Sponsored by Nestlé
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Children's literaturePicture booksMiddle grade

An annual award for British children's books, running from 1985 to 2007. It featured three age-based categories (0–5, 6–8, and 9–11 years), with shortlists drawn up by adult judges and winners decided by a vote of UK schoolchildren. Organized by BookTrust and sponsored by Nestlé.

Prize: Gold, Silver, Bronze awarded in each age category (0–5 / 6–8 / 9–11). From 1996 onwards, the overall winner was discontinued, with category gold/silver/bronze as the main awards.

Prix Sorcières

Established
1986
Frequency
Annual
Organizer
ALSJ (Association des Librairies Spécialisées Jeunesse / Librairies Sorcières) and ABF (Association des Bibliothécaires de France)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Carrément Beau MiniCarrément Beau MaxiCarrément Passionnant MiniCarrément Passionnant MaxiCarrément Sorcières FictionCarrément Sorcières Non-Fiction

The Prix Sorcières is an annual French children's literature award established in 1986, jointly decided by the ALSJ (specialist booksellers) and the ABF (French librarians' association).

Prize: Recognition as a Prix Sorcières winner; no specific cash prize amount is specified in the provided source.

Governor General's Award for French-language children's literature

Established
1975
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Canada Council for the Arts
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around November
Children's literatureFrench languageLiterary awardCanada

An annual Canadian literary award presented to the author of the best French-language children's book, administered by the Canada Council for the Arts with a prize of CA$25,000.

Prize: Winners receive a cash prize and honor. At the time of establishment (1975), the prize money was CA$5,000.

KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards

Established
1990
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Children's Books Ireland (CBI)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around September
Announcement Period
around May
Book of the Year AwardHonour Award for FictionHonour Award for IllustrationEilís Dillon Award (First Children's Book)Judges' Special AwardJunior Juries' Award (Children's Choice)Reading Hero Award

Annual literary award for children's and young adult books in Ireland. Operated by Children's Books Ireland (CBI), targeting writers and illustrators from or residing in Ireland.

Prize: Children’s Book of the Year: €6,000 (current)

Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award

Established
2011
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
The Gelett Burgess Center for Creative Expression
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Children's literaturePicture booksFamily-friendlyLifestyleArts and LettersSociety and CultureEducation

Annual award recognizing family‑friendly children's books that inspire imagination and creativity.

Prize: Recognition (Book of the Year and Burgess Honors), award seal and promotional support; winners are promoted with resources and lesson plans.

Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature

Established
1991
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Tulsa Library Trust (Tulsa City-County Library)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureYoung adult (YA)Author achievement award

Award honoring outstanding contributions to children's and young adult literature (organized by Tulsa Library Trust).

Prize: US$7,500 cash prize and engraved crystal book

Eilís Dillon Award (part of the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards)

Established
1995
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Children's Books Ireland (CBI)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around September
Announcement Period
around May
Book of the YearHonour Award for FictionHonour Award for IllustrationEilís Dillon Award (First Children's Book)Judges' Special AwardJunior Juries' AwardReading Hero Award

Part of an annual suite of literary awards for children's books in Ireland, the Eilís Dillon Award is presented to debut children's books (first published works).

Prize: Eilís Dillon Award: Trophy and cash prize awarded to debut children's book authors (current amount: €2,000).

Angus Book Award

Established
1996
Frequency
Annual
Organizer
Angus Council
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
teenage fictionyoung adult literatureScottish literary award

The Angus Book Award is a literary award for teenage fiction organized by Angus Council, where the winner is decided by votes from secondary school pupils in the Angus region.

Prize: Recognition of the winning work (no mention of prize money in public information)

Pura Belpré Award

Established
1996
Frequency
Annually (1996–2008: Biennially, 2009 onwards: Annually)
Organizer
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC, a division of the American Library Association) and National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around January
Children's literatureIllustrationYoung Adult

U.S. literary award (medal) awarded to works that excellently depict Latinx cultural experiences in children's and YA literature.

Prize: Belpré Medal (Medal Presentation)

Michael L. Printz Award

Established
2000
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) — a division of the American Library Association (ALA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around December
Announcement Period
around January
Young Adult LiteratureFor Youth (YA)American Literary AwardYoung AdultFictionNonfictionPoetryAnthologyLibrary Association Award

An award recognizing a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. Administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and sponsored by Booklist magazine. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and anthologies are eligible; one winner and up to four honor books are selected annually.

Prize: Honor of winning (medal/title). No monetary prize is paid in principle.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal

Established
2001
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around January
Children's literatureChildren's NonfictionInformational Books

A medal awarded annually by ALSC to the most distinguished informational book for children.

Prize: Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal (awarded to author and illustrator). Honor Books (runners-up) are also selected.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award

Established
1968
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around January
Children's booksTranslation literature awardAward for publishersInternational exchange

An annual ALSC citation awarded to a U.S. publisher for the most outstanding children's book originally published in a foreign language and country, subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.

Prize: Citation (recognition) to the publisher

NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature

Established
2003
Frequency
Biennial (held in odd-numbered years)
Organizer
World Literature Today and the University of Oklahoma
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureInternational literature prizeAchievement award

International award for children's literature established in 2003. Evaluates the extent to which the writer's overall body of work contributes to the quality of children's literature.

Prize: The winner receives prize money, a silver medallion, and a certificate