Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
とます りべら めきしかん あめりかん じどうしょしょう
A U.S. literary award that honors children's and young adult books depicting Mexican American experiences. Established in 1995 by Texas State University College of Education, first awarded in 1996.
- Established
- 1995
- Organizer
- Texas State University — College of Education
- Category
- Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
- Selection Method
- Selection
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Announcement Period
- around November
- Status
- Active
Description
The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award recognizes authors and illustrators of children's books and young adult literature that portray Mexican American experiences. Established in 1995 by Texas State University College of Education and first awarded in 1996. Criteria include suitability for children and YA (ages 0–16), high quality of text and illustrations, and accurate and in-depth portrayal of Mexican American experiences (avoiding stereotypes). Winners are announced on Texas State University and the award's official website.
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility / nomination | Selection committee (organized by Texas State University College of Education) | — | Candidates are reviewed by the committee, and final winners are announced on the official website and university notices |
| Evaluation | Selection committee (including experts in text and illustrations) | — | — |
| Selection & announcement | Final selection committee | — | Winning works are announced annually and listed on the award's official page |
Criteria
- Written for children and young adults (ages 0–16)
- High quality of text and illustrations
- Accurate and appealing portrayal of Mexican Americans (avoiding stereotypes and showing rich character depictions)
- Both fiction and non-fiction are eligible
Application Tips
Dos
- Clearly indicate that the work is for children and young adults (ages 0–16)
- Depict Mexican American experiences accurately and with depth
- Enhance the quality of text and illustrations (editing, proofreading, collaboration with professional illustrators, etc.)
- Emphasize cultural authenticity and character portrayal in both fiction and non-fiction
Don''ts
- Avoid simplistic depictions based on stereotypes
- Do not submit works with expressions unsuitable for the target age or unclear target audience
- Do not submit with low-quality proofreading or layout
From Judges
- Be sincere in depicting characters and culture, avoiding simplification or stereotypes
- It is important to demonstrate high quality in both text and illustrations
- Be conscious of expressions and narrative style that resonate with target readers (ages 0–16)