Multicultural Book Awards

I've been meaning to put this post together for a few months (and now that so much time has passed, I can't remember who gave me the idea), but I thought I'd list some of the multicultural book awards out there as a resource for finding some more great POC books for children and adults.

• Coretta Scott King Awards - Given to African American children's book authors and illustrators for "outstanding inspirational and educational contributions, the Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society" (from the website). Click here for past winners.

• Children's Africana Book Awards - Presented to the authors and illustrators of the best children's books on Africa published or republished in the U.S. Created by the African Studies Association (ASA) to "encourage the publication and use of accurate, balanced children's materials about Africa" (from the website). Click here for past winners for older readers. Click here for past winners for young children. 

• Carter G. Woodson Book Awards -  Awards the "most distinguished social science books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States. The purpose of this award is to encourage the writing, publishing, and dissemination of outstanding social science books for young readers that treat topics related to ethnic minorities and relations sensitively and accurately" (from the website). Click here for past winners.

• Pura Belpre Award - "Presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA), an ALA affiliate" (from the website). Click here for past winners.

• American Indian Youth Services Literature Award - Created by the American Indian Library Association, the award seeks to "identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians." Click here for past winners.

• New Voices Award - Sponsored by Lee and Low Books, the award is open to writers of color whose manuscript addresses "the needs of children of color by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another." Winners win a cash award and a publication contract with Lee and Low. Click here for past winners.

• Américas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature - "Given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States" (from the website). Click here for past winners.

• Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award - Honors authors and illustrators who create literature that depicts the Mexican American experience. Click here for past winners.

• Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature - "The awards promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage, based on literary and artistic merit. The books were chosen from titles by or about Asian Pacific Americans" (from the website). Click here for past winners.

• Arab American Book Award - "Encourages the publication and excellence of books that preserve and advance the understanding, knowledge, and resources of the Arab American community by celebrating the thoughts and lives of Arab Americans. The purpose of the Award is to inspire authors, educate readers and foster a respect and understanding of the Arab American culture" (from the website). Click here for past winners.

• BCALA Literary Awards - "First presented at the Second National Conference of African American Librarians in 1994, the BCALA Literary Awards acknowledge outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction for adult audiences by African American authors. Recipients of this award offer outstanding depictions of the cultural, historical or sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora and embody the highest quality of writing style and research methodology, if applicable" (from the website). Click here for past winners.

I tried to bring together as comprehensive a list as I could, but if you know of any that I missed, please feel free to let me know in the comments and I'll add them to this list.