The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of 19th century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It was awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
The Newbery Medal was named for the 18th century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the US during the preceding year.
The Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children's book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the US, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the US.
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpre Award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
You've heard of the Newbery and Caldecott Medals, but have you ever heard of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal? Or the Batchelder Award? How about he Wilder Medal? Click on the link below to find out about these and other medals that are awarded to writers of children's literature.
If the American Library Association asked you to create a book award medal, what would it look like? How would an author or illustrator earn the medal? Click on the link to print out a template to design your medal. Don't forget to tell us the name of the medal and how to earn it.