Children's Literature

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This guide will assist in helping to locate children's literature at Boston College.

Collection Overview

Boston College Libraries contain a great number of resources useful for the study of children's literature. The Educational Resource Center (ERC) has an in-depth collection in the area of children's literature in both fiction and non-fiction from Pre-school through High School. The collection includes:

Classic Titles
Diverse and Multicultural Titles
Award-winning Titles
Various World Languages
International Titles
Easy Readers
eBooks
Audiobooks
Streaming Video Books
Big Books

New books are added monthly to the collection reflecting trends, curriculum, instructional and literary criteria. The ERC staff can assist patrons in selecting specific titles based on a child's age, subject interest or genre. The entire collection may be accessed through the Boston College Libraries catalog.

Children's Literature Awards

American Indian Youth Literature Book Award
Presented every two years this award identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians.
Americas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature
Books that authentically presents the experience of individuals in Latin America or the Caribbean, or of Latinos in the U.S.

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The Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP). Given in recognition of a U.S. work in English or Spanish which "authentically and engagingly presents the experience of individuals in Latin America or the Caribbean, or of Latinos in the U.S."
Asian Pacific American Awards
"Promotes Asian/Pacific Americans culture and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit."

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Librarians of diverse Asian/Pacific ancestries committed to working together toward a common goal: to create an organization that would address the needs of Asian/Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian/Pacific American communities.
Caldecott Medal
Awarded by the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

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The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children.
Carnegie Medal
The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction were established in 2012 to recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. the previous year.
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
"National Council for the Social Studies established the Carter G. Woodson Book Awards for the most distinguished social science books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States."
Charlotte Huck Award
The NCTE Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children was established in 2014 to promote and recognize excellence in the writing of fiction for children.
CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals
Award given to a distinguished illustration in a book for children.

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Established for a distinguished illustration in a book for children. It is named after the popular nineteenth century artist known for her fine children's illustrations and designs.
Coretta Scott King Award
Honors books by authors of African descent whose books promote an understanding of the American Dream.

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Recipients are authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books for the young promote an understanding and appreciation of the American Dream.
Dolly Gray Award
"The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award was initiated in 2000 to recognize authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that appropriately portray individuals with developmental disabilities."
Ezra Jack Keats Award
The Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Awards are given annually to an outstanding new writer of picture books for children (age 9 and under) and are presented jointly by the New York Public Library and the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Growing Good Kids Book Award
"National Awards for Children's Literature About Gardens and Nature"
Jane Addams Book Award
Books that promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community and the equality of the sexes and all races.

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Books published the preceding year that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence.
Children's Literature Legacy Award
Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.
Margaret A. Edwards Award
Honors an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society and the world.
Massachusetts Book Award
The Commonwealth affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
Michael L. Printz Award
An award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
Mildred L. Batchelder
This award promotes the translation of the world's best children's literature.

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Award honors Mildred L. Batchelder, a former executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children, and believer in the importance of good books for children translating from all parts of the world.
Newbery Medal
The most distinguished book contribution to American literature for children.
Newton Marasco Foundation (NMF)
The Green Earth Book Award honor books that "inspire a child to grow a deeper appreciation, respect, and responsibility for his or her natural environment."
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Established as an annual award for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.
Pura Belpré Award
This award is 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.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
Awarded annually to the author (including co-authors or author-illustrators) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.
Schneider Family Book Award
This award honors an author or illustrator of a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Award goes to a meritorious book published in the previous year with a focus on historical fiction.
Skipping Stones
"Books [that] promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and encourage a deeper understanding of the world’s diversity...encourage ecological richness, respect for multiple
viewpoints and closer relationships within human societies. "
Sydney Taylor Book Award
Award recognizes the best in Jewish children's literature. Medals are awarded annually for outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal
Most distinguished contribution to beginning reader literature
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Book Award
Presented to authors or illustrators that authentically reflect the lives of Mexican American children and young adults in the United States.

International Awards

Canadian Award Index
A comprehensive index with book collections and extensive resources in five cities across Canada, the CCBC is a treasure-trove for anyone interested in Canadian books for young readers.
Carnegie and Greenaway Awards
The Carnegie Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book for children and young people. The Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people
Children's Book Council of Australia
The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is an organisation comprised of individual members who are passionate about children's and young adult literature.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
Awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.