Children's Book Prizes

This comprehensive survey provides the first systematic examination of nearly forty major children's book awards across the English-speaking world, from the prestigious Newbery Medal to commercially-backed prizes like the Smarties Prize and nationally-sponsored illustration awards. Allen meticulously documents each award's history and significance, offering detailed annual lists of winning titles and runners-up that create an invaluable historical record of children's publishing trends and recognition patterns.

What distinguishes this reference work is its unprecedented scope in capturing the ecosystem of children's literary validation at a pivotal moment in publishing history. Librarians, educators, and children's literature scholars will find this an essential resource for understanding how prize culture shapes canon formation and reading recommendations. The volume's careful organization and exhaustive data compilation establish a foundational reference point for anyone studying the evolution of children's literature recognition and its impact on what young readers encounter.