Children’s Book Awards from The Bank Street College

Best Children’s Books of the Year (list)

In choosing books for the annual list, reviewers consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes.

Nonfiction titles are further evaluated for accuracy and clarity. Each book accepted for the list is read and reviewed by at least two committee members and then discussed by the committee as a whole. More about the list ▹

Focus

• literary merit
• illustration
• design
• diversity
• poetry
• fiction
• nonfiction

The Josette Frank Award

The Josette Frank Award for a work of fiction of outstanding literary merit for young readers in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally More about the award ▹

Focus

• literary merit
• fiction

The Claudia Lewis Award

The Claudia Lewis Award, given for the first time in 1998, honors the late Claudia Lewis, distinguished children’s book expert and longtime member of the Bank Street College faculty and Children’s Book Committee. She conveyed her love and understanding of poetry with humor and grace. The award is given for the best poetry book of the year. More about the award ▹

Focus

• poetry

The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

The award is presented annually for a distinguished work of nonfiction which serves as an inspiration to young people. More about the award ▹

Focus

• nonfiction

The Cook Prize

The Cook Prize honors the best science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) picture book published for children aged eight to ten. It is the only national children’s choice award honoring a STEM book. More about the award ▹

Focus

• nonfiction
• STEM
• child-chosen