Children's literary prizes and book awards
Christchurch City Libraries lists literary prize winners and links to catalogue searches, but we may not hold copies of all titles mentioned.
This page links you to winners and nominees for a range of prizes and awards for children's and young adult books.
New Zealand
New Zealand prizes for children's literature and illustration
Storylines Notable New Zealand Books
Annual list of notable picture books, junior fiction, young adult fiction, non-fiction and te reo Māori titles.
New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults
The winners of the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have been announced.
Storylines award-winners
Storylines gives awards to New Zealand writers, illustrators, publishers and those working in the field of children’s literature.
NZ Booklovers Awards
2025 winners: best adult fiction book, best lifestyle book, best young adult fiction, junior fiction, and children's picture books.
Storylines Notable New Zealand Books
Annual list of notable picture books, junior fiction, young adult fiction, non-fiction and te reo Māori titles.
New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults
The winners of the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have been announced.
Storylines award-winners
Storylines gives awards to New Zealand writers, illustrators, publishers and those working in the field of children’s literature.
NZ Booklovers Awards
2025 winners: best adult fiction book, best lifestyle book, best young adult fiction, junior fiction, and children's picture books.
International
International prizes for children's literature and illustration
Lambda Literary Awards
The 2025 finalists have been announced. The Lammys (US) celebrate the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender books of the year.
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature
Honours fantasy books for young readers to age thirteen. This year's winning title is Moth Keeper by Christchurch writer Kay O'Neill.
Hans Christian Andersen Award
Winners of the most prestigious award in international children’s literature given biennially to one author and one illustrator.
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Annual award that honours the memory of Swedish children’s author Astrid Lindgren.
Lambda Literary Awards
The 2025 finalists have been announced. The Lammys (US) celebrate the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender books of the year.
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature
Honours fantasy books for young readers to age thirteen. This year's winning title is Moth Keeper by Christchurch writer Kay O'Neill.
Hans Christian Andersen Award
Winners of the most prestigious award in international children’s literature given biennially to one author and one illustrator.
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Annual award that honours the memory of Swedish children’s author Astrid Lindgren.
Australia
Awards of the Children’s Book Council of Australia
Winners in the categories: picture books, early childhood, younger readers, older readers, and Eve Pownall Award for information books.
United Kingdom
British prizes for children's literature and illustration
Carnegie Medal for Writing
Awarded every year by children’s librarians for an outstanding book for kids & teens. Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald is the 2025 winner.
Carnegie Medal for Illustration
Annual UK award for outstanding achievement in children’s illustration. 2025 winner: Olivia Lomenech Gill for Clever Crow (by C Butterworth)
Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award (CLiPPA)
Annual UK award presented for published poetry for children published in the previous year.
Waterstones Children’s Laureate (UK)
Awarded every two years to an eminent British writer or illustrator of children’s books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field.
Carnegie Medal for Writing
Awarded every year by children’s librarians for an outstanding book for kids & teens. Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald is the 2025 winner.
Carnegie Medal for Illustration
Annual UK award for outstanding achievement in children’s illustration. 2025 winner: Olivia Lomenech Gill for Clever Crow (by C Butterworth)
Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award (CLiPPA)
Annual UK award presented for published poetry for children published in the previous year.
Waterstones Children’s Laureate (UK)
Awarded every two years to an eminent British writer or illustrator of children’s books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field.
United States
American prizes for children's literature and illustration
Coretta Scott King award
Annual award for African-American authors and illustrators for outstanding contributions to children’s and young adult literature.
Newbery Medal winners
Awarded each year by the American Library Association for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for Children.
Randolph Caldecott Medal winners
Awarded each year by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children.
American National Book Awards
The winners for 2024 have been announced in Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Translated literature and Young people’s literature.
Coretta Scott King award
Annual award for African-American authors and illustrators for outstanding contributions to children’s and young adult literature.
Newbery Medal winners
Awarded each year by the American Library Association for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for Children.
Randolph Caldecott Medal winners
Awarded each year by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children.
American National Book Awards
The winners for 2024 have been announced in Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Translated literature and Young people’s literature.
Odyssey Awards - Audiobooks for Children and Teens
Award by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), divisions of ALA.
2024 Youth Media Awards - Children
"Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honorus books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens."
Odyssey Awards - Audiobooks for Children and Teens
Award by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), divisions of ALA.
2024 Youth Media Awards - Children
"Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honorus books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens."
Ceased prizes
- Costa Children’s Book Award (formerly the Whitbread, ended 2021)
- Guardian Children’s Fiction Award (ended 2016)
- Roald Dahl Funny Prize (ended 2013)
- Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award for Illustration (ended 2016)
- Awards of the Canadian Library Association (ended 2016)
More books and reading for kids
- Reading recommendations for kids
- Interviews with New Zealand children's authors
- Best of the year
- New titles for kids
See also
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