National Book Award for Young People's Literature

The National Book Award for Young People's Literature is one of five annual National Book Awards given by the National Book Foundation (NBF) to recognize outstanding literary work by US citizens. They are awards "by writers to writers"."History of the National Book Awards" . National Book Foundation (NBF). Retrieved 2012-01-05. The judging panel are five "writers who are known to be doing great work in their genre or field"."How the National Book Awards Work" . NBF. Retrieved 2012-01-05.

The category Young People's Literature was established in 1996. From 1969 to 1983, prior to the Foundation, there were some "Children's" categories."National Book Award Winners: 1950 – 2009" . NBF. Retrieved 2012-01-05.

The award recognizes one book written by a US citizen and published in the US from December 1 of the previous year to November 30 in the award year. The National Book Foundation accepts nominations from publishers until June 15, requires mailing nominated books to the panelists by August 1, and announces five finalists in October. The winner is announced on the day of the final ceremony in November. The award is $10,000 and a bronze sculpture; other finalists get $1000, a medal, and a citation written by the panel."National Book Award Selection Process" . NBFs. Retrieved 2011-11-17.

There were 230 books nominated for the 2010 award."Frequently Asked Questions" . NBF. Retrieved 2012-01-05. This had risen to 333 submissions by 2024.

Finalists

Children's books, 1969 to 1979

Books for "children" were first recognized by the National Book Awards in 1969 (publication year 1968). Through 1979, a single award category existed, called either "Children's Literature" or "Children's Books." +Children's Books winners and finalists, 1969 to 1979 Year Author Title Result 1969Journey from Peppermint StreetWinnerFinalistConstance: A Story of Early PlymouthLangston Hughes: A Biography1970WinnerWhere the Lilies BloomFinalistPopcorn and Ma GoodnessSylvester and the Magic Pebble1971WinnerGroverFinalistBlowfish Live in the SeaFrog and Toad are Friends1972WinnerFinalistWild in the WorldThe Planet of Junior BrownFather Fox's Pennyrhymes1973WinnerFinalistd'Aulaires' TrollsJulie of the Wolves and Thomas C. FoxChildren of VietnamDominic1974WinnerFinalistSummer of My German SoldierGuests in the Promised LandPoor Richard in France and Margot ZemachDuffy and the Devil1975M. C. Higgins the GreatWinnerFinalistDoctor in the ZooI Tell a Lie Every So Often and Christopher CollierMy Brother Sam is Dead with Joi Bangla! The Children of BangladeshWorld of our Fathers: The Jews of Eastern EuropeRemember the DaysWings1976Bert Breen's BarnWinnerTo the Green MountainsFinalistAs I Was Crossing Boston CommonOf Love and Death and Other JourneysEl Bronx RememberedLudell1977WinnerNever to Forget: The Jews of the HolocaustFinalistOx Under PressureRoll of Thunder, Hear My CryTunes for a Small Harmonica1978 and Herbert KohlWinnerHew Against the GrainFinalistMischling, Second Degree: My Childhood in Nazi GermanyOne at a Time Caleb + Kate1979WinnerFinalistQueen of HeartsHumbug Mountain

Children's books, 1980 to 1983 In 1980, under the new name The American Book Awards (TABA), the number of literary award categories jumped to 28, including two for Children's Books: hardcover and paperback. In the following three years, there were three, five, and five Children's Book award categories—thus fifteen in four years—before the program was revamped with only three annual awards and none for children's books. All books in the fiction paperback category were reprints except 1983's fiction paperback co-winner Marked by Fire."National Book Awards – 1980" . NBF. Retrieved 2012-02-08. (Select 1980 to 1989 from the top left menu.) +Children's Books winners and finalists, 1980 to 1983 Year Category Author Title Result 1980HardcoverWinnerFinalistThrowing ShadowsWords by HeartPaperbackWinnerAlan and NaomiFinalistFrog and Toad Are FriendsHigglety Pigglety Pop!: Or There Must Be More to Life1981Fiction, hardcoverWinnerFinalistFar From HomeJacob Have I LovedFiction, paperbackRamona and Her MotherWinnerAll Together NowFinalistTex Non-fiction and Jane Lawrence MaliOh, Boy! BabiesWinnerAll Time, All Peoples: A World History of SlaveryFinalistPeopleWhere Do You Think You're Going, Christopher Columbus?1982Fiction, hardcoverWestmarkWinnerHomecomingFinalistLet the Circle Be UnbrokenRamona Quimby, Age 8Second Star to the RightFiction, paperbackWords by HeartWinnerJacob Have I LovedFinalistNon-fictionWinner with Robert Parker (illus.) Flight: A Panorama of AviationFinalist with James Wexler (photos)Seeds: Pop, Stick and Glide with Mal Warshaw (photos)Traitor: The Case of Benedict ArnoldPicture books, hardcoverOutside Over There WinnerJumanjiFinalist with Stephen GammellWhere the Buffaloes Begin with Anita Lobel (illus.)On Market Street with Alice and Martin ProvensenA Visit to William Blake's Inn1983Fiction, hardcoverHomesick: My Own StoryWinnerFinalistSweet Whispers, Brother RushFiction, paperbackWinner (tie)Marked by FireAnastasia Again!FinalistNotes for Another LifeTiger EyesNon-fictionChimney SweepsWinnerJourney to the PlanetsFinalistLobo of the TasadaySeafaring WomenPicture books, hardcoverDoctor De SotoWinner (tie)Miss Rumphius (Illus.)Shadow (translation of a poem by Blaise Cendrars)Finalist and Marc Simont (illus.) and Diane Goode (illus.)When I Was Young in the MountainsPicture books, paper with Betty Fraser (illus.)Winner (Illus.) (poems by Robert Frost)FinalistPinkerton, Behave!Space Case (original)

1984 - 1995 From 1984 to 1995, the National Book Foundation did not present awards for young people's literature.

Young people's literature, 1996 to date +Young People's Literature, 1996 to date Year Author Title Result 1996Parrot in the Oven, Mi VidaWinnerFinalistSend Me Down a MiracleWhat Jamie Saw1997Dancing on the EdgeWinnerMean MargaretFinalistSons of LibertyWhere You Belong1998HolesWinnerFinalistJoey Pigza Swallowed the KeyNo Pretty Pictures1999When Zachary Beaver Came to TownWinnerMonsterFinalistSpeak2000Homeless BirdWinnerForgotten FireFinalistHurry Freedom: African Americans in Gold Rush CaliforniaMany Stones2001True BelieverWinnerCarver: A Life in PoemsFinalistWe Were There Too! Young People in U.S. History2002Winner19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle EastFinalistFeedHushThis Land Was Made for You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie2003WinnerAn American Plague: The Time and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 (about the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793)FinalistBreakoutLocomotion2004GodlessWinnerHarlem Stomp!: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance (about the Harlem Renaissance)FinalistHoney, Baby, SweetheartLuna: A Novel2005WinnerAutobiography of My Dead BrotherFinalistEach Little Bird That SingsInexcusableWhere I Want to Be2006WinnerAmerican Born ChineseFinalistKeturah and Lord DeathSold2007WinnerSkin Hunger: A Resurrection of MagicFinalistStory of a GirlTouching Snow2008What I Saw and How I LiedWinnerChainsFinalist2009Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward JusticeWinnerCharles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of FaithFinalistJumpedLips Touch, Three TimesStitches2010MockingbirdWinnerDark WaterFinalistLockdownOne Crazy SummerShip Breaker2011Inside Out & Back AgainWinnerChimeFinalistFlesh and Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy (about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire)My Name Is Not EasyOkay for Now2012Goblin SecretsWinnerBomb: The Race to Build―and Steal―the World's Most Dangerous WeaponFinalistEndangeredNever Fall DownOut of Reach2013WinnerBoxers and SaintsFinalist"2013 National Book Award Finalists Announced" . Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2013-10-21.Far Far AwayPicture Me Gone2014Brown Girl DreamingWinnerNogginFinalistRevolutionThreatened2015Challenger DeepWinnerBone GapFinalistMost Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam WarNimona2016, Nate Powell, and Andrew AydinMarch: Book ThreeWinnerGhostFinalistRaymie NightingaleWhen the Sea Turned to Silver2017Far from the TreeWinnerAmerican StreetFinalistClayton Byrd Goes UndergroundI Am Not Your Perfect Mexican DaughterWhat Girls Are Made Of2018WinnerHey, KiddoFinalist and Eugene Yelchin20191919: The Year That Changed AmericaWinnerLook Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten BlocksFinalistPatron Saints of NothingPetThirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All2020King and the DragonfliesWinnerEvery Body LookingFinalistWe Are Not Free and Omar MohamedWhen Stars Are Scattered2021Last Night at the Telegraph ClubWinnerMe (Moth)FinalistRevolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the PeopleToo Bright to See2022All My RageWinnerFinalist, Derrick Barnes and Dawud AnyabwileVictory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for JusticeMaizy Chen's Last Chance2023Winner GatherFinalistHuda F Cares?Big2024Kareem BetweenWinnerBuffalo DreamerFinalistThe Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the SkyThe First State of BeingThe Unboxing of a Black Girl2025The Teacher of Nomad LandWinner"A Look at the 2025 National Book Award Winners". Publishers Weekly, November 21, 2025. A World Worth SavingFinalistBenjamin Lee, "Bryan Washington and Rabih Alameddine among National Book Award finalists". The Guardian, October 7, 2025. The Leaving Room Truth Is (S)kin2026HollowayFinalistThe Celestial SeasWhen Tomorrow BurnsThat Which Feeds Us: A Hawaiian Gothic & David LevithanThe Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in AmericaShook, illustrated by Robbi BehrLife on the Moon

Authors with two awards See Winners of multiple U.S. National Book Awards

Two authors have won two Children's or Young People's awards twice. Lloyd Alexander won for The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian (1971) and Westmark (1982), among six titles that were finalists.

Katherine Paterson won for The Master Puppeteer (1977) and The Great Gilly Hopkins (1979), among three titles that were finalists.

Isaac Bashevis Singer won the Children's Literature award in 1970 for A Day of Pleasure: Stories of a Boy Growing up in Warsaw and shared the Fiction award in 1974 for A Crown of Feathers and Other Stories.

See also List of winners of the National Book Award — all categories, winners only

Notes

References