The Schneider Family Book Award is an award given by the American Library Association (ALA) recognizing authors and illustrators for the excellence of portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth. There is a category for children's books, books appealing to middle grade readers, and for young adult literature. The award has been given since 2004.
The award was founded by Dr. Katherine Schneider, the first blind student to graduate from the Kalamazoo Public School system. Schneider had been helped through school as a child by a librarian at the Michigan Library for the Blind who provided books in Braille to her.
The awards are given out annually and the winners are announced with the ALA’s Youth Media Awards.
A study of the awards has been conducted by Sarah Dornback.
Criteria The person with the disability may be the protagonist or a secondary character. Definition of disability: Dr. Schneider has intentionally allowed for a broad interpretation by her wording, the book "must portray some aspect of living with a disability, whether the disability is physical, mental, or emotional." This allows each committee to decide on the qualifications of particular titles. Books with death as the main theme are generally disqualified. The books must be published in English. The award may be given posthumously. Term of eligibility extends to publications from the preceding year. Books previously discussed and voted on are not eligible again.
Winners + Schneider Family Book Award Year Category Recipient Title Citation Reference2004Young ChildrenGlenna LangLooking Out For SarahWinnerMiddle GradeWendy MassA Mango Shaped SpaceWinnerYoung AdultAndrew ClementsThings Not SeenWinner2005Young ChildrenDiane Bertrand Gonzales, illustrated by Robert L. SweetlandMy Pal Victor/Mi amigo, VictorWinnerMiddle GradePam Muñoz RyanBecoming Naomi LeónWinnerYoung AdultSamantha AbeelMy Thirteenth Winter: A MemoirWinner2006Young ChildrenMyron Uhlberg, illustrated by Colin BootmanDad, Jackie and MeWinnerMiddle GradeKimberly Fusco NewtonTending to GraceWinnerYoung AdultAdam RappUnder the Wolf, Under the DogWinner2007Young ChildrenPaul DuBois and Pete Seeger, illustrated by R. Gregory ChristieThe Deaf MusiciansWinnerMiddle GradeCynthia LordRulesWinnerYoung AdultLouis SacharSmall StepsWinner2008Young ChildrenAndrea Stenn Stryer, illustrated by Bert DodsonKami and the YaksWinnerMiddle GradeTracie Vaughn ZimmerReaching for SunWinnerYoung AdultGinny RorbyHurt Go HappyWinner2009Young ChildrenRobert Andrew ParkerPiano Starts Here: The Young Art TatumWinnerMiddle GradeLeslie ConnorWaiting for NormalWinnerYoung AdultJonathan FriesenJerk, CaliforniaWinner2010Young ChildrenBonnie ChristensenDjangoWinnerMiddle GradeNora Raleigh BaskinAnything But TypicalWinnerYoung AdultFrancisco X. StorkMarcelo in the Real WorldWinner2011Young ChildrenGeorge Ella Lyon, illustrated by Lynne AvrilThe Pirate of KindergartenWinnerMiddle GradeJordan SonnenblickAfter Ever AfterWinnerYoung AdultAntony JohnFive Flavors of DumbWinner2012Young ChildrenNo award givenNo award givenNoneMiddle GradeJoan BauerClose to FamousWinnerMiddle GradeBrian SelznickWonderstruckWinnerYoung AdultWendelin Van DraanenThe Running DreamWinner2013Young ChildrenClaire AlexanderBack to Front and Upside Down!WinnerMiddle GradeSarah LeanA Dog Called HomelessWinnerYoung AdultHarry Mazer and Peter LerangisSomebody, Please Tell Me Who I AmWinner2014Young ChildrenJen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa SweetA Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace PippinWinnerMiddle GradeMerrie HaskellHandbook for Dragon SlayersWinnerYoung AdultElizabeth WeinRose Under FireWinner2015Young ChildrenAlan Rabinowitz, illustrated by Catia ChienA Boy and a JaguarWinnerMiddle GradeAnn M. MartinRain ReignWinnerYoung AdultGail GilesGirls Like UsWinner2016Young ChildrenLaurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean QuallsEmmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu YeboahWinnerMiddle GradeLynda Mullaly HuntFish in a TreeWinnerMiddle GradeKimberly Brubaker BradleyThe War That Saved My LifeWinnerYoung AdultTeresa TotenThe Unlikely Hero of Room 13BWinner2017Young ChildrenJen Bryant, illustrated by Boris KulikovSix Dots: A Story of Young Louis BrailleWinnerMiddle GradeJason ReynoldsAs Brave As YouWinnerYoung AdultEmery LordWhen We CollidedWinner2018Young ChildrenAllen SaySilent Days, Silent DreamsWinnerMiddle GradeShari GreenMacy McMillan and the Rainbow GoddessWinnerYoung AdultWhitney GardnerYou're Welcome, UniverseWinner2019Young ChildrenJessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, illustrated by Scott MagoonRescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing FriendshipWinnerYoung ChildrenJessie Oliveros, illustrated by Dana WulfekotteThe Remember BalloonsHonorMiddle GradeLeslie ConnorThe Truth as Told by Mason ButtleWinnerMiddle GradeJacqueline WestThe CollectorsHonorYoung AdultMark OshiroAnger is a GiftWinnerYoung AdultKelly Jensen (ed.)(Don't) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental HealthHonor 2020Young ChildrenSonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Rafael López Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be YouWinnerYoung ChildrenJenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika SongA Friend For HenryHonorMiddle GradeKelly LynneSong for a WhaleWinnerMiddle GradePablo CartayaEach Tiny SparkHonorYoung AdultKarol Ruth SilversteinCursedWinnerYoung AdultAlison GervaisThe Silence Between UsHonor 2021Young ChildrenJordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney SmithI Talk Like a RiverWinnerYoung ChildrenAnnette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Nabi H. AliAll the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed EverythingHonorYoung ChildrenTracy Newman, illustrated by Abigail HalpinItzhak: A Boy who Loved the ViolinHonorMiddle GradeAnn Clare LeZotteShow Me a SignWinnerMiddle GradeSarah KapitGet a Grip, Vivy Cohen!HonorMiddle GradeVictoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson, color by Iman GeddyWhen Stars Are ScatteredHonorYoung AdultI. W. GregorioThis Is My Brain In LoveWinner 2022Young ChildrenDarren Lebeuf, illustrated by Ashley BarroMy City SpeaksWinnerYoung ChildrenHudson TalbottA Walk in the WordsHonorYoung ChildrenBahram Rahman, illustrated by Peggy CollinsA Sky-Blue BenchHonorMiddle GradeAlison Green MyersA Bird Will SoarWinnerMiddle GradeJason Reynolds, illustrated by Raúl the ThirdStuntboy, in the MeantimeHonorMiddle GradeElle McNicollA Kind of SparkHonorYoung AdultAsphyxiaWords in My HandsWinnerYoung AdultAriel HenleyA Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon SyndromeHonor2023Young ChildrenShannon Stocker, illustrated by Devon HolzwarthListen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed PercussionWinnerYoung ChildrenErin HouriganIn the BlueHonorMiddle GradeC. C. HarringtonWILDOAKWinnerMiddle GradeNatalie LloydHummingbirdHonorMiddle GradeGillian DunnHonestly ElliottHonorYoung AdultErin StewartThe Words We KeepWinnerYoung AdultNatalia SylvesterBreathe and Count Back from TenHonor2024Young ChildrenJenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika SongHenry, Like AlwaysWinnerYoung ChildrenJoanna Que and Charina Marquez, illustrated by Fran AlvarezDancing HandsHonorYoung ChildrenJames Catchpole, illustrated by Karen GeorgeWhat Happened to You?HonorMiddle GradeSally J. PlaThe Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinnWinnerMiddle GradeMeg Eden KuyattGood DifferentHonorMiddle GradeErin BowSimon Sort of SaysHonorYoung AdultMariama J. LockingtonForever Is NowWinnerYoung AdultClaire ForrestWhere You See YourselfHonorYoung AdultMazey EddingsTilly in TechnicolorHonor2025Young ChildrenSarah KurpielA Little Like MagicWinnerYoung ChildrenKaren Kane and Jonaz McMillan, illustrated by Dion MBDMonster HandsHonorYoung ChildrenJames and Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Karen GeorgeYou're So Amazing!HonorMiddle GradeRob HarrellPopcornWinnerMiddle GradeJohn SchuLouder Than HungerHonorMiddle GradeSherri WinstonShark TeethHonorYoung AdultMaya Van WagenenChronically DoloresWinnerYoung AdultLauren SealLight Enough to FloatHonorYoung AdultAnna SortinoOn the Bright SideHonor2026Young ChildrenAmy Hansen and Wanda Díaz-Merced, illustrated by Rocio Arreola MendozaWanda Hears the StarsWinnerYoung ChildrenElana K. Arnold, illustrated by Charles SantosoBat and the Business of FerretsHonorYoung ChildrenJanice Milusich, illustrated by Chris RaschkaI Hear the Snow, I Smell the SeaHonorMiddle GradeAlyssa ColmanWhere Only Storms GrowWinnerMiddle GradeBobbie PyronOctopus MoonHonorMiddle GradeSaadia FaruqiThe Strongest HeartHonorYoung AdultJames Robinson, illustrated by Brian ReaWhale EyesWinnerYoung AdultSonido ReyesThe Golden Boy's Guide to BipolarHonorYoung AdultHeidi E. Y. StempleThe Poetry of Car MechanicsHonor
References
External links
Official site