Many states and some private organizations recognize accomplishments of children’s writers by distributing book prizes every year. These writers will be the ones who produced the most noteworthy books for young people in a given year. These will be books that tell an unusual story; have a particular interest for students in a certain region or place; or that are exceptionally well-written.

There are some awards that have been given out for a very long time and have special regard in the children’s literature community. Prizes such as the Caldecott Medal and the Newbery Medal are given out every year. The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the picture book that the American Library Association deems the American best picture book of the year. The Newbery Medal is likewise given to the best American children’s book published that year. These are the two most prestigious awards given to children’s books in the United States, and many teachers, parents, and librarians use these awards to determine what books will be read in schools, book clubs, and in homes across the country.

The Caldecott and Newbery Medals share long, distinguished histories, but in recent years another literary award has been given to mark remarkable achievement: this is the Michael L. Printz award, which has been given every year since 2000 to honor an exceptional young adult novel.

A reading list can be a handy way for a reader or a teacher to organize thoughts and plans for what book to read next. Consulting the titles recommended by the American Library Association, its awards panels, or other organizations can be a great help.