American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award

AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD

The American Indian Library Association announces the establishment of its American Indian Youth Literature Award. The children's book award was created as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. Potential award winning titles will be nominated and selected by members of the award jury, which is composed of seven members of AILA, elected by the membership. Each juror may nominate titles in each category that represent the best in American Indian books for children and youth. Books selected to receive the award will present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts. Additional information about the award and criteria used to evaluate books can be found here.

The First American Indian Library Association American Indian Youth Literature Awards were selected and presented during the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color at Dallas Texas, Oct 11 through 15, 2006. Winners were chosen in three categories: picture book, middle school, and young adult.

2012 American Indian Youth Literature Award Winners Announced:
The American Indian Library Association (AILA), an affiliate of the American Library Association, has selected "The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood" (2011), written by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illustrated by Ellen Beier; "Free Throw" (2011) and "Triple Threat" (2011), both written by Jacqueline Guest; and "Pipestone: My Life in an Indian Boarding School" (2010), written by Adam Fortunate Eagle, as recipients of the fourth American Indian Youth Literature Awards. Four titles were selected as Honor Books in the Picture Book category, two titles were selected as Honor Books in the Middle Grades category and one title was named as an Honor Book in the Young Adult category.
The Christmas Coat by Virgina Driving Hawk Sneve, Ellen Beier(Illustrator)	Free Throw and Triple Threat by Jacqueline Guest	Pipestone: My Life in an Indian Boarding School by Adam Fortunate Eagle
Honor Books in the Picture Book Category
Saltypie; A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light by Tim Tingle, Karen Clarkson(Illustrator)	Kohala Kuamo'o: Nae'ole's Race to save a King by Kekauleleana'ole Kawai'ae'a, Aaron Kawai'ae'a (Illustrator) story by Walter and Luana Kawai'ae'a
Mohala Mai 'O Hau = How Hau Became Hau'ula by Robert Lono 'Ikuwa pictures by Matthew Kawika Ortiz	I See Me by Margaret Manuel
Honor Books in the Middle Grades Category		Honor Book in the Young Adult Category
Jordin Tootoo: The Highs and Lows in the Journey of the First Inuit to Play in the NHL by Melanie Florence	Awesiinyensag: Dibaajimowinan Ji-Gikinoo'amaageng by Anton Treuer et al.	Native Defenders of the Environment and other titles in the "Native Trailblazers series by Victor Schilling

2010 American Indian Youth Literature Award Winners
The American Indian Library Association (AILA), an affiliate of the American Library Association, has selected "A Coyote Solstice Tale" written by Thomas King and illustrated by Gary Clement; "Meet Christopher: An Osage Indian Boy from Oklahoma" by Genevieve Simermeyer, and "Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me: A Novel" by Lurline Wailana McGregor as recipients of the third American Indian Youth Literature Awards. View photos of the awards ceremony held in Washington DC.
A Coyote Solstice Tale by Thomas King , Gary Clement(Illustrator)	Meet Christopher: An Osage Indian Boy from Oklahoma by Genevieve Simermeyer, photographs by Katherine Fogden	Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me: A Novel by Lurline Wailana McGregor

2008 American Indian Youth Literature Award Winners
Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond by Joseph Medicine Crow, Herman Viola	Crossing Bok Chitto by Tim Tingle	The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney (Illustrator)

2006 American Indian Youth Literature Award Winners
Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story, by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes(Illustrator)	The Birchbark House, by Louise Erdrich	Hidden Roots, by Joseph Bruchac

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