LibGuides: Children's Literature: Diversity Awards

Diversity Awards Highlights

The Truth about Dragons

Caldecott Honor, 2024; Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, 2024

An American Story

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, 2024

Mexikid

Newbery Honor, 2024; Pura Belpre Illustrator Award 2024; Pura Belpre Author Award, 2024

A Letter for Bob

American Indian Youth Lit Picture Book Award, 2024

Forever Cousins

American Indian Youth Lit Picture Book Award, 2024

2024

An American Story by Dare Coulter (Illustrator); Kwame Alexander
Call Number: [Juv.] E441 .A5758 2023
ISBN: 9780316473125
Publication Date: 2023-01-03
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, 2024
This picture book in verse explores the legacy of slavery, from the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable passage across the Atlantic, to the backbreaking work in the fields of the South, this is a story of a people’s struggle and strength, horror and hope. This is the story of American slavery, a story that needs to be told and understood by all of us.
Big by Vashti Harrison
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.H37553 Bi 2022
ISBN: 9780316353229
Publication Date: 2023-05-02
Caldecott Medal, 2024; Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2024; Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, 2024
Praised for acting like a big girl when she is small, as a young girl grows, "big" becomes a word of criticism, until the girl realizes that she is fine just the way she is.
Holding Her Own: the Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes by Traci N. Todd; Shannon Wright (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338305906
Publication Date: 2023-01-03
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, 2024
Jackie Ormes made history. She was the first Black woman cartoonist to be nationally syndicated in the United States. She was also a journalist, fashionista, philanthropist, and activist, and she used her incredible talent and artistry to bring joy and hope to people everywhere. But in post-World War II America, Black people were still being denied their civil rights, and Jackie found herself in a dilemma: How could her art stay true to her signature "Jackie joy" while remaining honest about the inequalities Black people had been fighting?
How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford; Frank Morrison (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] E185.97.C835 W43 2023
ISBN: 9781536215540
Publication Date: 2023-04-11
Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2024
A true story of determination and groundbreaking achievement follows eighth grade African American spelling champion MacNolia Cox, who left Akron, Ohio, in 1936 to compete in the prestigious National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., only to be met with prejudice and discrimination.
There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds; Jerome Pumphrey (Illustrator); Jarrett Pumphrey (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.R33593 Th 2023
ISBN: 9781534439443
Publication Date: 2023-10-03
Caldecott Honor, 2024; Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, 2024
A celebration of Langston Hughes and African American authors he inspired, told through the lens of the party held at the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 1991.
Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford; Jeffery Boston Weatherford (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.5.W31 Ki 2023
ISBN: 9781665913621
Publication Date: 2023-09-19
Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2024
A multi-generational family history told in the voices of the author’s ancestors, spanning enslavement alongside Frederick Douglass at Maryland’s Wye House plantation, service in the U.S. Colored Troops, and the founding of all-Black Reconstruction-era communities.

Mexikid by Pedro Martín (Author and Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PN6727.M2453 Z46 2023
ISBN: 9780593462287
Publication Date: 2023-08-01
Newbery Honor, 2024; Pura Belpre Illustrator Award 2024; Pura Belpre Author Award, 2024
Pedro/Peter Martín is a Mexikid, or a kid born in the U.S. to parents from Mexico, a kid who doesn’t quite belong to either place. So he’s not sure what to expect when his dad announces that the whole family (all 11 of them!) will be piling into their Winnebago to drive 2,000 miles down to Mexico with a mission: bring their mysterious, Mexican-Revolution-era abuelito home to live with them. But their grandfather has a mission of his own, and he won’t leave Mexico until it’s complete.
Papa's Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo; Eliza Kinkz (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.T7413 Pa 2023
ISBN: 9781662651045
Publication Date: 2023-06-06
Pura Belpre Author Honor, 2024; Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor, 2024
Today, little Jesús has a big job to do. He’s helping Papá at work, and he’s in charge of the water jug -- which is also a magical clock! When it’s empty, Papá explains, the workday is done. But what about all these thirsty animals? Soon, the water is gone, but the day is not over yet. Will Jesús be fired?! Or is the jug not really magical after all.

Henry, Like Always by Jenn Bailey; Mika Song (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.B325 He 2023
ISBN: 9781797213897
Publication Date: 2023-03-21
Schneider Family Award, 2024
Henry, a first grader on the autism spectrum, attempts to navigate friendships, and sudden changes in classroom routines--like a parade on Friday instead of share time.
Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language by Joanna Que; Charina Marquez; Fran Alvarez (Illustrator); Karen Llagas (Translator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.Q276 Dan 2023
ISBN: 9781797213323
Publication Date: 2023-07-18
Schneider Family Honor, 2024
Our new neighbors' hands are dancing. Their hands move as if to music. What are they saying to each other? Sam's new neighbors' hands make graceful movements she doesn't recognize, and she wonders what they are saying. Soon she meets her new neighbor, Mai, who teaches Sam some Filipino Sign Language. Along the way, they both discover the joys of making a new friend, a best friend.
What Happened to You? by James Catchpole; Karen George (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.C4623 Wh 2023
ISBN: 9780316506472
Publication Date: 2023-04-11
Schneider Family Honor, 2024
Joe, a young boy trying to play pirates at the playground, keeps getting interrupted with questions about what happened to his leg, and gets more and more fed up until the kids finally understand they don’t need to know what happened.

The award winners this year can be found on the Young Adult research guide, as the books selected were for middle grades and up.

Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck; Jonathan Nelson (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.G6539 Fo 2022
ISBN: 9781623542924
Publication Date: 2022-10-04
American Indian Youth Lit Picture Book Award, 2024
Amanda and Kara are cousins and best friends in an intertribal Native American family; but Kara’s family leaves the city and moves back to the Rez, making both girls sad--but the summer reunion reminds them that they will always be cousins.
A Letter for Bob by Kim Rogers
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.R653 Le 2023
ISBN: 9780063044555
Publication Date: 2023-09-19
American Indian Youth Lit Picture Book Award, 2024
Ever since the day Mom and Dad brought Bob home from the car dealership, Bob has been a part of Katie’s family. Bob has taken them all over, from powwows to vacations to time spent with faraway family. Bob has been there in sad and scary times and for some of the family’s most treasured memories. But after many miles, it’s time for the family to say goodbye to Bob.

Arab Arab All Year Long! by Cathy Camper; Sawsan Chalabi (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] DS215 .C33 2022
ISBN: 9781536213959
Publication Date: 2022-06-14
Arab American Children's Award, 2024
Yallah! From January to December, join some busy kids as they partake in traditions old and new. There’s so much to do, whether it’s learning to write Arabic or looking at hijab fashion sites while planning costumes for a local comic convention.
Mama in Congress by Olivia Aserr (Illustrator); Miranda Paul; Adam Tlaib; Rashida Tlaib
Call Number: [Juv.] E901.1.T59 A3 2022
ISBN: 9780358683438
Publication Date: 2022-09-20
Arab American Children's Honor, 2024
When Yousif Tlaib asks about his mom’s new job in Congress, his older brother, Adam, fills him in--with some help from Rashida Tlaib herself. As he tells his mom’s story, Adam reveals information about how elections and our government work, what it means to break barriers, what motivates their mama to work for justice for all, and how love and family have guided them through this historic time in our country.

The Truth about Dragons by Julie Leung; Hanna Cha (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250820587
Publication Date: 2023-08-15
Caldecott Honor, 2024; Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, 2024
Guided by his mother’s bedtime storytelling, a young child begins a search, with help from his two wise grandmothers, to learn of a revelation surrounding the realms of two types of dragons: the ones that breathe fearsome fires of red and those that rule the clear azure skies and tranquil rivers. These two blended worlds ultimately open his heart to a greater understanding of his own integrity.
Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans; Thi Bui (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.K73 Fi 2023
ISBN: 9780063060968
Publication Date: 2023-02-07
Asian Pacific American Honor, 2024
Follows young Mai and her mother’s perilous journey from Vietnam to America to find Papa--who left ahead of them to start a better life for their family

2023

Standing in the Need of Prayer by Carole Boston Weatherford; Frank Morrison (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780593306352
Publication Date: 2022-09-20
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Medal, 2023
The Talk by Alicia D. Williams; Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534495296
Publication Date: 2022-10-18
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, 2023

Where Wonder Grows by Adriana M. Garcia (Illustrator); Xelena González
ISBN: 9781947627468
Publication Date: 2022-01-11
Pura Belpre Illustrator Medal, 2023
The Coquíes Still Sing by Karina Nicole González; Krystal Quiles (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250787187
Publication Date: 2022-08-23
Pura Belpre Children's Author Honor Book, 2023
Pura Belpre Children's Illustrator Honor Book, 2023
Co-quí, co-quí! The coquí frogs sing to Elena from her family’s beloved mango tree--their calls so familiar that they might as well be singing, "You are home, you are safe." But home is suddenly not safe when a hurricane threatens to destroy everything that Elena knows.
A Land of Books by Duncan Tonatiuh
Call Number: EBOOK
ISBN: 9781647008550
Publication Date: 2022-11-15
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, 2023
Illustrations and text describe how the Mixtecs create painted manuscripts, or codices, that reflect their way of life and document their history, science, land tenure, tribute, and sacred rituals.
Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land by Mirelle Ortega
Call Number: EBOOK
ISBN: 9781647007935
Publication Date: 2022-09-06
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, 2023
Growing up on a pineapple farm in Mexico, a young girl discovers the magic in everyday transformations that take place around her.
The Notebook Keeper by Stephen Briseño; Magdalena Mora (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780593307069
Publication Date: 2022-06-28
Pura Belpre Children's Author Honor Book, 2023
Phenomenal AOC by Anika Aldamuy Denise; Loris Lora (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780063113749
Publication Date: 2022-09-06
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, 2023

COMING SOON!

2022

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford; Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] F704.T92 W43 2021
ISBN: 1541581202
Publication Date: 2021
Coretta Scott King Award, 2022
Caldecott Honor Book, 2022
Texas Bluebonnet Selection, 2023
Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.B5347 So 2021
ISBN: 9781419747717
Publication Date: 2021
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2022
Granny teaches her young grandson how to cook the family meal, in this celebration of food, traditions, and gathering together at the table. Includes recipe for baked macaroni and cheese.
Nina: A story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd; Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781524737283
Publication Date: 2021
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2022
We Wait for the Sun by Katie McCabe; Raissa Figueroa (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] KF373.R686 A3 2020
ISBN: 9781250229021
Publication Date: 2021
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2022

¡vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge by Raúl the Third
ISBN: 9780358380405
Publication Date: 2021
Pura Belpre Illustrator Award Winner, 2022
Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé have a new truck and they are using it to carry party supplies over the bridge with their pals El Toro and La Oink Oink. The line is long and everyone on the bridge is stuck. How will they pass the time?
Child of the Flower-Song People by Gloria Amescua; Duncan Tonatiuh (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781419740206
Publication Date: 2021
Pura Belpre Author Honor Book, 2022
This moving, beautifully illustrated biography tells the remarkable story of how model and teacher Luz Jiménez became “the soul of Mexico”—a living link between the indigenous Nahua and the rest of the world. Through her deep pride in her roots and her unshakeable spirit, the world came to recognize the beauty and strength of her people.
Boogie Boogie, Y'all by C. G. Esperanza (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ8.3.E853 Bo 2021
ISBN: 9780062976222
Publication Date: 2021
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, 2022
Lively and colorful with a read-aloud beat, this picture book celebrates the rich culture of the Boogie Down Bronx, inviting readers to an epic block party.
Bright Star by Yuyi Morales
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.M7881927 Br 2021
ISBN: 9780823443284
Publication Date: 2021
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, 2022
Mixed-media love song dedicated to the border lands, and to the people, the plants, and the animals that call it their home.
De Aquí Como el Coquí by Nomar Perez (Illustrator); Farah Perez (Translator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ73 .P4667 2021
ISBN: 9780593324073
Publication Date: 2021
Pura Belpre Author Honor Book, 2022
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, 2022
When Miguel and his parents move from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland, Miguel misses their home, his grandparents, and his pet frog, Coquí, but he soon realizes that New York City has more in common with back home than he originally thought.
May Your Life Be Deliciosa by Michael Genhart; Loris Lora (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781951836221
Publication Date: 2021
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, 2022
Rosie learns from her abuela not only how to make a delicious tamale, but how to make a delicious life, one filled with love, plenty of spice, and family.

My City Speaks by Darren Lebeuf; Ashley Barron (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.L3926 My 2021
ISBN: 9781525304149
Publication Date: 2021
Schneider Family Award, 2022
The portrayal of a girl with a visual impairment walking through the city on her way to her violin recital offers a character education lesson in adaptability.
A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.T153 Wal 2021
ISBN: 9780399548710
Publication Date: 2021
Schneider Family Honor Book, 2022
Through a story from his own childhood, Hudson Talbott shares the challenges--and ultimately the rewards--of being a non-mainstream kind of learner.
Sky-Blue Bench by Bahram Rahman; Peggy Collins (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.R3416 Sk 2021
ISBN: 9781772782226
Publication Date: 2021
Schneider Family Honor Book, 2022
Young Aria returns to school after recovering from an accident and being fitted with a prosthetic leg, but the school has no furniture and sitting on the floor is too painful. She finds a way to build her own bench, surprising and inspiring her classmates.

Stonewall Book Awards include both young adult and children's books. For 2022, the Stonewall winner and additional honor books fall into the young adult category. See the Stonewall winner and additional honor books on the Young Adult Literature research guide

Grandad's Camper by Harry Woodgate
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.W658 Gr 2021
ISBN: 9781499811933
Publication Date: 2021
Stonewall Honor Book, 2022
A child who enjoys Grandad’s stories of his travels and adventures with Gramps persuades him to fix up their old camper and take another trip, in honor of Gramps.

2021

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade; Cozbi A. Cabrera (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PS3503.R7244 Z885 2020
ISBN: 9781419734113
Publication Date: 2020
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, 2021
A picture-book biography of celebrated poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize.
Respect: Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford; Frank Morrison (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] ML3930.F68 W43 2020
ISBN: 9781534452282
Publication Date: 2020-08-25
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, 2021
Aretha Franklin was born to sing. The daughter of a pastor and a gospel singer, her musical talent was clear from her earliest days in her father’s Detroit church. Her song "Respect" was an anthem for people fighting for civil rights and women’s rights. With words that sing and art that shines, this vibrant portrait of Aretha Franklin pays her the R-E-S-P-E-C-T this Queen of Soul deserves.
Me and Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534454217
Publication Date: 2020-08-25
Caldecott Honor Book, 2021
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, 2021
Mama's love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones! On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.

¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raul Gonzalez (Illustrator); Elaine Bay
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.G65327 Vai 2020
ISBN: 9781328557049
Publication Date: 2020-03-24
Pura Belpre Illustrator Award, 2021
Little Lobo, a Mexican American, and Bernabé, his dog, gather tacos, frutas picadas, cuernos, and more and deliver them to los luchadores preparing for Lucha Libre 5000.

All the Way to the Top by Annette Bay Pimentel; Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins (Foreword by); Nabigal-Nayagam Haider Ali (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] HV1553 .B39 2020
ISBN: 9781492688976
Publication Date: 2020-03-10
Schneider Honor Award for Younger Children, 2021
Itzhak: A Boy Who Loved the Violin by Tracy Newman; Abigail Halpin (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] ML3930.P45 N49 2020
ISBN: 9781419741104
Publication Date: 2020-05-12
Schneider Honor Award for Younger Children, 2021
After begging his parents for an instrument, Itzhak Perlman threw his heart and soul into playing the violin. Despite enormous obstacles--including a near-fatal bout of polio that left him disabled for life--Itzhak persevered, honing his extraordinary gift.
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott; Sydney Smith (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.S336845 Ita 2020
ISBN: 0823445593
Publication Date: 2020-09-01
Schneider Award Winner for Younger Children, 2021
When a child has a "bad speech day" at school, his father gives him a new perspective on his stuttering.

We Are Little Feminists by Little Feminist (Editor, (various roles), Compiled by, Created by)
ISBN: 9781734182422
Publication Date: 2020-03-08
Stonewall Award, 2021
Beautiful photos of real-life families showcase all the wonderful forms of family, while poetic text builds both vocabulary and family connection.
Beetle and the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne (Illustrator); Natalie Riess (Colorist (comics)); Kristen Acampora (Colorist (comics))
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.7.L3965 Bee 2020
ISBN: 9781534441538
Publication Date: 2020-08-04
Stonewall Honor Book, 2021
Twelve-year-old goblin and witch-in-training Beetle enlists her former best friend, Kat Hollowbones, to help stop Kat’s sorceress aunt from demolishing the mall where Beetle’s friend Blob Ghost is trapped.

2020

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander; Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781328780966
Publication Date: 2019-04-02
Caldecott Medal, 2020
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, 2020
Newbery Honor Book, 2020
The Bell Rang by James E. Ransome (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.R1755 Be 2019
ISBN: 9781442421134
Publication Date: 2019-01-15
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, 2020

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero; Zeke Peña (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.Q438 My 2019
ISBN: 9780525553410
Publication Date: 2019-05-14
A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo. When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she's always known. She also sees a community that is rapidly changing around her. But as the sun sets purple-blue-gold behind Daisy Ramona and her papi, she knows that the love she feels will always be there. With vivid illustrations and text bursting with heart, My Papi Has a Motorcycle is a young girl's love letter to her hardworking dad and to memories of home that we hold close in the midst of change.
¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market by Raúl
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.G65327 Vam 2019
ISBN: 9781328557261
Publication Date: 2019-04-02
Pura Belpre Honor Book, 2020
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle; Rafael López (Illustrator); Rafael López (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] ML3930.C2635 E55 2019
ISBN: 9781481487405
Publication Date: 2019-08-27
Pura Belpre Illustrator Award, 2020

Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor; Rafael López (Illustrator); Rafael López (Illustrator)
Call Number: [Juv.] PZ7.1.S683 Ju 2019
ISBN: 9780525514121
Publication Date: 2019-09-03
Schneider Family Young Children's Award, 2020

When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff; Kaylani Juanita (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781620148372
Publication Date: 2019-05-07
Stonewall Award 2020

About the Awards

The American Library Association gives book awards in several categories that honor diverse populations and cultures in young adult and children's literature. I have selected a few of these awards to highlight and include in the TCU Library Collection.

The Corretta Scott King Awards are given to African American authors and illustrators who demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.

The Pura Belpre Book Award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

The Stonewall Book Awards honor books for exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.

Subject Guide

Robyn Reid

she / her

Email Me

Contact:

817-257-5337

Children's Literature: Diversity Awards