2016 AIYLA Announced

The American Indian Youth Literature Awards are presented every two years. The awards were established as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. Books selected to receive the award will present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts.

2016 American Indian Youth Literature Award

A color brochure of the 2016 award recipients is available to print and share.

The American Indian Library Association (AILA), an affiliate of the American Library Association, has selected “Little You” (2013) Orca Book Publishers, written by Richard Van Camp, illustrated by Julie Flett as the 2016 Best Picture Book; “In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse” (2015) Amulet Books, written by Joseph Marshall III as the 2016 Best Middle School Book, and “House of Purple Cedar” (2014) Cinco Puntos Press, written by Tim Tingle as the 2016 Best Young Adult Book. The recipients of the fifth American Indian Youth Literature Awards will be formally recognized at the American Libraries Association Annual Conference in Orlando Florida this summer.

Honor Books were selected each category. The Honor Picture Book selected by the jury is “Sitting Bull Sioux Warrior and Defender of his People” by S.D. Nelson (2015) Abrams Books for Young Readers. The Honor Middle Grade Book is “Dreaming in Indian Contemporary Native Voices” edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale (2014) Annick Press. The Honor Young Adult Book is “Her Land, Her Love” by Evangeline Parsons Yazzie (2016) Salina Bookshelf Inc.

Winners

Picture Book