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

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.

Winners

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

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 photosof the awards ceremony held in Washington DC.