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NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH SERVICES LITERATURE AWARD

The American Indian Library Association announces the establishment of its American Indian Youth Services 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 Native Americans 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 Native American Youth Services 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.

2010 American Indian Youth Literature Award Winners Announced:
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.

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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