American Indian Youth Services Literature Award

I.  Background to the Award.

The American Indian Youth Services Literature Award is presented every two years by the American Indian Library Association ("AILA").  On the left is the symbol of the association (from the association's website).  This award was established "as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians" (AILA, 2008 Awards).  In order to qualify for this award, an author or illustrator must be recognized by the Native American community of which they claim to be a part.  Three awards are given: one for picture books, a second for middle school books, and a third for young adult books.  The award was established in 2006.  Currently, no honor books are named.  Titles are nominated for the award by members of an award jury, who are elected by members of AILA, and the award jury selects the winning books.  The winner of one of these three awards receives a cash prize of $500.00 and a custom-made beaded medallion, which is awareded at the American Library Association annual conference.  Below is a list, by year, of the winners of the American Indian Youth Services Literature Award.

II.  Award Winners.

   2008

• Picture Book Award:

  • Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom, written by Tim Tingle and illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridge (Cinco Puntos Press, 2006).

• Middle School Award:

  • Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond, written by Joseph Medicine Crow and Herman Viola (National Geographic, 2006).

• Young Adult Award:

  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written by Sherman Alexie (Little Brown Young Readers, 2007).

   2006

• Picture Book Award:

  • Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story, written by the Confederated Salish and  Kootenai Tribes (University of Nebraska Press, 2005).

• Middle School Award:

  • The Birchbark House, written by Louise Erdich (Hyperion, 1999).

• Young Adult Award:

  • Hidden Roots, written by Joseph Bruchac (Scholastic Press, 2004).

   

(List adapted from AILA, 2008 Awards and NALA Award). 

III.  Resources.

American Indian Library Association.  (2006).  2008 American Indian Youth Literature Awards Announced.  Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from:

http://aila.library.sd.gov/News/2008youthlit/index.htm

American Indian Library Association.  (2006).  Native American Library Association Youth Services Award.  Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from:

http://aila.library.sd.gov/activities/youthlitaward.htm

American Indian Library Association.  (n.d.).  Native American Library Association Youth Services Award Review Criteria.  Retrieved on March 12, 2008 from:

http://aila.library.sd.gov/activities/AILALitAward.doc