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Américas Award facts for kids

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Américas Award
Presented by Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs, coordinated by Tulane University’s Stone Center for Latin American Studies and Vanderbilt University’s Center for Latin American Studies
Country United States
First awarded 1993

The Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature is a special literary award given out every year. It celebrates awesome books for kids and teens that tell stories about Latin America, the Caribbean, or people of Latino heritage in the United States. This award also helps teachers find great books to use in their classrooms. The award was first given in 1993 by a group called the Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP). Each year, a ceremony is held at the Library of Congress during Hispanic Heritage Month, which also includes helpful workshops for teachers.

How Did the Américas Award Start?

The idea for the Américas Award came up in 1992. It was suggested by a committee within the Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs. Julie Kline, from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, led this committee for the first three years. She then became the award coordinator for many years. Later, the award's coordination moved to Latin American Studies centers at Tulane and Vanderbilt Universities. All the books that have won, received honors, or been commended by the award are kept at the Golda Meir Library at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

What Makes a Book Eligible?

To be considered for the Américas Award, books must meet certain requirements:

  • The book must have been published in the year right before the award.
  • It can be for younger kids (primary school) or older kids and teens (secondary school).
  • The book can be written in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or any language native to the Americas.
  • It needs to be published in the United States or by a publisher with offices there.
  • The book can be fiction, poetry, folklore, or certain types of non-fiction.
  • A book is only considered the very first year it's published in the U.S. If it's translated later, it's only eligible for the original U.S. edition.

How Are Books Judged?

Judges look at books based on these important points:

  • Great writing: Is the story well-written and special?
  • Cultural connection: Does it truly show the culture of Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the U.S.?
  • Amazing design: Do the words, pictures, and overall look of the book work together perfectly?
  • Classroom potential: Can teachers easily use this book to teach students?

Award-Winning Books

The Américas Award recognizes books in three ways: "Winner," "Honor," and "Commended."

  • Winner: These are the top books chosen for the award.
  • Honor: These books are also excellent and highly recommended.
  • Commended: These books are recognized for their quality and connection to the award's goals.

Here are some of the books that have received the Américas Award, along with some Honor and Commended books from different years:

Américas Award Recipients, Honorable Mentions, and Commended books
Year Title Author Illustrator Publisher Result
1993 Vejigante Masquerader Lulu Delacre Lulu Delacre Scholastic Winner
Abuela's Weave Omar S. Castañeda Enrique O. Sánchez Lee & Low Books Commended
Celebrating the Hero Lyll Becerra de Jenkins Lodestar Books Commended
For the Life of Laetitia Merle Hodge Farrar, Straus & Giroux Commended
Hue Boy Rita Phillips Mitchell Caroline Binch Dial Press Commended
The Little Painter of Sabana Grande Patricia Maloney Markun Robert Casilla Bradbury Press Commended
Radio Man Arthur Dorros Arthur Dorros HarperCollins Commended
2022 Child of the Flower-Song People Amescua, GloriaGloria Amescua Tonatiuh, DuncanDuncan Tonatiuh Abrams ComicArts Winner
My Two Border Towns Bowles, DavidDavid Bowles Meza, ErikaErika Meza Kokila Winner
Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna Dobbs, Alda P.Alda P. Dobbs Sourcebooks Young Readers Honor
Niños: Poems for the Lost Children of Chile Ferrada, María JoséMaría José Ferrada Valdez, María ElenaMaría Elena Valdez Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Honor
The Last Cuentista Higuera, Donna BarbaDonna Barba Higuera Levine Querido Honor
ABC El Salvador Ayala, HollyHolly Ayala Gómez, ElizabethElizabeth Gómez Luna's Press Books Commended
Aqui era el paraiso/Here Was Paradise Akʼabal, HumbertoHumberto Akʼabal Carling, Amelia LauAmelia Lau Carling Groundwood Books Commended
Coquí in the City Perez, NomarNomar Perez Perez, NomarNomar Perez Dial Books Commended
Isabel and Her Colores Go to School Alessandri, AlexandraAlexandra Alessandri Dawson, CourtneyCourtney Dawson Sleeping Bear Press Commended
Lotería Valenti, Karla ArenasKarla Arenas Valenti SanMar, DanaDana SanMar Knopf Books for Young Readers Commended
¡¡Manu!! Fernández, KellyKelly Fernández Fernández, KellyKelly Fernández Graphix Commended
Neverforgotten Algorta, AlejandraAlejandra Algorta, trans. by Aida Salazar Rickenmann, IvánIván Rickenmann Levine Querido Commended
On the Hook Stork, Francisco X.Francisco X. Stork Scholastic Press Commended
The Life of – La Vida de Dolores Rodriguez, PattyPatty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein Reyes, CitlaliCitlali Reyes Lil’ Libros Press Commended
The Mirror Season McLemore, Anna-MarieAnna-Marie McLemore Feiwel & Friends Commended
To Carnaval! A Celebration in Saint Lucia Paul, BaptisteBaptiste Paul Jana Glatt Barefoot Books Commended
When We Make It Velasquez, ElisabetElisabet Velasquez Dial Books Commended
Your Heart, My Sky: Love in a Time of Hunger Engle, MargaritaMargarita Engle Atheneum Books for Young Readers Commended
Zonia's Rain Forest Martinez-Neal, JuanaJuana Martinez-Neal Martinez-Neal, JuanaJuana Martinez-Neal Candlewick Press Commended
2023 Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son Parra, JohnJohn Parra Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Winner
Isla to Island Castellanos, AlexisAlexis Castellanos Atheneum Books for Young Readers Winner
¡Ándale, Prieta! Ramírez, YasmínYasmín Ramírez Lee & Low Books Honor
Miss Quinces Fajardo, KatKat Fajardo Azzi, MarianaMariana Azzi Graphix Honor
Self-Made Boys McLemore, Anna-MarieAnna-Marie McLemore Feiwel and Friends Honor
Abuela's Fideo: A Story of a Grandma's Love Tijerina, GabrielaGabriela Tijerina Tijerina, GabrielaGabriela Tijerina Del Alma Publications Commended
Abuelita and Me Carranza, LeonardaLeonarda Carranza Mayani, RafaelRafael Mayani Annick Press Commended
Amazona Canizales Canizales Graphic Universe Commended
Chabelita's Heart / El corazón de Chabelita Millán, IsabelIsabel Millán Mayani, RafaelRafael Mayani Reflection Press Commended
Frizzy Ortega, Claribel A.Claribel A. Ortega Bousamra, RoseRose Bousamra First Second Commended
Hispanic Star: Roberto Clemente Edelman, Claudia RomoClaudia Romo Edelman and Sara E. Echenique Gutierrez, ManuelManuel Gutierrez Roaring Brook Press Commended
Invisible Gonzalez, Christina DiazChristina Diaz Gonzalez Epstein, GabrielaGabriela Epstein Graphix Commended
Islands Apart: Becoming Dominican America Mendez, JasminneJasminne Mendez Piñata Books Commended
Lakelore McLemore, Anna-MarieAnna-Marie McLemore Feiwel & Friends Commended
Llort: The life of-la vida de Llort Gonzalez, CynthiaCynthia Gonzalez Reyes, CitlaliCitlali Reyes Lil' Libros Commended
My Neighborhood Ferrada, María JoséMaría José Ferrada, trans. by Kit Maude Penyas, AnaAna Penyas Tapioca Stories Commended
El niño de maíz/The Boy of Maize Bencastro, MarioMario Bencastro Rodriguez, ChristinaChristina Rodriguez Piñata Books Commended
Rima's Rebellion: Courage in a Time of Tyranny Engle, MargaritaMargarita Engle Atheneum Books for Young Readers Commended
The Secret of the Plátano Mack, Luz MariaLuz Maria Mack Mesa, StephanyStephany Mesa Soaring Kite Books Commended
Still Dreaming/Seguimos soñando Martinez, Claudia GuadalupeClaudia Guadalupe Martinez, trans. by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite Mora, MagdalenaMagdalena Mora Children's Book Press Commended
Tumble Pérez, Celia C.Celia C. Pérez Kokila Commended
Where Wonder Grows González, XelenaXelena González Garcia, Adriana M.Adriana M. Garcia Cinco Puntos Press Commended

Authors and Illustrators Who Won Multiple Awards

Some authors and illustrators have been recognized many times by the Américas Award.

Multiple Américas Award Winners

Multiple Américas Honors

Many authors and illustrators have received Américas Honors more than once.

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