Jane Addams Children's Book Award facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jane Addams Children's Book Award |
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Seal of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award
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| Presented by | Jane Addams Peace Association |
| Location | New York City |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 1953 |
The Jane Addams Children's Book Award is a special prize given each year to children's books. These books are chosen because they help spread important messages about peace and social equality. This means they teach about fairness, kindness, and how people can live together happily. The award has been given out every year since 1953. It was first given by two groups, but now it's presented only by the Jane Addams Peace Association.
History of the Award
The Jane Addams Children's Book Award started by giving one award each year. But in 1993, they added a new category for picture books. Now, two books usually win each year: one for younger children (like picture books) and one for older children.
The award used to be given in September, which is Jane Addams' birthday month. But in 2003, they changed it to April. This change was made to honor the birthday of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, one of the groups that first started the award.
A Book That Caused Discussion
Over the many years of the award, there was one time when a book caused a lot of discussion. In 1970, a book called The Cay by Theodore Taylor won the award. Later, some people had different ideas about the book's message. They felt it didn't quite fit the award's goals of promoting peace and equality.
In 1974, the person in charge of the award at that time said that giving the award to The Cay might have been a mistake. Theodore Taylor, the author, felt his book was actually about helping people understand each other better. Because of the different opinions, he decided to return the award. Even though the book is still listed as a winner, many people know about this story when they read and talk about The Cay today.
Award-Winning Books
Since 1953, many wonderful books have received the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. These books cover a wide range of topics, but they all share a common goal: to inspire young readers to think about peace, fairness, and how we can all live together in a better world.
The award helps highlight stories that teach important lessons about history, different cultures, and standing up for what's right. For example, some books might be about the Civil Rights Movement, or about people working to solve problems in their communities.
From 1953 to 1992, one main award was given each year. After 1992, the award was split into categories. From 1993 to 2005, there were two categories: "Picture Book" and "Book for Older Children." In 2005, the "Picture Book" category was renamed "Book for Younger Children." This change helped make it clearer which age group each award was for.
Many of these books have become favorites for young readers and are often used in schools to teach about important social issues. They encourage kids to be thoughtful, kind, and to work towards a more peaceful and fair world.
