Lupine Award facts for kids
The Lupine Award is a special prize given each year by the Maine Library Association. It celebrates amazing authors or illustrators who create books. To win, a person must either live in Maine, have been born there, or write a book that takes place in Maine.
This award has been given out every year since 1993. Since 2005, there have actually been two separate awards: one for picture books and another for books written for older kids and young adults.
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What is the Lupine Award?
The Lupine Award is like a gold medal for books connected to Maine. It helps shine a light on talented writers and artists who make stories for young people. It's a way to say "great job!" to those who create books that inspire, teach, or entertain kids and teens.
Who Can Win?
An author or illustrator can win if:
- They live in Maine.
- They were born in Maine.
- Their book is set (takes place) in Maine.
The award is given to a living author or illustrator, meaning someone who is still alive and creating books.
Two Kinds of Awards
Since 2005, the Lupine Award has been split into two main categories to recognize different types of books:
- Picture Book Award: This is for books that tell a story mostly through pictures, often for younger children.
- Juvenile/Young Adult Book Award: This is for novels and non-fiction books written for readers aged 8 and up, including middle schoolers and teenagers.
Past Winners: Juvenile/Young Adult Books
Many fantastic books for older kids and teens have won the Lupine Award. Here are some recent winners:
- 2020 Winner: Call Me American (Adapted for Young Adults) The Extraordinary True Story of a Young Somali Immigrant by Abdi Nor Iftin. This book tells a powerful true story.
- 2019 Winner: Searching for Lottie by Susan Ross.
- 2018 Winner: The Mad Wolf's Daughter by Diane Magras.
- 2017 Winner: Grit by Gillian French.
- 2016 Winner: Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet. This book is about the famous author of Charlotte's Web.
Many other great books have received "Honorable Mentions," which means they were also highly praised by the judges.
Past Winners: Picture Books
Picture books are also celebrated with their own Lupine Award. These books often have beautiful illustrations that help tell the story. Here are some recent winners:
- 2020 Winner: Magnificent Homespun Brown by Samara Cole Doyon, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita.
- 2019 Winner: Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter.
- 2018 Winner: We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins.
- 2017 Winner: Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares.
- 2016 Winner: Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryan.
Just like with the young adult books, many other wonderful picture books have also received Honorable Mentions.
