National Book Foundation facts for kids
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| Founded | July 1989 |
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| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Services | Celebrating literary achievements |
| Fields | Literary Prize |
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Key people
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Ruth Dickey, Executive Director, David Steinberger, Chairman |
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Staff
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8 staff, 18 board members |
The National Book Foundation (NBF) is an American group that helps people appreciate great books. It is a nonprofit organization, which means it works for a good cause, not to make money. The NBF started in 1989. Its main job is to manage and support the National Book Awards. These are important prizes given to authors for their amazing books. The foundation also creates fun and educational programs for people of all ages.
The National Book Foundation has a special group of leaders called a board of directors. These leaders come from different parts of the book world. They include people from libraries, bookstores, and publishing companies. In 2021, Ruth Dickey became the fourth leader of the foundation.
Awards for Great Books
The National Book Foundation gives out several important awards. These awards celebrate authors and their books. They help readers discover new and exciting stories.
National Book Awards
The National Book Awards are annual prizes that honor the best American books. They started in 1950 and have been given out every year since. These awards celebrate amazing writing in different types of books.
Currently, the awards recognize top books in these categories:
- Fiction: For novels and short stories.
- Nonfiction: For factual books.
- Poetry: For collections of poems.
- Translated Literature: For books originally written in another language and translated into English.
- Young People's Literature: For books written for young readers.
Before 2018, only U.S. citizens could win a National Book Award. Now, authors who are not citizens can also be considered through a special process.
How are the winners chosen? A group of five judges decides. These judges are writers, librarians, booksellers, and critics. They first pick ten books in each category. Then, they narrow it down to five finalists. The winners are announced at a special event in November.
5 Under 35 Award
The "5 Under 35" program began in 2005. It celebrates five new fiction writers who are under 35 years old. Famous authors who have won National Book Awards, or past "5 Under 35" honorees, choose these new writers. Each writer receives a $1,000 prize. Famous people like Questlove and LeVar Burton have hosted the award ceremony.
Science + Literature Award
The "Science + Literature" program started in 2022. It is a partnership between the NBF and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This award honors three books each year that help readers understand science and technology better.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Besides the main National Book Awards, the foundation also gives two special awards. These awards honor people for their lifelong contributions to American literature. They are the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.
Other Programs and Activities
The National Book Foundation does more than just give awards. It also runs many programs to help people read more and enjoy books.
Education Programs
The NBF has several programs designed to help students and families. These programs encourage reading and improve literacy skills.
BookUp
BookUp is a main education program of the NBF. It connects middle and high school students with local authors. The program also runs free reading groups. Since it started in 2007, BookUp has given away over 35,000 free books. It helps about 500 students each year in cities like New York City, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Students get to build their own home libraries and become better readers.
Book Rich Environments
The Book Rich Environments program helps families living in public housing. It gives them free, high-quality books and connects them with library activities. This program works in 37 communities across the country. Since 2017, it has given out over two million free books to children and families.
NBF Teacher Fellowship
The NBF Teacher Fellowship supports public school teachers from 6th to 12th grade. It helps teachers find new ways to make reading fun for their students. Teachers get special training, money to buy books, and a small payment.
Teens Read the National Book Awards
This is an annual event for high school students in New York City. Students get to interview authors who have been nominated for a National Book Award. It used to be called "Teen Press Conference."
Public Programs
The NBF also hosts events for the general public. These programs bring authors and books to communities.
NBF Presents
"NBF Presents" brings National Book Awards honorees to different places. They visit libraries, colleges, and book festivals across the country. Authors give readings and talk about their books. This series is similar to the older "National Book Awards on Campus" program. That program started in 2005 and brought authors to college campuses. Some of those colleges, like Sam Houston State University, still host "NBF Presents" events today.
Literature for Justice
"Literature for Justice" (LFJ) is a special project. It aims to help people understand the experiences of those who are incarcerated. Each year, a group of authors and advocates chooses five books. These books help the public learn more about the lives of people in prison.
Past Programs
The National Book Foundation has run many other programs in the past. Some of these include Author in Focus, Eat, Drink & Be Literary, and Why Reading Matters.
See also
