Schneider Family Book Award facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schneider Family Book Award |
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|---|---|
| Presented by | American Library Association |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 2004 |
The Schneider Family Book Award is a special prize given by the American Library Association (ALA). It celebrates amazing authors and illustrators who write books for young people about living with a disability. These books help readers understand what it's like to have different abilities.
The award has three main groups: books for young children, books for middle school readers, and books for teenagers. This award has been given out every year since 2004.
The award was started by Dr. Katherine Schneider. She was the first blind student to finish school in the Kalamazoo Public School system. When she was a child, a librarian at the Michigan Library for the Blind helped her by providing books in Braille. Dr. Schneider wanted to create an award that would encourage more books showing the experiences of people with disabilities. Winners are announced each year at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.
What Makes a Book a Winner?
To be considered for the Schneider Family Book Award, books must meet certain rules:
- The story must show someone living with a disability. This person can be the main character or a side character.
- The idea of "disability" is very broad. It can be a physical, mental, or emotional disability. The book just needs to show some part of what it's like to live with it.
- Books where death is the main topic usually do not qualify.
- The book must be published in English.
- The award can be given even if the author or illustrator has passed away.
- Books are eligible if they were published in the year before the award is given.
- Books that have already been considered for the award cannot be nominated again.
Recent Award Winners
The Schneider Family Book Award celebrates many wonderful books each year. Here are some of the recent winners and honor books:
| Year | Category | Recipient | Title | Citation | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Young Children | Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith | I Talk Like a River | Winner | |
| Young Children | Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali | All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything | Honor | ||
| Young Children | Tracy Newman, illustrated by Abigail Halpin | Itzhak: A Boy who Loved the Violin | Honor | ||
| Middle School | Ann Clare LeZotte | Show Me a Sign | Winner | ||
| Middle School | Sarah Kapit | Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! | Honor | ||
| Middle School | Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson, color by Iman Geddy | When Stars Are Scattered | Honor | ||
| Teen | I. W. Gregorio | This Is My Brain In Love | Winner | ||
| 2020 | Young Children | Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Rafael López | Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You | Winner | |
| Young Children | Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song | A Friend For Henry | Honor | ||
| Middle School | Kelly Lynne | Song for a Whale | Winner | ||
| Middle School | Pablo Cartaya | Each Tiny Spark | Honor | ||
| Teen | Karol Ruth Silverstein | Cursed | Winner | ||
| Teen | Alison Gervais | The Silence Between Us | Honor | ||
| 2019 | Young Children | Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, illustrated by Scott Magoon | Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship | Winner | |
| Young Children | Jessie Oliveros, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte | The Remember Balloons | Honor | ||
| Middle School | Leslie Connor | The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle | Winner | ||
| Middle School | Jacqueline West | The Collectors | Honor | ||
| Teen | Mark Oshiro | Anger is a Gift | Winner | ||
| Teen | Kelly Jensen (ed.) | (Don’t ) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health | Honor |
