Tomás Rivera Award facts for kids

The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award is a special prize. It celebrates writers and artists who create books about the Mexican American experience. This award started in 1995. It was created by the Texas State University College of Education.

The award honors Tomás Rivera. He was a famous former student of the university. Tomás Rivera was an educator, a poet, and an author. His books often showed the challenges faced by Mexican migrant farmers. He was also the first Mexican American to become a chancellor at the University of California.

What Makes a Book an Award Winner?

To win the Tomás Rivera Book Award, books must meet certain rules. These rules help make sure the best books are chosen.

• The book must be for children or young adults. This means readers from birth up to 16 years old.
• Both the writing and the pictures must be excellent. They should be of the highest quality.
• The way Mexican Americans are shown must be real and interesting. The books should avoid using stereotypes. Characters should feel rich and well-developed.
• The book can be a true story (non-fiction) or a made-up story (fiction).

Award Winners

Many talented authors and illustrators have won this award over the years. Here is a list of some of the books that have been honored.