William Allen White Children's Book Award facts for kids

The William Allen White Children's Book Award is a special honor given each year to amazing books. Kids in Kansas get to choose the winners! This award started way back in 1952. It was created by Ruth Garver Gagliardo, who was an expert in children's books at Emporia State University. This university still runs the program today.

The award is named after William Allen White (1868–1944). He was a famous newspaper publisher and editor for The Emporia Gazette. The William Allen White Award is the oldest award in the United States where children across a whole state pick their favorite books!

Since 2001, two books win each year. One winner is chosen by students in grades 3 to 5. The other winner is picked by students in grades 6 to 8. Each group has its own list of books to choose from. The award's website has a list of all the books that have been nominated since 1952. They also have guides to help teachers use these books in their classrooms.

Every October, there's a big celebration at Emporia State University. It includes fun "Read-Ins and Sleepovers" on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, student representatives give medals to the winning authors at a special ceremony. Many schools encourage their students to read the nominated books. Traveling to Emporia for the ceremony is a big reward for some students!

What is the William Allen White Award?

The William Allen White Children's Book Award celebrates great books for young readers. It's unique because kids themselves vote for their favorite books. This makes it a true "children's choice" award. It helps encourage kids to read and discover new stories.

How are the Winners Chosen?

Each year, a special committee creates a "Master List" of books. These books are chosen for their quality and appeal to young readers. There are separate lists for younger students (grades 3-5) and older students (grades 6-8). After reading the books, students across Kansas vote for their favorites. The book with the most votes in each age group wins!

Celebrating the Winners

The annual award celebration is a big event. It brings together authors, students, and educators. It's a chance to honor the winning writers and celebrate the joy of reading. Students who participate in the reading program often get to attend the ceremony. It's an exciting way to meet their favorite authors.

Past Winners of the Award

The William Allen White Award has honored many fantastic books over the years. From 1953 to 2000, there was usually one winner each year. Since 2001, there have been two winners annually, one for each age group.

Early Winners (1953-1956)

Here are some of the very first books that won the award:

Many other wonderful books won between 1957 and 2000, including classics like Old Yeller by Fred Gipson (1959), The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford (1964), The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (1968), From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg (1970), and The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White (1973).

Recent Winners (2001–2025)

Here are the winners from 2001 to the most recently announced winners for 2025. These books were chosen by students in two different age groups.