Children's Books
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Our Collection
We have over seven shelves of illustrated children's books in our collection.
Where can you find them?:
- Most children's books have call numbers that start with NC965.
- Books about children's literature are located in PR990 and PN1009.5.
- We have many eBooks available through our databases, including OwlCat, as well.
There are also books focused on illustrating for children, history and criticism, and interpretations of children's literature from various perspectives.
Relevant Search Terms
- children's literature
- folktales
- folklore and children
- fairy tales
- fables
- illustrated children's books
- legends
- picture books for children
You can always add the name of a country to the terms above.
There are also many collections/anthologies of fairy tales, folktales, and fables.
Relevant Articles
History of Children's Books
McNamara, Charles. “In the Image of God: John Comenius and the First Children’s Picture Book.” The Public Domain Review, 14 May 2014, https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/in-the-image-of-god-john-comenius-and-the-first-children-s-picture-book. Accessed 17 Oct. 2023.
Grenby, M. O. “The Origins of Children’s Literature.” British Library, 15 May 2014, https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-origins-of-childrens-literature.
Using Children's Books for Research and Inspiration
Desai, Christina M.. "What’s so important about children’s literature?: Nostalgia meets research." College & Research Libraries News, vol. 75, no. 3 . Apr. 2014, pp. 144-146, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/9090/9968.
leeandlowbooks. “Where Is the Diversity in Publishing? The 2019 Diversity Baseline Survey Results.” Lee & Low Blog, 28 Jan. 2020, https://blog.leeandlow.com/2020/01/28/2019diversitybaselinesurvey/.
See Also: Telling People's Stories
Banned Children's Books
Robinson, Joanna. “30 Banned And Challenged Kids Books That Will Make You Feel Terrible About Humanity.” Pajiba, 1 Sept. 2016, https://www.pajiba.com/station_agents/30-banned-and-challenged-kids-books-that-will-make-you-feel-terrible-about-humanity.php.
Keenan, Kathleen. “Banned Children’s Books to Read During Banned Books Week.” BOOK RIOT, 25 Sept. 2017, https://bookriot.com/banned-childrens-books/.
Major Awards
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Caldecott MedalThe Randolph Caldecott Medal is awarded by the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Otis College has most of these.
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Newbery MedalThe John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
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Alex AwardsThe Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
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American Indian Youth Literature AwardAwarded biennially, the AIYLA identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.
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Américas Award"Encourage and commend authors, illustrators and publishers who produce quality children’s and young adult books that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinx cultures in the United States, and to provide teachers with recommendations for classroom use."
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Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature"Promotes Asian/Pacific Americans culture and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit."
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Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for YouthOutstanding books that mixes popular appeal with literary excellence, the Books for Youth editorial staff has chosen the titles below as best-of-the-year fiction, nonfiction, and picture books.
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Boston Globe-Horn Book AwardAwards the best children's and young adult books in the following categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction.
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Carnegie Medal for WritingAwarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children published in the UK or Ireland.
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Carnegie Medal for IllustrationFormerly called the Kate Greenaway Medal. Annual Award given to a distinguished illustration in a book for children from UK or ireland.
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Carter G. Woodson Book Awards"NCSS established the Carter G. Woodson Book Awards for the most distinguished books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States."
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Children’s Literature Legacy AwardHhonors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period years, a substantial and lasting contribution to children's literature through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children's lives and experiences. Formerly known as the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.
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Coretta Scott King Book AwardsAnnual award for outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults demonstrating an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
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Ezra Jack Keats AwardCreated to nurture illustrators and writers, early in their careers, who create extraordinary books that reflect our diverse population, the universal experience of childhood, and the strength of family and community. Presented jointly by the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection and the EJK Foundation.
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International Literacy Association: Children's and Young Adult Book AwardsIntended for newly published authors who show unusual promise in the children's and young adult book field. Awards are given for fiction and nonfiction in each of three (3) categories: Primary, Intermediate, and Young Adult. Books from all countries and published in English for the first time.
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Jane Addams Children's Book AwardThe Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.
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NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for ChildrenEstablished in 1977 to honor a living American poet for his or her aggregate work for children ages 3-13.
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NCTE Charlotte Huck AwardEstablished in 2014 to promote and recognize excellence in the writing of fiction for children. This award recognizes fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives by inviting compassion, imagination, and wonder.
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NCTE Orbis Pictus AwardEstablished in 1989 to promote and recognize excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.
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New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s BooksBegun in 1952, the rotating panel of judges consider every illustrated children’s book published in a year in the United States.
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Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young PeopleTitles selected by NCSS & the Children's Book Council focus on books written primarily for K-8 students that emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences, present an original theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are easily readable and of high literary quality, and have a pleasing format and, when appropriate, illustrations that enrich the text.
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Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12NSTA, in cooperation with the Children's Book Council, focus on the best science trade books for K-12 students that feature captivating stories, compelling characters, and beautiful illustrations.
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Pura Belpré AwardPresented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
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Robert F. Sibert Informational Book MedThe Sibert Award is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.
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Scott O'Dell Award for Historical FictionAwarded to the author(s) of a meritorious book published in the previous year with a focus on historical fiction.
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Theodor Seuss Geisel AwardRecognizes the author(s) and illustrator(s) of a book for beginning readers who, through their literary and artistic achievements, demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading.
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Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book AwardCreated in 1995 to honor authors and illustrators who create literature that depicts the Mexican American experience.
Additional information
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Database of Award-Winning Children's Books LiteratureIndexes over 17,000 children's books that have won awards from 1921-today. Developed and maintained by Lisa R. Bartle.
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Wikipedia: Children's Literature PortalNavigate Wikipedia for information about children's literature.
Book Bans & Children's Literature
January 26, 2025: ALA's Response to the DoE. The American Library Association (ALA) responds to "U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax"
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Banned Books WeekAnnual awareness campaign promoted by the American Library Association and others that celebrates the freedom to read, draws attention to banned and challenged books, and highlights persecuted individuals.
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Gender Queer: a Memoir
by
#1 Banned Book in 2023. In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity--what it means and how to think about it--for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.
Call Number: E-bookISBN: 9781549304002Publication Date: 2019-05-28
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Frequently Challenged Children's BooksList of children's books that have the most challenges. Maintained by the American Library Association (ALA)
Examples
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Alice In Wonderland
- And Tango Makes Three
- The Cat in the Hat
- Charlotte's Web
- Goodnight Moon
- Heather Has Two Mommies
- I am Jazz
- Little Women, or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy
- Tarzan of the Apes
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
- Where the Wild Things Are
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- A Wrinkle in Time
More Resources
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Books That Shaped America2012 Library of Congress exhibit that explores books that "have had a profound effect on American life."
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Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF): ResourcesNon-profit advocacy organization, and a great resource on comic books, censorship, and creator's rights
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