The Jane Addams Children's Book Award is given annually to a children's book

Children's literature

Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...

 published the preceding year that advances the causes of peace

Peace

Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...

 and social equality

Social equality

Social equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect. At the very least, social equality includes equal rights under the law, such as security, voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, and the...

. The awards, which have been presented annually since 1953, are given jointly by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was established in the United States in January 1915 as the Woman's Peace Party...

 (WILPF) and the Jane Addams Peace Association

Jane Addams

Jane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...

.

History

The Jane Addams Children's Book Award was originally awarded to one book per year without categories. A Picture Book category was added in 1993; the award is currently given to two books annually, one for older children and one for younger children. In 2003, the time of year the award is given changed from September, honoring Jane Addams' birthday, to April, honoring WILPF's birthday.

The award committee has once asked for the return of an award; in 1975 for the award given to Theodore Taylor

Theodore Taylor (author)

Theodore Taylor was an American author of more than 50 fiction and non-fiction books for young adult readers, including The Cay, The Weirdo , Ice Drift, Timothy of the Cay, The Bomb, Sniper, and Rogue...

 in 1970 for The Cay, which had become highly criticized in the years since its publication. Taylor complied, but stated the work was "a subtle plea for better race relations and more understanding."

Jane Addams Children's Book Award recipients

Year	Category	Book	Author	Illustrator
2010	Book for Older Children	Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary	Elizabeth Partridge
2010	Book for Younger Children	Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan	Jeanette Winter	Jeanette Winter
2009	Book for Older Children	The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom	Margarita Engle Margarita Engle Margarita Engle is the Cuban American winner of the first Newbery Honor ever awarded to a Latino.-Biography:She was a botanist and professor at California State Polytechnic University.Her young adult novels in verse include:...
2009	Book for Younger Children	Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai	Claire A. Nivola	Claire A. Nivola
2008	Book for Older Children	We Are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin	Larry Dane Brimner
2008	Book for Younger Children	The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom	Emily Arnold McCully Emily Arnold McCully Emily Arnold McCully is a children's author who was born in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1939, but grew up in Garden City, New York. She attended Brown University and Columbia University.Among the awards she has won, Ms...	Emily Arnold McCully Emily Arnold McCully Emily Arnold McCully is a children's author who was born in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1939, but grew up in Garden City, New York. She attended Brown University and Columbia University.Among the awards she has won, Ms...
2007	Book for Older Children	Weedflower	Cynthia Kadohata Cynthia Kadohata Cynthia Kadohata is a Japanese American writer known for winning the 2005 Newbery Medal. Her first published short story appeared in The New Yorker in 1986....
2007	Book for Younger Children	A Place Where Sunflowers Grow	Amy Lee-Tai	Felicia Hoshino
2006	Book for Older Children	Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX, the Law that Changed the Future of Girls in America	Karen Blumenthal
2006	Book for Younger Children	Delivering Justice: W. W. Law and the Fight for Civil Rights	James Haskins James Haskins James Haskins was a prolific and award-winning author with more than one hundred books for both adults and children. Many of his books highlight the achievements of African Americans and cover the history and culture of Africa and the African American experience...	Benny Andrews Benny Andrews Benny Andrews was an American painter, print-maker, creator of collages and educator. He was born November 13, 1930 in Plainview, Georgia and died November 10, 2006 in Brooklyn, New York....
2005	Book for Older Children	With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote	Ann Bausum
2005	Book for Younger Children	Sélavi, That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope	Youme Landowne	Youme Landowne
2004	Book for Older Children	Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope	Beverley Naidoo Beverley Naidoo Beverley Naidoo is a popular South African children's author who has written a number of award-winning novels, mainly about life in South Africa, where she spent her childhood. She graduated from the University of York with a BA in Education in 1968....
2004	Picture Book	Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez	Kathleen Krull Kathleen Krull Kathleen Krull is an author of children's books.Krull was born in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 1952 and grew up in Wilmette, Illinois. She graduated from Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, studied music at , and then earned a B.A...	Yuyi Morales
2004	Special Commendation	The Breadwinner Trilogy	Deborah Ellis Deborah Ellis Deborah Ellis is a Canadian author. Born in Cochrane, Ontario, she had to move several times in her childhood due to her parents' work. Ellis decided to start writing when she was 11-12 years old. When she grew up, her work and writing was mainly done by traveling and talking to others that have...
2003	Book for Older Children	Parvana's Journey	Deborah Ellis Deborah Ellis Deborah Ellis is a Canadian author. Born in Cochrane, Ontario, she had to move several times in her childhood due to her parents' work. Ellis decided to start writing when she was 11-12 years old. When she grew up, her work and writing was mainly done by traveling and talking to others that have...
2003	Picture Book	Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam	Walter Dean Myers Walter Dean Myers Walter Dean Myers is an African American author of young adult literature. Myers has written over fifty books, including novels and nonfiction works. He has won the Coretta Scott King Award for African American authors five times...	Ann Grifalconi
2002	Book for Older Children	The Other Side of Truth	Beverley Naidoo Beverley Naidoo Beverley Naidoo is a popular South African children's author who has written a number of award-winning novels, mainly about life in South Africa, where she spent her childhood. She graduated from the University of York with a BA in Education in 1968....
2002	Picture Book	Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.	Doreen Rappaport	Bryan Collier Bryan Collier Bryan Collier, award-winning author and illustrator, has illustrated numerous children's books, including Rosa by Nikki Giovanni which was awarded a Coretta Scott King Award and a Caldecott Honor. He also won a Coretta Scott King Award for Uptown, his first attempt at both writing and...
2001	Book for Older Children	Esperanza Rising	Pam Muñoz Ryan Pam Muñoz Ryan Pam Muñoz Ryan is a Mexican-American author.Muñoz Ryan began writing when she was encouraged by a professor while in graduate school. "It took me a number or years to make that leap of faith," she states when commenting on becoming a full-time writer...
2001	Picture Book	The Composition	Antonio Skármeta Antonio Skármeta Antonio Skármeta is a Chilean writer, born November 7, 1940 in Antofagasta, Chile. He was born to Croatian immigrants from the Adriatic island of Brač, region of Dalmatia....	Alfonso Ruano
2000	Book for Older Children	Through My Eyes	Ruby Bridges Ruby Bridges Ruby Nell Bridges Hall moved with her parents to New Orleans, Louisiana at the age of 4. In 1960, when she was 6 years old, her parents responded to a call from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and volunteered her to participate in the integration of the New Orleans...
2000	Picture Book	Molly Bannaky	Alice McGill Alice McGill Alice McGill is an award-winning author of children's books and a professional storyteller. In many of her books have African American protagonists or deal with African American issues...	Chris K. Soentpiet
1999	Book for Older Children	Bat 6	Virginia Euwer Wolff Virginia Euwer Wolff Virginia Euwer Wolff is a prize-winning American author of children's literature, born in Portland, Oregon 25 Aug 1937. She attended an all-girls' school called St. Helen's Hall , before attending Smith College. She married Arthur Richard Wolff in 1959...
1999	Picture Book	Painted Words / Spoken Memories: Marianthe's Story	Aliki Brandenberg Aliki Brandenberg Aliki Liacouras Brandenberg is an American author and illustrator of books for children.Brandenberg was born in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. Her parents, who lived in Philadelphia, were originally from Greece, and they taught her to speak Greek as a first language. She started to draw at an early...	Aliki Brandenberg Aliki Brandenberg Aliki Liacouras Brandenberg is an American author and illustrator of books for children.Brandenberg was born in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. Her parents, who lived in Philadelphia, were originally from Greece, and they taught her to speak Greek as a first language. She started to draw at an early...
1998	Book for Older Children	Habibi	Naomi Shihab Nye Naomi Shihab Nye Naomi Shihab Nye is a poet, songwriter, and novelist. She was born to a Palestinian father and American mother. Although she regards herself as a "wandering poet", she refers to San Antonio as her home.-Career:...
1998	Picture Book	Seven Brave Women	Betsy Hearne	Bethanne Andersen
1997	Book for Older Children:	Growing Up In Coal County	Susan Campbell Bartoletti Susan Campbell Bartoletti Susan Campbell Bartoletti is an American writer of children's literature. She was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, but eventually the family ended up in a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. Susan started as an English teacher and inspired many students before deciding to pursue writing in...
1997	Picture Book	Wilma Unlimited	Kathleen Krull Kathleen Krull Kathleen Krull is an author of children's books.Krull was born in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 1952 and grew up in Wilmette, Illinois. She graduated from Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, studied music at , and then earned a B.A...	David Diaz
1996	Book for Older Children	The Well	Mildred D. Taylor Mildred D. Taylor Mildred DeLois Taylor is an African American author, known for her works exploring the struggle faced by African-American families in the Deep South....
1996	Picture Book	No award given
1996	Special Commendation	The Middle Passage	Tom Feelings Tom Feelings Tom Feelings was an artist and illustrator, author, teacher and activist.Through his works, he framed the African-American experience. His most famous book is The Middle Passage. Feelings was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y.. He attended the School of the Visual Arts and later lived in Ghana and...
1995	Book for Older Children	Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor	Russell Freedman Russell Freedman Russell Freedman is a biographer and author of nearly 50 books for young people. He is most notable for receiving the 1988 Newbery Medal with his work Lincoln: A Photobiography. In 1998, he received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for his lifelong contribution to children's literature. He currently...
1995	Picture Book	Sitti's Secrets	Naomi Shihab Nye Naomi Shihab Nye Naomi Shihab Nye is a poet, songwriter, and novelist. She was born to a Palestinian father and American mother. Although she regards herself as a "wandering poet", she refers to San Antonio as her home.-Career:...	Nancy Carpenter
1994	Book for Older Children	Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Stories	Ellen Levine
1994	Picture Book	This Land Is My Land	George Littlechild	George Littlechild
1993	Book for Older Children	A Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti	Frances Temple Frances Temple Frances Temple was a primary school teacher, a writer of award-winning children's stories and young adult novels and an illustrator. She was born August 15, 1945 in Washington, District of Columbia. She grew up in Virginia, France, and Vietnam...
1993	Picture Book	Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky	Faith Ringgold Faith Ringgold Faith Ringgold is an African American artist, best known for her painted story quilts. She is professor emeritus in the University of California, San Diego visual art department.-Life and artwork:...	Faith Ringgold Faith Ringgold Faith Ringgold is an African American artist, best known for her painted story quilts. She is professor emeritus in the University of California, San Diego visual art department.-Life and artwork:...
1992		Journey of the Sparrows	Fran Leeper Buss
1991		The Big Book for Peace	Ann Durell and Marilyn Sachs
1990		A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter	Patricia and Fredrick McKissack
1989		(tie) Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave	Virginia Hamilton Virginia Hamilton Virginia Esther Hamilton was an award-winning author of children's books. She wrote 41 books, including M. C. Higgins, the Great, for which she won the National Book Award in 1974 and the 1975 Newbery Medal....
1989		(tie) Looking Out	Victoria Boutis
1988		Waiting for the Rain: A Novel of South Africa	Sheila Gordon Sheila Gordon Sheila Gordon, a novelist born in Johannesburg, South Africa on January 22, 1927, is the author of Waiting for the Rain, The Middle of Somewhere, and Unfinished Business...
1987		Nobody Wants a Nuclear War	Judith Vigna
1986		Ain't Gonna Study War No More: The Story of America's Peace Seekers	Milton Meltzer Milton Meltzer Milton Meltzer was an American historian and author best known for his history nonfiction books on Jewish, African-American and American history...
1985		The Short Life of Sophie Scholl	Hermann Vinke, translated by Hedvig Pachter
1984		Rain of Fire	Marion Dane Bauer
1983		Hiroshima No Pika	Toshi Maruki
1983	Special Recognition	All the Colors of the Race	Arnold Adoff Arnold Adoff Arnold Adoff is an American children's writer. In 1988, the National Council of Teachers of English gave Adoff the Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. He has said, "I will always try to turn sights and sounds into words...
1983	Special Recognition	Children as Teachers of Peace	Our Children
1982		A Spirit to Ride the Whirlwind	Athena V. Lord
1981		First Woman in Congress: Jeannette Rankin	Florence Meiman White
1980		The Road from Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl	David Kherdian
1980	Special Recognition	Natural History	M. B. Goffstein
1979		Many Smokes, Many Moons: A Chronology of American Indian History through Indian Art	Jamake Highwater Jamake Highwater Jamake Highwater was an US writer and journalist who claimed Native American ancestry.-Earlier life as Jay Marks:The exact date of Highwater's birth is unknown but it might be any time between 1923-1933...
1978		Child of the Owl	Laurence Yep Laurence Yep -Background:Chinese-American, Yep was born in San Francisco, California to Yep Gim Lew and Franche. His older brother, Thomas named him after studying a particular saint in a multicultural neighborhood that consisted of mostly African Americans. Growing up, he often felt torn between both...
1978	Special Recognition	Amifika	Lucille Clifton Lucille Clifton Lucille Clifton was an American writer and educator from Buffalo, New York. From 1979–1985 she was Poet Laureate of Maryland...
1978	Special Recognition	The Wheel of King Asoka	Ashok Davar
1977		Never to Forget: The Jews of the Holocaust	Milton Meltzer Milton Meltzer Milton Meltzer was an American historian and author best known for his history nonfiction books on Jewish, African-American and American history...
1976		Paul Robeson	Eloise Greenfield Eloise Greenfield Eloise Greenfield is an African-American children's book author and poet famous for her descriptive, rhythmic style and positive portrayal of the black experience.-Biography:...
1975		The Princess and the Admiral	Charlotte Pomerantz Charlotte Pomerantz Charlotte Pomerantz is a children's book author. Her 1975 story The Princess and the Admiral won a Jane Addams Children's Book Awards. Pomerantz's story The Piggy In The Puddle was featured October 13, 1992 on Reading Rainbow, where it was retold using a claymation process with artists Becky and Cody...
1974		Nilda	Nicholasa Mohr Nicholasa Mohr Nicholasa Mohr is one of the best known Nuyorican writers. Her works tell of growing up in the Puerto Rican communities of the Bronx and El Barrio and of the difficulties Puerto Rican women face in the United States.- Life and career :...
1973		The Riddle of Racism	S. Carl Hirsch
1972		The Tamarack Tree	Betty Underwood
1971		Jane Addams: Pioneer of Social Justice	Cornelia Meigs Cornelia Meigs Cornelia Lynde Meigs was an American children's author, and educator.-Life:...
1970		The Cay	Theodore Taylor Theodore Taylor (author) Theodore Taylor was an American author of more than 50 fiction and non-fiction books for young adult readers, including The Cay, The Weirdo , Ice Drift, Timothy of the Cay, The Bomb, Sniper, and Rogue...
1969		The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia	Esther Hautzig Esther Hautzig Esther Hautzig was an American writer, best known for her award-winning book The Endless Steppe .She was born in Vilna, Poland . Her childhood was interrupted by the beginning of World War II and the conquest in 1941 of eastern Poland by Soviet troops...
1968		The Little Fishes	Erick Haugaard
1967		Queenie Peavy	Robert Burch Robert Burch Robert Keith "Rob" Burch is an English footballer who plays for Notts County as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Burch turned professional with Tottenham Hotspur in July 2002 and spent a further five years at the club after signing professional forms.During that time Burch was loaned out to Conference...
1966		Berries Goodman	Emily Cheney Neville Emily Cheney Neville Emily Cheney Neville was an American author. She was born in Manchester, Connecticut and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1940. After receiving her A.B. from Bryn Mawr, she worked for the New York Daily News and the New York Mirror newspapers...
1965		Meeting with a Stranger	Duane Bradley
1964		Profiles in Courage: Young Readers Memorial Edition	John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
1963		The Monkey and the Wild, Wild Wind	Ryerson Johnson
1962		The Road to Agra	Aimee Sommerfelt Aimée Sommerfelt Aimée Sommerfelt was a Norwegian author of numerous children's books and young adult novels.She was most famous for her 1959 work The Road to Agra. In 1961, it became her first book to be published in the United States, being translated into English by Evelyn Ramsden...
1961		What Then, Raman?	Shirley L. Arora
1960		Champions of Peace	Edith Patterson Meyer
1959		No award given
1958		The Perilous Road	William O. Steele William O. Steele William O. Steele was an American author. He was married to another author, Mary Quintard Govan.Steele was born in Franklin, Tennessee, the son of Core and Sue, and spent a large amount of his youth exploring the woods around his home. This led to an interest in the history of the area and of its...
1957		Blue Mystery	Margot Benary-Isbert Margot Benary-Isbert Margot Benary-Isbert was a German-born children’s author known for her "depictions of humane, realistic characters."- Life in Germany :...
1956		Story of the Negro	Arna Bontemps Arna Bontemps Arnaud "Arna" Wendell Bontemps was an American poet and a noted member of the Harlem Renaissance.- Life and career :...
1955		Rainbow Round the World	Elizabeth Yates
1954		Stick-in-the-Mud	Jean Ketchum
1953		People Are Important	Eva Knox Evans

External links

• Official site
• List of winners