Well… I don’t know yet. After reading all five Cybils Middle Grade Fiction finalists I will soon  conference with the other judges to share thoughts and come to a group decision.

I do know awards are subjective no matter if you’re talking about books or movies. You need to connect and have a memorable experience, but that is often not the same from one person to the next.

Besides this blog and the many others I frequent,  book awards are a great source for recommendations of children’s books to parents and their target audience – the kids.

What follows is a list my favorites along with recent results. They each have their own unique nomination process which explains the variety of titles. Books are linked to Amazon and the award title is linked to their website:

CHILDREN”S CHOICE BOOK AWARDS from the Children’s Book Council (Since 2008)

The only national book awards program where winners are selected by kids and teens of all ages. Categories are grades K-2, 3-4, 5-6 and teen. Announced in May of each year

The Grade 5-6 winner in 2015:

• THE DUMBEST IDEA EVER! By Jimmy Gownley

2015 Runner’s up:

• PERCY JACKSON’S GREEK GODS by Rick Riordan
• TEMPLE RUN: RACE THROUGH TIME TO UNLOCK SECRETS OF ANCIENT WORLDS by Tracey West
• ICE DOGS by Terry Lynn Johnson
• THE RETURN OF ZITA THE SPACE GIRL by Ben Hatke

Colorado Children Book Awards (Since 1975)

Books for children take time to get a lot buzz going. It’s often long after the adults read them that they reach a child’s library. That’s why with CCBA you see quite a few older titles. Nominated books can be from the past five years. Books previously nominated are not eligible, nor are Caldecott or Newbery books. Voting is done by children through libraries. Winners are announced in April of each year

2016 Nominees- Junior Category

• A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
• Everyday Angel: New Beginnings by Victoria Schwab
• Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale
• Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
• I Funny by James Patterson
• Loot by Jude Watson
• My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O’Hara
• Sisters by Raina Telgemeier,
• The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L.Holm,
• The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier,

The Coretta Scott King Book Award (Since 1970)

Given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.  The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

• 2016 GONE CRAZY IN ALABAMA by Rita Williams-Garcia
• 2015 brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
• 2014 P.S. BE ELEVEN by Rita Williams-Garcia
• 2013 HAND IN HAND: TEN BLACK MEN WHO CHANGED AMERICA by Andrea Davis Pinkney
• 2012 HEART AND SOUL: THE STORY OF AMERICANS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS by Kadir Nelson
• 2011 ONE CRAZY SUMMER by Rita Williams-Garcia

Cybils (Since 2006)

Anyone can nominate books published between Oct. 16 and Oct. 15 of the following year. You can register your selection each year from October 1-15. A panel of judges narrows the titles down to the winning entry announced on February 14. This year’s finalists in the Middle Grade Fiction Category:

• BLACKBIRD FLY by Erin Entrada Kelly
• BOOK SCAVENGER by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
• FOOTER DAVIS PROBABLY IS CRAZY by Susan Vaught
• LISTEN SLOWLY by Thanhha Lai
• THE BLACKTHORN KEY by Kevin Sands

Newbery Medal (Since 1922)

Given by the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association). The entire book must be submitted by Dec. 31^st in each nominating year. Winners are announced in January.

Winners the past five years:

• 2016 LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET by Matt del la Pena
• 2015 THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander
• 2014 FLORA & ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES by Kate DiCamillo
• 2013 THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate
• 2012 DEAD END IN NORVELT by Jack Gantos

Pura Belpré Award (Since 1996)

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award is presented 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. Recent winners:

• 2016 ENCHANTED AIR: TWO CULTURES, TWO WINGS: A MEMOIR by Margarita Engle
• 2015 I LIVED ON BUTTERFLY HILL by Marjorie Agosin

SCOTT ODELL AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION (Since 1982)

In 1982, Scott O’Dell established The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. The annual award of $5,000 goes to an author for a meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults.  Scott O’Dell established this award to encourage other writers–particularly new authors–to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world.

Winners the past five years:

• 2015 DASH by Kirby Larson
• 2014 BO AT BALLARD CREEK by Kirkpatrick Hill
• 2013 CHICKADEE by Louise Erdrich
• 2012 DEAD END IN NORVELT by Jack Gantos
• 2011 ONE CRAZY SUMMER by Rita Williams Garcia