2024 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Stephanie Moran Reed & Muammar Reed,
Founders of MiJa Books
Excellence in a Picture Book
In Every Life by Marla Frazee
Beach Lane Books, 2023
Excellence in Juvenile Fiction
The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
Quill Tree Books, 2023
Delicious Middle Grade Novel to Devour
The Takeout by Tracy Badua
Clarion Books, 2023
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
Balzer + Bray, 2023
Distinguished Body of Work
Dan Santat
And introducing our newest Award…
Caroline Gill Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service
Olivia Bates,
Volunteer for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
2023 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Nikki High, Owner of Octavia's Bookshelf bookstore in Pasadena
Excellence in a Picture Book
Rafa Counts on Papá by Joe Cepeda
Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022
Outstanding Achievement in Social Emotional Literature
Anzu the Great Kaiju by Benson Shum
Roaring Brook Press, 2022
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Abuela, Don't Forget Me by Rex Ogle
Norton Young Readers, 2022
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
I Rise by Marie Arnold
Versify, 2022
2022 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Keren Taylor, Founder and Executive Director, WriteGirl
Outstanding Picture Book Reflective of World Events
LeUyen Pham, Outside, Inside
Roaring Brook Press, 2021
Distinguished Work of Juvenile Non-Fiction
Meeg Pincus, Illustrated by Alexander Vidal
Cougar Crossing: How Hollywood's Celebrity Cougar Helped Build a Bridge for City Wildlife
Beach Lane Books, 2021
Outstanding Contribution to Juvenile Fiction
Carol Cujec & Peyton Goddard, Real
Shadow Mountain, 2021
Stellar Work of Fiction for Young Adults
Molly Ostertag, The Girl from the Sea
Graphix, 2021
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Paula Yoo, From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin
and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement
Norton Young Readers, 2021
2021 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Alana Weisberg, Founder, Bookworm Global
Excellence in a Picture Book of Cultural Significance
Cindi M. Alvitre and Carly Lake, Waa’aka’: The Bird Who Fell in Love with the Sun
Heyday Books, 2020
Exemplary Work of Creative Non-fiction
Masha D’yans, A Garden in Your Belly: Meet the Microbes in Your Gut
Millbrook Press, 2020
Excellence in Juvenile Fiction by a Debut Author
Ernesto Cisneros, Efrén Divided
Quill Tree Books, 2020
Most Magnificent Middle-Grade Mystery
Keith Calabrese, Connect the Dots
Scholastic Press, 2020
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Jordan Ifueko, Raybearer
Amulet Books, 2020
2020 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Rebecca Constantino, Ph.D., Founder & Executive Director of Access Books
Distinguished Body of Work
Roseanne Thong
One Is a Piñata. Illustrated by John Parra. Chronicle Books LLC, 2019
Dia de Los Muertos. Illustrated by Carles Ballesteros. Albert Whitman & Company, 2015
Noodle Magic. Illustrated by Meilo So. Orchard Books, 2014
Green Is a Chile Pepper. Illustrated by John Parra. Chronicle Books LLC, 2014
Round is a Mooncake. Illustrated by Grace Lin. Chronicle Books LLC, 2013
Notable Work of Juvenile Non-Fiction
Caroline Arnold, Butterflies in Room 6: See How They Grow
Charlesbridge Publishing, 2019
Excellence in a Work of Juvenile Fiction
Margaret Dilloway, Summer of A Thousand Pies
Balzer + Bray, 2019
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Laura Taylor Namey, The Library of Lost Things
Inkyard Press, 2019
2019 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Lee Wardlaw, Author and Poet
Excellence in a Picture Book
Anne Bollman, Help Find Frank
Sterling Children's Books, 2018
Excellence in a Work of Juvenile Fiction
Marie Miranda Cruz, Everlasting Nora
Starscape, 2018
Outstanding Work of Creative Non-Fiction
Sally Deng, Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots of WWII
Flying Eye Books, 2018
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Dana L. Davis, Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now
Harlequin Teen, 2018
2018 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Elizabeth Dragga, Founder and Executive Director, The Book Truck
Excellence in a Picture Book
Dan Santat, After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again
Roaring Book Press, 2017
Outstanding Picture Book Biography
Michael Mahin, Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017
Notable Contributions to the Field of Nonfiction
Susan Goldman Rubin
Maya Lin: Thinking with Her Hands. Chronicle Books, 2017
The Quilts of Gee's Bend. Harry N. Abrams, 2017
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Nikki Grimes, One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance
Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2017
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Leigh Bardugo and Sara Kipin, Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
Imprint, 2017
2017 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Alethea Allarey & Alyson Beecher, co-founders of the grassroots organization, Bridge to Books
Outstanding Work of Fiction
Jennifer L. Holm, Full of Beans
Random house Books for Young Readers, 2016
Outstanding Picture Book
K.G. Campbell, Dylan the Villain
Viking Books for Young Readers, 2016
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Nikki Grimes, Garvey's Choice
WordSong, 2016
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Nicola Yoon, The Sun is Also a Star
Delacorte Press, 2016
2016 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Marjorie Arnett, educator and co-creator of the Charlotte S. Huck Children's Literature Festival
Outstanding Work of Fiction
Pam Munoz Ryan, Echo
Scholastic Press, 2015
Outstanding Picture Book
Antoinette Portis, Wait
Roaring Brook Press, 2015
Excellence in Illustration
Vincent Kirsch, Gingerbread for Liberty!
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015.
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Noelle Stevenson, Nimona
Harperteen, 2015
2015 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Maureen Palacios, Owner of Once Upon a Time Bookstore
Notable Work of Non-Fiction
Susan Goldman, Rubin, Freedom Summer
Holiday House, 2014
Excellence in a Picture Book
Salina Yoon, Found
Walker Children's, 2014
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Joan Bransfield Graham, The Poem That Will Not End
Two Lions, 2014
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Isabel Quintero, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces
Cinco Puntos Press, 2014
2014 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Dr. Claudette S. McLinn,
Executive Director of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature
Best Narrative Voice in a Picture Book
Drew Daywalt, The Day the Crayons Quit
Penguin Group USA, 2013
Most Distinguished Juvenile Non-Fiction Book
Kadir Nelson, Nelson Mandela
HarperCollins, 2013
Excellence in Picture Book Illustration
Dan Santat
Carnivores written by Aaron Reynolds. Chronicle Books, 2013
Crankenstein written by Samantha Berger. Little, Brown, Co., 2013
Picture Day Perfection written by Deborah Diesen. Harry N. Abrams, 2013
Because I'm Your Dad written by Ahmet Zappa. Disney Press, 2013
Excellence in Juvenile Fiction
Holly Goldberg Sloan, Counting by 7s
Penguin Group USA, 2013
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Andrew Smith, Winger
Simon & Schuster, 2013
2013 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Allyn Johnston, book publisher and advocate for Southern California children's authors and illustrators
Groundbreaking Graphic Novel
Doug TenNapel, Cardboard
Graphix, 2012
Excellence in Picture Book Artistry
Jon Klassen
Extra Yarn. Balzer and Bray, 2012
House Held Up by Trees. Candlewick Press, 2012
This is Not My Hat. Candlewick Press, 2012
Inspiring Work of Historical Fiction
Wes Tooke, King of the Mound: My Summer with Satchel Paige
Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Betsy R. Rosenthal, Looking for Me
Henry Holt and Co., 2011
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Carrie Arcos, Out of Reach
Simon Pulse, 2012
2012 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Melissa Elliott, Senior Young Adult Services Librarian at Burbank Public Library
and co-founder of the UCLA volunteer program Books Beyond Bars targeting incarcerated teens
Outstanding Picture Book
Jon Klassen, I Want My Hat Back
Candlewick Press, 2011
Inspiring Work of Non-Fiction
Kadir Nelson, Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
Harper Collins, 2011
Distinguished Work of Historical Fiction
Eugene Yelchin, Breaking Stalin's Nose
Henry Holt & Co., 2011
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Lee Wardlaw
Won-Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
Henry Holt and Co., 2011
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Holly Goldberg Sloan, I'll Be There
Little, Brown, & Co., 2011
2011 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Sharon Hearn, former teacher, current owner of Children’s Book World in Los Angeles
Best Written and Illustrated Suite of Non-Fiction for Children
Outstanding Picture Book
Caroline Arnold
A Bald Eagle's World
A Moose's World
A Polar Bear's World
A Walrus' World
Picture Window Press, 2010
Best Narrative Voice in a Picture Book
Cecil Castellucci
Grandma's Gloves, written by Cecil Castellucci, illustrated by Julia Denos
Candlewick Press, 2010
Distinguished Lyrical Fictionalized Biography
Distinguished Work of Historical Fiction
Pam Munoz Ryan
The Dreamer, illustrated by Peter Sis. Scholastic Press, 2010
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Neal Shusterman, Bruiser
Harper Teen, 2010
2010 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Maureen Wade, former LAPL Senior Children's Librarian
Implemented the "Grandparents and Books" (now called, "STAR READERS") program for LAPL
Best Biography Duo
Kathleen Krull
Albert Einstein, illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Viking, 2009
The Boy Who Invented TV, illustrated by Greg Couch. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009
Most Magnificently Illustrated Picture Book
Marla Frazee
All the World, written by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon
Beach Lane Books, 2009
Distinguished Work of Fiction
Andrew Smith, In the Path of Falling Objects
Feiwel & Friends, 2009
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Hope Anita Smith, Mother Poems
Henry Holt and Co., 2009
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Mary E. Pearson,The Miles Between
Henry Holt and Co., 2009
2009 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Joanne Spring, founding board member of Monrovia Reads
Distinguished Work of Fiction
Mary E. Pearson, The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Henry Holt and Co., 2008
Excellent Work of Nonfiction
Danica McKellar, Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who's Boss
Hudson Street Press, 2008
Outstanding Picture Book
Berkeley Breathed, Pete & Pickles
Philomel Books, 2008
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Hope Anita Smith, Keeping the Night Watch
Henry Holt and Company, 2008
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Steve Kluger, My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park
Dial Books, 2008
2008 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Sylvia Anderle
Former Children's Literature Council's Board Member and New York Times' Librarian of the Year
Inspiring Work of Nonfiction
Gretchen Woelfle, Jeanette Rankin: Political Pioneer
Boyds Mills/Calkin Creek, 2007
Groundbreaking Work of Fiction
Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Scholastic, 2007
Excellence in Illustration
Rahul Bhushan
Taj Mahal, text by Caroline Arnold and Madeleine Comora
Carolrhoda Books, 2007
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Stephanie Hemphill, Your Own, Sylvia
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2007
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
James St. James, Freak Show
Dutton Children's, 2007
2007 Winners
Dorothy C. McKenzie Award
for Distinguished Service to the Field of Children's Literature
Susan Patron, former LAPL Senior Children's Librarian and 2007 John Newbery Medal Award winner
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction
Celeste Davidson Mannis, Snapshots: The Wonders of Monterey Bay
Viking Press, 2006
Excellence in Illustration
Kadir Nelson
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Jump at the Sun, 2006
Fantastic Work of Fiction
Neal Shusterman, Everlost
Simon and Schuster, 2006
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
Calef Brown, Flamingos on the Roof
Houghton Mifflin, 2006
Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature
Dana Reinhardt, A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life
Wendy Lamb Books, Random House Imprint, 2006