Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center

2012 American Indian Youth Literature Awards

The 2012 awards were announced by the American Indian Library Association at the American Library Association Midwinter meeting in Dallas in January. The awards will be presented to the selected authors and illustrator at the annual ALA conference in Anaheim, California, in June 2012.

The American Indian Youth Literature Awards recognize excellence in books by and about American Indians. By identifying and honoring outstanding writing and illustrations in the field of youth literature, the American Indian Library Association encourages authors, illustrators, editors, publishers and tribal entities to create materials that “present Native Americans in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts.”

The American Indian Library Association (AILA), part of the American Library Association, is a membership action group that addresses the library-related needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. AILA was founded in 1979 in conjunction with the White House Pre-Conference on Indian Library and Information Services on or near Reservations. AILA members are individuals and institutions interested in the development of programs to improve library and information services in all types of libraries that serve Indian communities.

The 2012 Award Winners:

Picture Book:

The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood written by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illustrated by Ellen Beier, and published by Holiday House, 2011

Middle School Book:

Free Throw (2011) and Triple Threat both written by Jacqueline Guest and published by James Lorimer & Company Ltd., 2011

Young Adult Book:

Pipestone: My Life in an Indian Boarding School by Adam Fortunate Eagle and published by the University of Oklahoma Press, 2010

Honor Books:

Honor Books in the Picture Book category:

Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light written by Tim Tingle, illustrated by Karen Clarkson and published by Cinco Puntos Press. 2010

Kohala Kuamo’o: Nae’ole’s Race to Save a King written by Kekauleleana’ole Kawai’ae’a, illustrated by Aaron Kawai’ae’a, story by Walter and Luana Kawai’ae’a, and published by Kamehameha Publishing, 2010

Mohala Mai ‘O Hau: How Hau Became Hau’ula written by Robert Lono ‘Ikuwa, pictures by Matthew Kawika Ortiz, and published by Kamehameha Publishing, 2010

I See Me written by Margaret Manuel and published by Theytus Books, 2009

Honor Books in the Middle School category:

Awesiinyensag: Dibaajimowinan Ji-Gikinoo’amaageng by Anton Treuer et al. and published by Wiigwaas Press, 2010

Jordin Tootoo: The Highs and Lows in the Journey of the First Inuit to Play in the NHL by Melanie Florence and published by James Lorimer & Company Ltd., 2011

Honor Book in the Young Adult category:

Native Defenders of the Environment (and other titles in the Native Trailblazers series, written by Victor Schilling and published by 7^th Generation, 2011

Members of the 2009-2012 American Indian Youth Literature Awards jury include Lisa A. Mitten, Chair, Stephanie Betancourt, Naomi Bishop, Carlene Engstrom, Gabriella Kaye, Holly Ristau, Grace Slaughter, and Jolena Tillequots.

Past Award Winners:

2010 Award Winners:

Picture Book: A Coyote Solstice Tale. Thomas King, author & Gary Clement, illustrator. Groundwood Books, 2009

Middle School: Meet Christopher: An Osage Indian Boy from Oklahoma. Genevieve Simermeyer, author. NMAI/Council Oak Books, 2008

Young Adult: Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me. Lurline Wailana McGregor, author. Kamehameha Publishing, 2008

2008 Award Winners:

Picture Book: Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom. Tim Tingle, author & Jeanne Rorex Bridges, illustrator. Cinco Puntos Press, 2006

Middle School: Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond. Joseph Medicine Crow, author. National Geographic, 2006

Young Adult: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Sherman Alexie, author. Little, Brown, 2007

2006 Award Winners:

Picture Book: Beaver Steals Fire. Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe. Johnny Arlee, storyteller & Sam Sandoval, illustrator. University of Nebraska, 2005

Middle School: The Birchbark House. Louise Erdrich, author. Hyperion, 1999.

Young Adult: Hidden Roots. Joseph Bruchac, author. Scholastic, 2004.