Golden Kite Award
The Golden Kite Awards are given annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an international children's writing organization, to recognize excellence in children’s literature. The award is a golden medallion showing a child flying a kite. Instituted in 1973, the Golden Kite Awards are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers. Eligible books must be written or illustrated by SCBWI members, and submitted either by publishers or individuals.
With the split of the Fiction award into a Middle Grade and a Young Adult award in 2016 and the split of Nonfiction into "for Younger Readers" and "for Older Readers" in 2018, the award currently includes six categories. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges consisting of children’s book writers and illustrators. In addition to the Golden Kite Award winners, honor book recipients are named by the judges. Since 2006, the best author and illustrator in each category wins a $2,500 grant cash prize.
Since 2003, the Sid Fleischman Award for excellence in humorous writing is given in conjunction with the Golden Kite Awards.
Recipients
The awards are given the year following publication. For example, the 2000 awards are for books published in 1999.2019
- Middle Grade Fiction: Lifeboat 12, Susan Hood
- Non-Fiction for Younger Readers: Otis and Will Discover the Deep, Barb Rosenstock
- Non-Fiction for Older Readers: Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam, Elizabeth Partridge
- Picture Book Text: The Remember Balloons, Jessie Oliveros
- Picture Book Illustration: Made by Hand: A Crafts Sampler, Becca Stadtlander
- Young Adult Fiction: Mapping the Bones, Jane Yolen
2018
- Middle Grade Fiction: See You in the Cosmos, Jack Cheng
- Non-Fiction for Older Readers: Vincent and Theo, Deborah Heiligman
- Non-Fiction for Younger Readers: Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library, Carole Boston Weatherford
- Picture Book Text: There Might Be Lobsters, Carolyn Crimi
- Picture Book Illustration: Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter, written and illustrated by Kenard Pak
- Young Adult Fiction: What Girls Are Made Of, Elana K. Arnold
2017
- Young Adult Fiction: Salt to the Sea, Ruta Sepetys
- Nonfiction: The Music in George's Head, Stacy Innerst
- Middle Grade Fiction: The Haunting of Falcon House, Eugene Yelchin
- Picture Book Text: The Christmas Boot, written by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
- Picture Book Illustration: We Will Not Be Silent, written and illustrated by Russell Freedman
2016
- Young Adult Fiction: Challenger Deep, Neal Shusterman
- Middle Grade Fiction: The Detective's Assistant, Kate Hannigan
- Nonfiction: Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir, Margarita Engle
- Picture Book Text: Boats for Papa, written and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley
- Picture Book Illustration: Marvelous Cornelius, John Parra
2015
- Fiction: Revolution, Deborah Wiles
- Nonfiction: The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia, Candace Fleming
- Picture Book Text: A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina's Dream, Kristy Dempsey
- Picture Book Illustration: The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus illustrated by Melissa Sweet
2014
- Fiction: Better Nate Than Ever, Tim Federle
- Nonfiction: Call of the Klondike, David Meissner
- Picture Book Text: Sophie's Squash, Pat Zietlow Miller
- Picture Book Illustration: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, written and illustrated by Peter Brown
2013
- Fiction: The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook, Joanne Rocklin
- Nonfiction: Noah Webster and His Words, Jeri Chase Ferris
- Picture Book Text: Me and Momma and Big John, Mara Rockliff
- Picture Book Illustration: Lester's Dreadful Sweaters, written and illustrated by K.G. Campbell
2012
- Fiction: Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys
- Nonfiction: Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart, Candace Fleming
- Picture Book Text: Over and Under the Snow, written by Kate Messner
- Picture Book Illustration: Balloons Over Broadway, written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
2011
- Fiction: Turtle in Paradise, Jennifer L. Holm
- Nonfiction: The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie, Tanya Lee Stone
- Picture Book Text: Big Red Lollipop, written by Rukhsana Khan
- Picture Book Illustration: Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, written and illustrated by Salley Mavor
2010
- Fiction: Sea of the Dead, Julia Durango
- Nonfiction: Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life's Song, Ashley Bryan
- Picture Book Text: The Longest Night, written by Marion Dane Bauer
- Picture Book Illustration: Gracias Thanks, illustrated by John Parra
2009
- Fiction: Down Sand Mountain, Steve Watkins
- Nonfiction: A Life in the Wild, Pamela S. Turner
- Picture Book Text: A Visitor for Bear, written by Bonny Becker
- Picture Book Illustration: Last Night, written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum
2008
- Fiction: Home of the Brave, Katherine Applegate
- Nonfiction: Muckrackers, Ann Bausum
- Picture Book Text: Pierre in Love, written by Sara Pennypacker
- Picture Book Illustration: Little Night, written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales
2007
- Fiction: Firegirl, Tony Abbott
- Nonfiction: The Adventures of Marco Polo, Russell Freedman
- Picture Book Text: Jazz, written by Walter Dean Myers
- Picture Book Illustration: Not Afraid of Dogs, illustrated by Larry Day
2006
- Fiction: A Room on Lorelei Street, Mary E. Pearson
- Nonfiction: Children of The Great Depression, Russell Freedman
- Picture Book Text: Doña Flor, written by Pat Mora
- Picture Book Illustration: Baby Bear's Chairs, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
2005
- Fiction: Bucking The Sarge, Christopher Paul Curtis
- Nonfiction: Dust To Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930's, Michael L. Cooper
- Picture Book Text: Apples to Oregon, written by Deborah Hopkinson
- Picture Book Illustration: The Mysterious Collection of Dr. David Harleyson, written and illustrated by Jean Cassels
2004
- Fiction: Milkweed, Jerry Spinelli
- Nonfiction: Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer, Robert Byrd
- Picture Book Text: The Dirty Cowboy, written by Amy Timberlake
- Picture Book Illustration: I Dream Of Trains, illustrated by Loren Long
2003
- Fiction: Fresh Girl, Jaïra Placide
- Nonfiction: This Land was Made for You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie, Elizabeth Partridge
- Picture Book Text: George Hogglesberry, Grade School Alien, written by Sarah Wilson
- Picture Book Illustration: Mrs. Biddlebox, illustrated by Marla Frazee
2002
- Fiction: True Believer, Virginia Euwer Wolff
- Nonfiction: Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, Susan Campbell Bartoletti
- Picture Book Text: The Shoe Tree of Chagrin, written by J. Patrick Lewis
- Picture Book Illustration: The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish, illustrated by Beth Krommes
2001
- Fiction: The Boxer, Kathleen Karr
- Nonfiction: Darkness over Denmark, Ellen Levine
- Picture Book Text: River Friendly, River Wild, written by Jane Kurtz
- Picture Book Illustration: The Rain Came Down, written and illustrated by David Shannon
2000
- Fiction: Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
- Nonfiction: Space Station Science: Life in Free Fall, Marianne J. Dyson
- Picture Book Text: A Band of Angels, written by Deborah Hopkinson
- Picture Book Illustration: The Little Red Hen , illustrated by Amy Wolrod
1999
- Fiction: Rules of the Road, Joan Bauer
- Nonfiction: Martha Graham: A Dancer's Life, Russell Freedman
- Picture Book Text: Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems, written by Kristine O'Connell George
- Picture Book Illustration: Snow, written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz
1998
- Fiction: Stones in Water, Donna Jo Napoli
- Nonfiction: Carmine's Story: A Book About a Boy Living with AIDS, Arlene Schulman
- Picture Book Text: The Paper Dragon, written by Marguerite W. Davol
- Picture Book Illustration: The Paper Dragon, illustrated by Robert Sabuda
1997
- Fiction: The Moorchild, Eloise McGraw
- Nonfiction: ', Peg Kehret
- Picture Book Text: Saving Sweetness, written by Diane Stanley
- Picture Book Illustration': Market Day'', illustrated by Holly Berry
1996
- Fiction: The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis
- Nonfiction: Abigail Adams, Natalie S. Bober
- Picture Book Illustration: Fairy Wings, Dennis Nolan and Lauren Mills
1995
- Fiction: Catherine, Called Birdy, Karen Cushman
- Nonfiction: Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor, Russell Freedman
- Picture Book Illustration: Big Fat Hen, written and illustrated by Keith Baker
1994
- Fiction: Make Lemonade, Virginia Euwer Wolff
- Nonfiction: Eleanor Roosevelt, Russell Freedman
- Picture Book Illustration: By the Light of the Halloween Moon, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
1993
- Fiction: Letters From a Slave Girl, Mary E. Lyons
- Nonfiction: The Long Road to GETTYSBURG, Jim Murphy
- Picture Book Illustration: Chicken Sunday, written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco
1992
- Fiction: The Rain Catchers, Jean Thesman
- Nonfiction: The Wright Brothers, Russell Freedman
- Picture Book Illustration: Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
1991
- Fiction: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Avi
- Nonfiction: ', Jim Murphy
- Picture Book Illustration': Home Place'', illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
1990
- Fiction: Jenny of the Tetons, Kristiana Gregory
- Nonfiction: Panama Canal: Gateway to the World, Judith St. George
- Picture Book Illustration: Tom Thumb, written and illustrated by Richard Jesse Watson
1989
- Fiction: Borrowed Children, George Ella Lyon
- Nonfiction: Let There Be Light, James Cross Giblin
- Picture Book Illustration: Forest of Dreams, illustrated by Susan Jeffers
1988
- Fiction: Rabble Starkey, Lois Lowry
- Nonfiction: Incredible Journey of Lewis and Clark, Rhoda Blumberg
- Picture Book Illustration: The Devil and Mother Crump, illustrated by Arnold Lobel
1987
- Fiction: After the Dancing Days, Margaret Rostkowski
- Nonfiction: Poverty in America, Milton Meltzer
- Picture Book Illustration: Alphabetics, written and illustrated by Suse MacDonald
1986
- Fiction: Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan
- Nonfiction: Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun, Rhoda Blumberg
- Picture Book Illustration: The Donkey's Dream, written and illustrated by Barbara Helen Berger
1985
- Fiction: Tancy, Belinda Hurmence
- Nonfiction: Walls: Defenses Throughout History, James Cross Giblin
- Picture Book Illustration: The Napping House, illustrated by Don Wood
1984
- Fiction: The Tempering, Gloria Skurzynski
- Nonfiction: The Illustrated Dinosaur Dictionary, Helen Roney Sattler
- Picture Book Illustration: Little Red Riding Hood, written and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
1983
- Fiction: Ralph S. Mouse, Beverly Cleary
- Nonfiction: Chimney Sweeps, James Cross Giblin
- Picture Book Illustration: Giorgio's Village, written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola
1982
- Fiction: Little, Little, M. E. Kerr
- Nonfiction: Blissymbolics, Elizabeth Helfman
1981
- Fiction: Arthur, For the Very First Time, Patricia MacLachlan
- Nonfiction: The Lives of Spiders, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
1980
- Fiction: The Magic of the Glits, C. S. Adler
- Nonfiction: Runaway Teens, Arnold Madison
1979
- Fiction: And You Give Me a Pain, Elaine, Stella Pevsner
- Nonfiction: How I Came to Be a Writer, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
1978
- Fiction: The Girl Who Had No Name, Bernice Rabe
- Nonfiction: Peeper, First Voice of Spring, Robert McClung
1977
- One More Flight, Eve Bunting
1976
- The Garden Is Doing Fine, Carol Farley
1975
- The Girl Who Cried Flowers, Jane Yolen
1974
- Summer of My German Soldier, Bette Greene