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Kansas Book Awards and Reading Lists 2020-23

See Book List     2023 Bill Martin Jr Award Nominee List (K-2)

The William Allen White Children’s Book Award is the oldest statewide Children’s book award in the United States. It was established in 1952 by the late Ruth Garver Gagliardo, a children’s literature specialist at Emporia State University. To honor the memory of one of Kansas’ most distinguished citizens, the award was titled The William Allen White Children’s Book Award. William Allen White was an American author, politician, leader of the Progressive movement and the newspaper editor of The Emporia Gazette.

The Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award was established in 1996 by the Kansas Reading Association. Since March 2018, the award became a state-wide award presented by Emporia State University. The purpose of the award is to promote an appreciation of quality literature in young children across Kansas. The award is named for Bill Martin, Jr., American educator and author of more than 300 children’s books.

KNEA members serve on the Kansas NEA Reading Circle to read and screen the best children’s literature published each year. Since 1926 KNEA has published a list of recommended books by reading level as a service for school librarians and classroom teachers.