The William Allen White Children's Book Award is a set of two annual awards for books selected by vote of Kansas schoolchildren from lists prepared by committee. As a single award it was established in 1952 by Ruth Garver Gagliardo, a children's literature specialist at Emporia State University, which continues to direct the program.[1] It is named for William Allen White (1868–1944), long-time publisher and editor of The Emporia Gazette. The White Award is the oldest statewide children's choice book award in the United States.
From 2001, two winners have been chosen each year, one by students in grades 3 to 5 and one by students in grades 6 to 8, from separate lists of books.[2][3] The award website includes an archive of annual Master Lists that is complete back to the list of 18 books for school year 1952–53.[4] Curriculum Guides "designed to be used in teaching or preparing instructional units" are prepared for books on the year's Master List and some past Guides are available.[5][6]
Currently (as of October 2019),[7] the annual celebration at Emporia early in October includes a Friday evening "Read-Ins and Sleepovers" with space for 100 people. After Saturday morning activities, student representatives present medals to the winning writers at the Awards Ceremony.[8] Travel to Emporia is an incentive in some classroom reading programs.[9] At least once (2011), a writer declined because of a conflict on the celebration date and was replaced as the White Award winner.[a]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
win2011was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
winnerswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
listswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "More Past Winners". William Allen White Children's Book Award | The Official Site. Archived from the original on 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "3rd-5th Grade Reading List (2020)". William Allen White Children's Book Award | The Official Site. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "6th-8th Grade Reading List (2020)". William Allen White Children's Book Award | The Official Site. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "William Allen White Children's Book Award Celebration". William Allen White Children's Book Award | The Official Site. Archived from the original on 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
celebrationwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
homewas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).