Literary Genre

• A literary genre refers to a group of artwork with particular or similar properties. Each work needs its own style, technique and tone, but these properties are essentially combined to define the genre. Literature for children is divided into two genres: social education and creative learning. Giving an award in this category depends on the genre and other criteria.
  
  

Judging Criteria

• The criteria for awards in literature for children are divided into general criteria and specific criteria. For the general criteria, judges pay attention to relational appeal, literary quality, language, illustrations that are appropriate for children, age-appropriate written content, strong family values, genre and translations and adaptations. Specific criteria depend on the category: young adult fiction and junior fiction, picture book, fiction, appropriate pictures according to age, style and characterization.
  
  

Types of Awards in Literature for Children

• There are two kinds of awards: international and regional. The first includes artwork from participants all around the world; the second is determined by each country. The types of awards in literature for children vary by age and category and are subdivided this way: picture books for children from birth to 5 years, books for early readers that are appropriate for children ages 5 to 7, chapter books with subcategories and young-adult fiction.
  
  

Prestigious Awards

• Here is a sampling of prestigious awards in literature for children:
  
  - International awards: Hans Christian Andersen Medal, Phoenix Awards, Mythopoeic Awards, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and llustrarte Bienale.
  
  - Canadian awards: Awards of General Governor in Literature for Children and CLA Young Adult Book Award.
  
  - American awards: Newbery Medal, American Booksellers of the Year, Prize for Children, Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award and Mildred L. Batch Elder Award.
  
  - British awards: The Guardian Award of Fiction for Children, Kate Greenaway Medal, Mother Goose Award, Signal Poetry Award, Book of the Year for Older Readers, Picture Book of the Year and Book of the Year for Younger Readers.
  
  - Children's Choice Awards: Choice Award of Young Readers.
  
  - New Zealand awards: LIANZA Children's Book Award and Sr. Julis Bogel Award.
  
  - Online awards: The Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards and Cybil's Awards.