The Américas Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature is given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. The award, which is sponsored by the U.S. Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), reaches beyond national borders to focus on the the diversity of cultural heritage throughout the continents of North and South America.
The award winners and commended titles are selected for their:
distinctive literary quality;
cultural contextualization;
exceptional integration of text, illustration and design;
potential for classroom use.
2010 Américas Award Winners
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez (Knopf, 20090.
What Can You Do with a Paleta? / ¿Qué puedes hacer con una paleta? by Carmen Tafolla, illustrated by Magaly Morales (Tricycle Press, 2009).
Américas Award Honorable Mentions
Gringolandia by Lyn Miller-Lachmann (Curbstone, 2009).
I Know the River Loves Me / Yo sé que el río me ama by Maya Christina González (Children’s Book Press, 2009).
My Papa Diego and Me: Memories of My Father and His Art / Mi papa Diego y yo: Recuerdos de mi padre y su arte by Guadalupe Rivera Marín and Diego Rivera (Children’s Book Press, 2009).
The full commended list can be found here. The winning books will be honored at a ceremony during Hispanic Heritage Month (15 September – 15 October 2010) at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.