Sydney Taylor Book Award

The award was first established by the Association of Jewish Libraries in 1968.[1] Originally, it was known as the Shirley Kravitz Children's Book Award and was later renamed in honor of Sydney Taylor in 1978.[2] The award originally recognized books for older children, but in 1981, the award committee started to recognize books for younger readers and in 2007, began to recognize young adult literature.[3] In 1988, Honor Award Winners were added and these books receive a silver seal.[3] The current president is Rebecca Levitan.

Awards are presented in three categories: Younger Readers, Older Readers and Teen Readers. In each category, a single gold medalist is named annually. Each year there may also be several silver medalists named in each category. A list of ten to twenty Notable Children's Books of Jewish Content is also named in each category, but these titles do not receive medals.

The award committee is made up of volunteers from the Association of Jewish Libraries.[3] Books are evaluated based on certain criteria one of which is literary merit.[4] Books must also be appropriate to the age level, rooted in "authentic and accurate detail" and have a positive and/or authentic Jewish religious or cultural content.[4] Books nominated are newly published books for the year.[5] Books can be picture books, non-fiction, fiction and poetry.[6]

Most Sydney Taylor Book Award winning titles are universal in theme while Judaic in specific content, and will be of interest to Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike.

• Official site
• News related to the award
• List of all winners 1968-present