The Horn Book Award

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

For the most outstanding juvenile books in the U.S.: one award for outstanding fiction, one for outstanding nonfiction, one for outstanding illustration (since 1976); given by the Boston Globe.

2016 Fiction: The Lie Tree, Frances Hardinge
Nonfiction: Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War, by Steve Sheinkin
Picture Book: Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph, written by Roxanne Orgill, illustrated by Francis Vallejo
2015 Fiction: Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms, by Katherine Rundell
Nonfiction: The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, by Candace Fleming
Picture Book: The Farmer and the Clown, by Marla Frazee
2014 Fiction: Grasshopper Jungle, by Andrew Smith
Nonfiction: The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights, by Steve Sheinkin
Picture Book: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, written and illustrated by Peter Brown
2013 Fiction: Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
Nonfiction: Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin , by Robert Byrd
Picture Book: Building Our House, by Jonathan Bean
2012 Fiction: No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Nonfiction: Chuck Close: Face Book, by Chuck Close
Picture Book: Extra Yarn, written by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
2011 Fiction: Blink & Caution, written by Tim Wynne-Jones
Nonfiction: The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery, by Steve Sheinkin
Picture Book: Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes , by Salley Mavor
2010Fiction: When You Reach Me, written by Rebecca Stead
Nonfiction: Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don't You Grow Weary, by Elizabeth Partridge
Picture Book: I Know Here, written by Laurel Croza, illustrated by Matt James
2009Fiction: Nation, written by Terry Pratchett
Nonfiction: The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary, by Candace Fleming
Picture Book: Bubble Trouble, by Margaret Mahy
2008 Fiction: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written by Sherman Alexie
Nonfiction: The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, by Peter Sis
Picture Book: At Night, by Jonathan Bean
2007 Fiction: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 1: The Pox Party, written by M.T. Anderson
Nonfiction: The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr, by Faith McNulty
Picture Book: Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
2006 Fiction: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane , written by Kate DiCamillo
Nonfiction: If You Decide to Go to the Moon, by Faith McNulty
Picture Book: Leaf Man, by Lois Ehlert
2005 Fiction: The Schwa Was Here, written by Neal Shusterman
Nonfiction: The Race to Save the Lord God Bird, by Phillip Hoose
Picture Book: Traction Man Is Here!, Mini Grey
2004 Fiction: The Fire-Eaters, written by David Almond
Nonfiction: An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, by Jim Murphy
Picture Book: The Man Who Walked between the Towers, Mordicai Gerstein
2003 Fiction: The Jamie and Angus Stories, written by Anne Fine, illustrated by Penny Dale
Nonfiction: Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey , by Maira Kalman
Picture Book: Big Momma Makes the World, written by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
2002 Fiction: Lord of the Deep by Graham Salisbury
Nonfiction: This Land Was Made for You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie , by Elizabeth Partridge
Picture Book: “Let’s Get a Pup!” Said Kate, written and illus. by Bob Graham
2001Fiction: Carver: A Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson
Nonfiction: The Longitude Prize, by Joan Dash
Picture Book: Cold Feet, by Cynthia DeFelice, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker
2000Fiction: The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley
Nonfiction: Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado, by Marc Aronson
Picture Book: Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, written and illustrated by D. B. Johnson
1999Fiction: Holes by Louis Sachar
Nonfiction: The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest , written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Picture Book: Red-Eyed Tree Frog, written by Joy Cowley, illustrated with photographs by Nic Bishop
1998Fiction and Poetry: The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child, by Francisco Jiménez
Nonfiction: Leon's Story, by Leon Walter Tillage, illustrated with collage art by Susan L. Roth
Picture Book: And If the Moon Could Talk, by Kate Banks, illustrated by Georg Hallensleben
1997Fiction: The Friends, by Kazumi Yumoto
Nonfiction: A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder, by Walter Wick
Picture Book: The Adventures of Sparrowboy, by Brian Pinkney
1996Fiction: Poppy, by Avi, illustrated by Brian Floca
Nonfiction: Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story, by Andrea Warren
Picture Book: In the Rain with Baby Duck, by Amy Hest, illustrated by Jill Barton
1995Fiction: Some of the Kinder Planets, by Tim Wynne-Jones
Nonfiction: Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution, by Natalie S. Bober
Picture Book: John Henry, retold by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
1994Fiction: Scooter, by Vera Williams
Nonfiction: Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery, by Russell Freedman
Picture Book: Grandfather's Journey, by Allen Say
1993Fiction: Ajeemah and His Son, by James Berry
Nonfiction: Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?, by Patricia C. and Fredrick McKissack
Picture Book: The Fortune Tellers, Lloyd Alexander, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
1992Fiction: Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant
Nonfiction: Talking with Artists, compiled and edited by Pat Cummings
Picture Book: Seven Blind Mice, by Ed Young
1991Fiction: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi
Nonfiction: Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds, by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Barry Moser
Picture Book: The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks, Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
1990Fiction: Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli
Nonfiction: The Great Little Madison, by Jean Fritz
Picture Book: Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China, translated and illustrated by Ed Young
Special Citation: Valentine and Orson, by Nancy Ekholm Burkert
1989Fiction: The Village by the Sea, by Paula Fox
Nonfiction: The Way Things Work, by David Macaulay
Picture Book: Shy Charles, by Rosemary Wells
1988Fiction: The Friendship, by Mildred D. Taylor, illustrated by Max Ginsgburg
Nonfiction: Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave, by Virginia Hamilton
Picture Book: The Boy of the Three-Year Nap, by Dianne Snyder, illustrated by Allen Say
1987Fiction: Rabble Starkey, by Lois Lowry
Nonfiction: The Pilgrims of Plimoth, by Marcia Sewall
Picture Book: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, by John Steptoe
1986Fiction: In Summer Light, by Zibby Oneal
Nonfiction: Auks, Rocks, and the Odd Dinosaur: Inside Stories from the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History, by Peggy Thomson
Picture Book: The Paper Crane, by Molly Bang
1985Fiction: The Moves Make the Man, by Bruce Brooks
Nonfiction: Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun, by Rhoda Blumberg
Picture Book: Mama Don't Allow, by Thatcher Hurd
Special Citation: 1,2,3 by Tanya Hoban
1984Fiction: A Little Fear, by Patricia Wrightson
Nonfiction: The Double Life of Pocahontas, by Jean Fritz, illustrated by Ed Young
Picture Book: Jonah and the Great Fish, retold and illustrated by Warwick Hutton
1983Fiction: Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush, by Virginia Hamilton
Nonfiction: Behind Barbed Wire: The Imprisonment of Japanese Americans During World War II, by Daniel S. Davis
Picture Book: A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams
1982Fiction: Playing Beatie Bow, by Ruth Park
Nonfiction: Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939–1944, by Aranka Siegal
Picture Book: A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers, Helen Roney Sattler, illustrated by Anthony Rao
1981Fiction: The Leaving, by Lynn Hall
Nonfiction: The Weaver's Gift, by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated with photographs by Christopher G. Knight
Picture Book: Outside Over There, by Maurice Sendak
1980Fiction: Conrad's War, by Andrew Davies
Nonfiction: Building: The Fight Against Gravity, Mario Salvadori, illustrated by Saralinda Hooker and Christopher Ragus
Picture Book: The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, by Chris Van Allsburg
1979Fiction: Humbug Mountain, by Sid Fleischman
Nonfiction: The Road from Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl, by David Kherdian
Picture Book: The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs
1978Fiction: The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin
Nonfiction: Mischling, Second Degree, by Ilse Koehn
Picture Book: Anno's Journey, by Mitsumasa Anno
1977Fiction: Child of the Owl, by Laurence Yep
Nonfiction: Chance, Luck and Destiny, by Peter Dickinson
Picture Book: Granfa' Grig Had a Pig and Other Rhymes Without Reason from Mother Goose, by Wallace Tripp
Special Citation: The Changing City and The Changing Countryside, by Jorg Mueller
1976Fiction: Unleaving, by Jill Paton Walsh
Nonfiction: Voyaging to Cathay: Americans in the China Trade, by Alfred Tarmarin and Shirley Glubok
Picture Book: Thirteen, by Remy Charlip and Jerry Joyner
1975Fiction: Transport 7–41–R, by T. Degens
Picture Book: Anno's Alphabet, by Mitsumasa Anno
1974Fiction: M. C. Higgins, The Great, by Virginia Hamilton
Picture Book: Jambo Means Hello, by Muriel Feelings, illustrated by Tom Feelings
1973Fiction: The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper
Picture Book: King Stork, by Howard Pyle, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
1972Fiction: Tristan and Iseult, by Rosemary Sutcliff
Picture Book: Mr. Grumpy's Outing, by John Burningham
1971Fiction: A Room Made of Windows, by Eleanor Cameron
Picture Book: If I Built a Village…, by Kazue Mizumura
1970Fiction: The Intruder, by John Rowe Townsend
Picture Book: Hi, Cat!, by Ezra Jack Keats
1969Fiction: A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Picture Book: The Adventures of Paddy Pork, by John S. Goodall
1968Fiction: The Spring Rider, John Lawson
Picture Book: Tikki Tikki Tembo, Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent
1967Fiction: The Little Fishes, by Erik Christian Haugaard
Picture Book: London Bridge is Falling Down, by Peter Spier

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