The Golden Kite Award

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

For the best fiction book, the best nonfiction book, the best picture book (since 1982), and the best picture book text (since 1996); given by the Society for Children's Book Writers.

2016Fiction: Challenger Deep, by Neal Shusterman
Nonfiction: Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir, by Margarita Engle
Picture Book Text: Boats for Papa, by Jessixa Bagley
Picture Book Illustration: Marvelous Cornelius, illustrated by John Parra, written by Phil Bildner
2015Fiction: Revolution, by Deborah Wiles
Nonfiction: The Family Romanov; Murder, Rebellion and the Fall of Imperial Russia, by Candace Fleming
Picture Book Text: ​A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream, by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Floyd Cooper)
Picture Book Illustration: The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant
2014Fiction: Better Nate than Ever, by Tim Federle
Nonfiction: Call of the Klondike, by David Meissner
Picture Book Text: Sophie's Squash, by Pat Zietlow Miller
Picture Book Illustration: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown
2013Fiction: The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook, by Joanne Rocklin
Nonfiction: Noah Webster and His Words, by Jeri Chase Ferris
Picture Book Text: Me and Momma and Big John, by Mara Rockliff (illus. William Low)
Picture Book Illustration: Lester's Dreadful Sweaters, illustrated and written by K.G. Campbell
2012Fiction: Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys
Nonfiction: Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart, by Candace Fleming
Picture Book Text: Over and Under the Snow, by Kate Messner (illus. Christopher Silas Neal)
Picture Book Illustration: Balloons Over Broadway, illustrated and written by Melissa Sweet
2011Fiction: Turtle in Paradise, by Jennifer L. Holm
Nonfiction: The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie, by Tanya Lee Stone
Picture Book Text: Big Red Lollipop, by Rukhsana Khan (illus. Sophie Blackall)
Picture Book Illustration: Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rymes, illustrated and written by Salley Mavor
2010Fiction: Sea of the Dead, by Julia Durango
Nonfiction: Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life's Song, by Ashley Bryan
Picture Book Text: The Longest Night, by Marion Dane Bauer (illus. Ted Lewin)
Picture Book Illustration: Gracias Thanks, illustrated by John Parra (author Pat Mora)
2009Fiction: Down Sand Mountain, by Steve Watkins
Nonfiction: A Life in the Wild, by Pamela S. Turner
Picture Book Text: A Visitor for Bear, by Bonny Becker (illus. Kady MacDonald Denton)
Picture Book Illustration: Last Night, written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum
2008Fiction: Home of the Brace, by Katherine Applegate
Nonfiction: Muckrackers, by Ann Bausum
Picture Book Text: Pierre in Love, by Sara Pennypacker (illus. Petra Mathers)
Picture Book Illustration: Little Night, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales
2007Fiction: Firegirl, by Tony Abbott
Nonfiction: The Adventures of Marco Polo, by Russell Freedman
Picture Book Text: Jazz, by Walter Dean Myers (illus. Christopher Myers)
Picture Book Illustration: Not Afraid of Dogs, illustrated by Larry Day (author Susanna Pitzer)
2006Fiction: A Room on Lorelei Street, by Mary E. Pearson
Nonfiction: Children of The Great Depression, by Russell Freedman
Picture Book Text: Doña Flor, by Pat Mora (illus. Raul Colón)
Picture Book Illustration: Baby Bear's Chairs, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (author Jane Yolen)
2005Fiction: Bucking The Sarge, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Nonfiction: Dust To Eat: Drought And Depression In The 1930s, by Michael L. Cooper
Picture Book Text: Apples to Oregon, by Deborah Hopkinson (illus. Nancy Carpenter)
Picture Book Illustration: The Mysterious Collection of Dr. David Harleyson, by Jean Cassels
2004Fiction: Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli
Nonfiction: After The Last Dog Died: The True-Life, Hair-Raising Adventure Of Douglas Mawson And His 1911-1914 Antarctic Expedition, by Carmen Bredeson
Picture Book Text: The Dirty Cowboy, by Amy Timberlake (illus. Adam Rex)
Picture Book Illustration: I Dream Of Trains, by Loren Long (author Angela Johnson)
2003Fiction: Fresh Girl, by Jaïra Placide
Nonfiction: This Land Was Made For You And Me: The Life And Songs Of Woody Guthrie, by Elizabeth Partridge
Picture Book Text: George Hogglesberry, Grade School Alien, by Sarah Wilson
Picture Book Illustration: Mrs. Biddlebox, by Marla Frazee
2002Fiction: True Believer, by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Nonfiction: Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Picture Book Text: The Shoe Tree of Chagrin, by J. Patrick Lewis
Picture Book Illustration: The Lamp, The Ice, And The Boat Called Fish, by Beth Krommes
2001Fiction: The Boxer, by Kathleen Karr
Nonfiction: Darkness over Denmark, by Ellen Levine
Picture Book Text: River Friendly, River Wild, by Jane Kurtz
Picture Book Illustration: The Rain Came Down, by David Shannon
2000Fiction: Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Nonfiction: Space station Science: Life in Free Fall, by Marianne J. Dyson
Picture Book Text: A Band of Angels, by Deborah Hopkinson
Picture Book Illustration: The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza), by Amy Wolrod
1999Fiction: Rules of the Road, by Joan Bauer
Nonfiction: Martha Graham: A Dancer's Life, by Russell Freedman
Picture Book Text: Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems, by Kristine O'Connell George
Picture Book Illustration: Snow, by Uri Shulevitz
1998Fiction: Stones in Water, by Donna Jo Napoli
Nonfiction: Carmine's Story: A Book About a Boy Living With AIDS, by Arlene Schulman
Picture Book Text: The Paper Dragon, by Marguerite W. Davol
Picture Book Illustration: The Paper Dragon, by Robert Sabuda
1997Fiction: The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw
Nonfiction: Small Steps, by Peg Kehret
Picture Book Text: Saving Sweetness, by Diane Stanley
Picture Book Illustration: Market Day, by Holly Berry
1996Fiction: The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Nonfiction: Abigail Adams, by Natalie S. Bober
Picture Book Illustration: Fairy Wings, by Dennis Nolan and Lauren Mills
1995Fiction: Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman
Nonfiction: Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor, by Russell Freedman
Picture Book Illustration: Big Fat Hen, by Keith Baker
1994Fiction: Make Lemonade, by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Nonfiction: Eleanor Roosevelt, by Russell Freedman
Picture Book Illustration: By the Light of the Halloween Moon, by Kevin Hawkes
1993Fiction: Letters From a Slave Girl, by Mary E. Lyons
Nonfiction: The Long Road to Gettysburg, by Jim Murphy
Picture Book Illustration: Chicken Sunday, by Patricia Polacco
1992Fiction: The Raincatchers, by Jean Thesman
Nonfiction: The Wright Brothers, by Russell Freedman
Picture Book Illustration: Mama, Do You Love Me, by Barbara Lavallee
1991Fiction: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi
Nonfiction: The Boy's War, by Jim Murphy
Picture Book Illustration: Home Place, by Jerry Pinkney
1990Fiction: Jenny of the Tetons, by Kristiana Gregory
Nonfiction: Panama Canal: Gateway to the World, by Judith St. George
Picture Book Illustration: Tom Thumb, by Richard Jesse Watson
1989Fiction: Borrowed Children, by George Ella Lyon
Nonfiction: Let There Be Light, by James Cross Giblin
Picture Book Illustration: Forest of Dreams, by Susan Jeffers
1988Fiction: Rabble Stareky, by Lois Lowry
Nonfiction: Incredible Journey of Lewis and Clark, by Rhoda Blumberg
Picture Book Illustration: What the Mailman Brought, by Tomie DePaola
1987Fiction: After the Dancing Days, by Margaret Rostowski
Nonfiction: Poverty in America, by Milton Meltzer
Picture Book Illustration: Juma and the Magin Jinn, by Charles Mikolaycak
1986Fiction: Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan
Nonfiction: Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun, by Rhoda Blumberg
Picture Book Illustration: The Donkey's Dream, by Barbara Helen Berger
1985Fiction: Tancy, by Belinda Hurmence
Nonfiction: Walls: Defenses Throughout History, by James Cross Giblin
Picture Book Illustration: Little Red Riding Hood, by Don Wood
1984Fiction: The Tempering, by Gloria Skurzynski
Nonfiction: The Illustrated Dinosaur Dictionary, by Helen Roney Sattler
Picture Book Illustration: Little Red Riding Hood, by Trina Schart Hyman
1983Fiction: Ralph S. Mouse, by Beverly Cleary
Nonfiction: Chimney Sweeps, by James Cross Giblin
Picture Book Illustration: Giorgio's Village, by Tomie de Paola
1982Fiction: Little, Little, by M. E. Kerr
Nonfiction: Blissymbolics, by Elizabeth Helfman
1981Fiction: Arthur, For the Very First Time, by Patricia MacLachlan
Nonfiction: The Lives of Spiders, by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
1980Fiction: The Magic of the Gluts, by Carole S. Adler
Nonfiction: Runaway Teens, by Arnold Madison
1979Fiction: And You Give Me a Pain, Elaine, by Stella Pevsner
Nonfiction: How I Came to Be a Writer, by Phyllis Reynolds
1978Fiction: The Girl Who Had No Name, by Bernice Rabe
Nonfiction: Peeper, First Voice of Spring, by Robert McClung
1977One More Flight, by Eve Bunting
1976The Garden Is Doing Fine, by Carol Farley
1975The Girl Who Cried Flowers, by Jane Yolen
1974 Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green

Sources +