To engage your child in reading, choose books that will inspire their imagination. Several organizations sponsor annual awards and publish "Best Of" reading lists comprised of the books most recommended and held out as exemplary by librarians and educators.

These lists are a fantastic resource to use as a guide for finding quality books. The next step is to take the recommended books and find the titles that will most appeal to your own child. Trust your instincts and measure your child's interest as you continue to build a library together and explore the world of literature with your young reader.

• Alex Awards
  The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), selects ten adult books that will appeal to teen readers each year. The YALSA is a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
• Book Sense Book of the Year Award
  American Booksellers Children's Book of the Year (formerly called The ABBY Award).
• Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards
  Awards given annually to outstanding fiction or poetry, outstanding nonfictionand outstanding illustration by the Boston Globe & Horn Book Magazine.
• Caldecott Medal
  Awarded to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book for children published in the previous year in the US. Sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children's Division of the American Library Association.
• Charlotte Zolotow Award
  Awarded annually to the author of the best picture book text published in the US. Administered by the Cooperative Children's Book Center.
• International Reading Association Children's Book Awards
  Awarded to an author's first or second published book. Four awards are for fiction and nonfiction in two age categories: younger readers (ages 4-10); older readers (ages 10-17). Books from any country which are copyrighted during the award year are considered.
• Jefferson Cup
  Awarded by the Youth Services Forum of the Virginia Library Association for quality writing in U. S., History, Historical Fiction, or Biography.
• Michael Printz Award
  Awarded to a book exemplifying literary excellence in young adult literature. From Young Adult Services Division of the American Library Association and sponsored by Booklist.
• National Book Awards for Young People's Literature
  An annual award for outstanding contribution to young people's literature.
• Newbery Medal
  Awarded to the author that makes the most distinguished contribution to children's literature during the previous year. Sponsored by the American Library Association.
• Notable Children's Books, American Library Association
  (http://www.ala.org/alsc/notable) Annual list from American Library Association