Américas Book Award

History of the Award
CLASP founded the Américas Award in 1993 to encourage and commend authors, illustrators and publishers who produce quality children’s and young adult books that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States, and to provide teachers with recommendations for classroom use. CLASP offers up to two annual book awards, together with a commended list of titles.

Criteria
Up to two awards (for primary and secondary reading levels) are given in recognition of U.S. published works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. By linking the Americas, the intent is to reach beyond geographic borders, as well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere.

Books will be judged for: 1) distinctive literary quality; 2) cultural contextualization; 3) exceptional integration of text, illustration and design; and 4) potential for classroom use.

Process
To nominate a 2013 copyright title, publishers are invited to submit review copies to the committee members by January 17, 2014. There is no entry fee. The award/commended list will be announced in the spring of 2014, recognizing works published in 2013; the formal award presentation will be held during Hispanic Heritage month at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Publishers: Please send eight copies of the nominated book (one each) to Américas Review Committee Members (including the ex-officio member) and the Award Coordinators. You can find contact information for committee members and award coordinators in the

Award Guidelines
2014 Call for Submissions

To view standards-based online curricula, using Américas Award titles, created by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, please visit the site.

If you are interested in purchasing Américas seals for books in your library, school, home, please visit here for more information.

Additional financial support for the 2013 award is provided by Scholastic and by Latin American Studies centers at: Florida International University, The Ohio State University, Tulane University, University of Florida, University of New Mexico, Stanford University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Vanderbilt University. Special thanks to staff at the Library of Congress, Georgette Dorn and Catalina Gomez (Hispanic Division), Anne Boni and John Cole (Center for the Book) and Angela Newburn (Office of Special Events) for coordinating the 2013 ceremony.