Charlotte Zolotow Award

Picture books writing is often overlooked in major awards. It's why the Cooperative Children's Book Center, a children's literature library to the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, gives out the Charlotte Zolotow Award each year.

The Zolotow Award recognizes outstanding writing in pictures books, and the award goes to the author, not the illustrator. The award was created in 1998. It is named after Charlotte Zolotow, an author of more than 70 picture books and a children's book editor with Harper Junior Books.

The winner receives a bronze medallion and $1,000. Books that are eligible are any picture book for children ages birth through seven, written in English and published in the United States. The CCBC staff provides a shortlist of books to a committee which selects the award-winning title, up to three Honor Books, and up to 10 titles for a Highly Commended list.

Winners