The Robert F. Sibert MedalThe Robert Sibert MedalThe Sibert Award and Honor Awards are presented to the authors of the most distinguished informational children's books published the previous year.

Award Terms:

  • Poetry and traditional literature (e.g., folktales) are not eligible. There are no other limitations as to the character of the book providing it is an original work.
  • Honor books may be named. They are books that are also truly distinguished.
  • The award is restricted to authors, author/illustrator, co-authors, or author and illustrator named on the title page who are citizens or residents of the United States.
  • The award is restricted to original work first published in the United States.
  • The committee is to consider in its deliberations only books eligible for the award as specified in the terms.
  • The award may be given posthumously.

    • Award Criteria:

  • In identifying the most distinguished informational book for children from the preceding year, committee members consider important elements and qualities:
    1. Excellent, engaging, and distinctive use of language.
    2. Excellent, engaging, and distinctive visual presentation.
    3. Appropriate organization and documentation.
    4. Clear, accurate, and stimulating presentation of facts, concepts, and ideas.
    5. Appropriate style of presentation for subject and for intended audience.
    6. Supportive features (index, table of contents, maps, timelines, etc).
    7. Respectful and of interest to children.
  • Not every book relies equally on every element. The committee need not find excellence in every element listed above but only in those relevant to the book.
  • The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media for enjoyment.
  • The Sibert Award is presented to honor distinguished informational books for children. The award is not presented for didactic intent or for popularity.

    • Things We Found Interesting about the Sibert Award

    While reading our books for this award, we noticed a few common factors to their classification as Sibert Honor Books and Medal Winners. Essentially, all of these books can be categorized as informational books. Yet one thing that caught us off guard, was that each book had a story to tell. Each work had a plot and obstacles to overcome. While some of the books on the Sibert list seemed daunting and a bit boring at first, each book was enthralling, and we found ourselves becoming engrossed in reading each of them. Some of us read more of the books just for fun! Many of the books can be placed in their own genres, such as autobiography, history, science, and art. The common link between these genres, however, was the historicism behind each piece. Each piece had a true back story, one that helped develop the main characters of each work, and each of the back stories were based on historical fact. Also, one key link between the science based books was that in each one, there were diagrams, detailed photos, and charts, making it easier for young readers to understand the material. As they were informational, each book was filled with definitions unlike typical textbooks. The writers would say a concept, or a technical term, and then define it within the context of the work. This technique made each book exceptionally easy to read.

    Award Winning and Nominated Books

    My Season with Penguins Penguin Book Cover by Sophie Webb
    2001 Honor Book
    My season with Penguins is a compilation of an artists journey. Sophie Webb travels to the cold climate plain of Antartica. Throughout her two-month stay she observes, records and draws her new found animal friends.




    The Brooklyn Bridgebbby Lynn Curlee
    2002 Honor Book

    Brooklyn Bridge provides detailed information on the process of how the Brooklyn Bridge was built. A fourteen-year project now stands as on of the most popular world landmarks.


    Hole in My Life Hole Book Coverby Jack Gantos
    2003 Honor Book
    After being imprisoned at a young age, Jack Gantos re-tells his story of how he turned his life around and became the man he is today.

    To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel ballerina Book Coverwritten by Siena Cherson Siegel, artwork by Mark Siege
    2007 Honor Book
    This is a story of Siena Siegel, her dream of becoming a prima ballerina, and how she overcame her obstacles to make her dream a reality.


    What to Do About Alice Alice on Bike Book coverby Barbra Kerley
    2009 Medal Winner
    This is an entertaining bibliography about Alice, President Theodore Rooesevelts daughter and their chaotic life in the WHite House.


    Team Moon:How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon worldby Catherine Thimmesh
    2007 Medal Winner
    This is an in depth behind the scenes look into the first Apollo moon landing, from the first ideas to the final landing.


    Sequoyah storytellerby James Rumford
    2005 Honor Book
    In 1958 a crippled Sequoyah struggles to create the Cherokee writing system.

    The Tararantula Scientist Spiderby Sy Montogomery
    2005 Honor Book
    This is a documentary of Sam Marshall's research and findings, dealing with the tarantula.


    An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 americanplague.jpgby Jim Murphy
    2004 Medal Winner
    Yellow Fever epidemic in 1793 was a deadly outbreak of influenza in Philadelphia that killed thousands of people, and forced President Washington to flee the city in its time of need.


    Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929 sixdaysuse.jpgby Karen Blumenthal
    2003 Honor Book
    A compilation of stories from people who seen the effects of Black Tuesday and the Crash of '29

    Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 blackpotatoes.JPGby Susan Campbell Bartoletti
    2002 Medal Winner
    An historical account of the mid-19th century mystery that rendered the staple diet of the Irish inedible, killing one million and sending two million refugees abroad.


    Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow hitleryouth.jpgby Susan Campbell Bartoletti
    2006 Honor Book
    The recounting of growing up in Nazi-Germany, and the excitement and fury surrounding the notorious Hitler Youth. It explores the memories of those who lived during the Third Reich's rise to power and its ultimate demise.


    Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps survivinghitleruse.jpgby Andrea Warren
    2002 Honor Book
    Jack recounts surviving Hitler's rise to power and the horrible atrocities of the death camps     Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunleysecrethunley.jpgby Sally M. Walker
    2008 Medal Winner
    A scientific and historic exploration of the Civil War submarine H.L. Hunley, the first sub to destroy an enemy ship, and also the search and reclamation of the Hunley after its discovery in Charleston Bay in 1995.


    I Face The WindPhotobucketwritten by Vicki Cobb, illustrated by Julia Gorton
    2004 Honor Book
    This book introduces the wind, how it works and functions, through a series of hands-on activities it teaches how to understand something you cannot see.


    The Wall: Growing Up behind the Iron Curtain Photobucketby Peter Sís
    2008 Medal Winner

    A young Czechoslovakian boy must creatively express himself in order to deal with the chaos of the Cold war.

    Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I LearnedFriendship, Loss and What I Learned By Judd Winick

    2001 Honor Book

    Pedro and Me is a tale about a young man's journey to bring health awareness to young people.

    Blizzard! The Storm That Changed AmericaThe storm that changed america By Jim Murphy

    2001 Honor Book

    The Longitude PrizeJoan Dash By Joan Dash

    2001 Honor Book

    Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El DoradoEl DoradoBy Marc Aronson

    2001 Medal Winner

    Vincent Van GoghA portrait of a man with a hat By Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

    2002 Honor Book

    When Marian SangYoung african american woman with eyes closed By Pam Muñoz

    2003 Honor Book

    Marian must break down the walls of racism by using, the only weapon she has, her voice.

    Action JacksonJackson Pollock painting By Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

    2003 Honor Book

    Walt Whitman: Words for AmericaPortrait of a man in a farm hat By Barbara Kerley

    2005 Honor Book

    The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal RightsMarian Anderson struggle for equal rights By Russel Freedman

    2005 Medal Winner

    Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New GuineaNew Guinea kangaroo By Sy Montgomery

    2007 Honor Book

    Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights MovementJohn Lewis and Jim Zwerg By Ann Bausum

    2007 Honor Book

    SpidersA six eye spider By Nic Bishop

    2008 Honor Book

    LightshipRead and black boat By Brian Floca

    2008 Honor Book

    Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the PastMelting Glaciers By James M. Deem

    2009 Honor Book

    We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseballnegro league baseball By Kadir Nelson

    2009 Medal Winner

    Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to DreamWomen who chaged history By Tanya Lee Stone

    2010 Medal Winner

    The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand New ColorsJoe and Bob Switzer By Chris Barton

    2010 Honor Book

    Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11Apolo 11 By Brian Floca

    2010 Honor Book

    Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward JusticeTwice toward justice By Phillip Hoose

    2010 Honor Book

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