The
Américas Award is given in recognition of U.S. works
of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from
picture books to works for young adults) published in the
previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and
engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos
in the United States. By combining both and linking the
Americas, the award reaches beyond geographic borders, as
well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing
instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere. The
award is sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American
Studies Programs (CLASP).
The
award winners and commended titles are selected for their 1) distinctive literary quality; 2) cultural contextualization;
3) exceptional integration of text, illustration and design;
and 4) potential for classroom use.
Américas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature