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Awards  BCPL Lists  Bestsellers  Cultural Lists   Genres

 

  Awards

 

Randolf Caldecott Medal

 

John Newbery Medal

 

Black Eyed Susan Awards

 

Black-Eyed Susan Award

 

Honors outstanding books, chosen annually by Maryland students. The purpose of this award is to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature.

  

 

 

Children | Literary

 

Children

 

 

  • Teen Read
    Lists of books teens may enjoy 

 

  • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award
    Honors outstanding books, chosen annually by Maryland students. The purpose of this award is to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature.

 

  • Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards
    First presented in 1967 and customarily announced in June, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the field of children’s and young adult literature. Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfictio

 

  • Golden Kite Award
    The Golden Kite Awards is given annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators to recognize excellence in children’s literature.

 

 

  • Mildred L. Batchelder Award
    This Award is given for an outstanding translation of a children's book into English. It is awarded annually by the Association of Library Service to Children, to encourage American publishers to seek out superior children's books abroad and to promote communication among the peoples of the world.

 

  • National Book Award for Young People's Literature
    Awarded by a consortium of book publishing groups with the goal of enhancing the public's awareness of exceptional books written by fellow Americans and to increase the popularity of reading in general.
     

Literary

 

  • The American Library Association
    The object of the American Library Association shall be to promote library service and librarianship. The stated mission is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.
     

    • ALA Notable Books 
      Since 1944, the goal of the Notable Books Council has been to make available to the nation’s readers a list of 25 very good, very readable, and at times very important fiction, nonfiction, and poetry books for the adult reader

 

 

  • Man Booker  
    The Booker prize for Fiction, first awarded in 1969, promotes the finest in fiction by rewarding the very best book of the year. The Man Booker International Prize, awarded every two years, recognizes one writer for their achievement in fiction. This prize was first awarded in 2005

 

  • National Book Awards 
    Given to recognize achievements in American literature. Awards in four genres include: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people's literature. Lists all award winners from 1950 to present.

 

  • PEN/Faulkner Awards
    Named for William Faulkner, who used his Nobel Prize funds to create an award for young writers, and affiliated with PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists), the international writers' organization, the PEN/Faulkner Award was founded by writers in 1980 to honor their peers, and is now the largest juried award for fiction in the United States.

 

  • Pulitzer Prize
    Honoring excellence in journalism and the arts since 1918.

 

BCPL Lists

  

 

Adult | Children | Teen | Other

 

Adult

 

  • Christian Fiction Authors Booklist   (March 2010):  A select group of authors represented in BCPL's collections whose primary writings are for readers of Christian Fiction.

 

 

  • Going Green! Click here for a printer friendly version of this list [PDF] (June 2010):  Non-fiction material owned by BCPL that represent ways that you can like a more Earth-friendly lifestyle.

 

 

Children

 

  • African American Kid's Books  Click here for a printer friendly version of this list [PDF]  (March 2010):  Hand selected by BCPL's librarians, this list of books for young readers covers the gamut of picture books and primary school titles on topics of interest about our African American community.

 

  • Feathered Friends  Click here for a printer friendly version of this list [PDF] (March 2010):  Books and stories for kids about the world of birds.

 

  • Generation Green  Click here for a printer friendly version of this list [PDF]  (March 2010):  Books and DVDs for pre-school and early readers help to instill an understanding and an appreciation of the resources on this big blue marble that we call home.

 

Teen

 

Other

 

  • Hot Titles
    See what hot new titles our librarians have selected for your special attention.

 

  • Our Most Popular Searches
    Are you curious what other Baltimore County library users are reading?  These are the most popular searches on the library's online catalog.

 

 

Best Seller & Other

  

New York Times Best Sellers at BCPL

Click to see the latest NYTimes bestseller list...

Fiction Bestsellers

Non-Fiction Bestsellers

 

 

 

  • New York Times
    Check the weekly best seller lists from the New York Times

 

  • Publishers Weekly Bestsellers Page
    Hardcover fiction bestseller list. Scroll to bottom for other lists including Paperback, Non-Fiction, Children's, Religion, Computer, and Audio

 

 

Cultural Lists

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good teen reads...

 

 

African American |  Asian | Christian | Disabled | Gay and Lesbian | Jewish | Latino | Local (Maryland) | Native American | Teen |  Women

 

African American

 

  • African American Literature Book Club
    Features a bestseller list, book reviews, resources for writers, discussion groups, literary crossword puzzle and poetry readings.
     
  • ALA Black Caucus Award
    First presented at the Second National Conference of African American Librarians in 1994, the BCALA Literary Awards acknowledge outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction for adult audiences by African American authors.

 

  • BCALA Literary Award Winners
    Awarded by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, these annual awards recognize excellence in adult fiction and nonfiction by African American authors, including the work of a first novelist, and a citation for outstanding contribution to publishing. The latest Literary Award winners.

 

 

  • BCPL Reading List: African American Kids Books Selected by the librarians at the Baltimore County Public Library, this list of books for young readers covers the gamut of picture books and primary school titles on topics of interest about the African American community.

 

 

  • Book-Remarks.com
    Promotes books written by or about African Americans. Has information on upcoming book fairs and literary events nationwide

 

 

 

  • The Coretta Scott King Award
    This award is presented annually by the Coretta Scott King Committee of the American Library Association's Ethnic Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). The award (or awards) is given to an African American author and an African American illustrator for an outstandingly inspirational and educational contribution. The books promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream. The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

 

  • Got To Be Read: Discover Good Books by African American Authors Using the Web
    By African American Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Maryland.  If you are looking for novels, reviews, specific types of books by African American authors, or want to find online and face-to-face book discussion groups, discussion boards, and social networing sites that focus on books by African American authors, this guide will help you find something to read.

 

  • Harlem Renaissance
    By African American Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Maryland.  "In the 1920s, Harlem was home to some of the best black writers, artists, actors and musicians."  The literature and theatre created by this movement represents an impressive body of work. Has information on several writers, playwrights and more.

 

  • Literature and Life: The Givens Collection
    Website from the University of Minnesota which explains briefly the major eras in African American literature beginning with the slave narratives through the 20th century.

 

  • Literature Resource Center
    Provided by Baltimore County Public Library, find full text critical analysis and biographies of novelists, poets and essayists from authoritative literary sources. Search by author, title, time period and literary themes. Available on public computers in our libraries or from home with a valid library card registered with Baltimore County Public Library. 

 

 

  • Perspectives in American Literature
    From California State University Stanislaus, this website covers from colonial to modern times, find biographies and discussions of social and political influences on literature by African Americans. Focus is on major contributors to black literature and on the Harlem Renaissance.

 

  • QBR: The Black Book Review
    Reviews and recommendations for adult and children's fiction and nonfiction and a literary events calendar.

 

  • R.A.W.Sistaz Reviewers
    Online and national organization specializing in reviewing and promoting African-American literature

 

  • Street Fiction
    From Street Fiction.org, urban fiction interviews, news and reviews

 

Asian

 

 

  • Man Asian Literary Prize
    The Man Asian is an annual award for an "Asian novel unpublished in English". The Prize was launched in 2007 and is now in its third year.

 

Christian

 

 

 

  • Christy Awards
    Established in 1999 this Christian fiction award was created to recognize novelists and novels of excellence in half a dozen genres of Christian fiction. The Christy Award, named in honor of Catherine Marshall’s novel and of her contribution to growth of the Christian fiction.

 

Disabled

 

  • Schneider Family Book Award
    The Schneider Family Book Award, given annually by the American Library Association, honors an author or illustrator for the artistic expression of the disability experience for children and teens.
     

 

Gay & Lesbian

 

  • Lambda Awards
    The Lambda Literary Awards (also known as the "Lammies") are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works which celebrate or explore LGBT themes. Categories include Humor, Romance and Biography. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the award.

 

  • Stonewall Book Awards
    The first and most enduring award for GLBT books are sponsored by the American Library Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table.

 

Jewish

 

  • Sydney Taylor Book Awards ( for children)
    Awarded annually to the authors of the most distinguished contributions to Jewish children's literature.

 

Latino

 

  • Américas Book Award ( for children)
    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.

 

  • Pura Belpré Award ( for children)
    Awarded to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children.

 

Local (Maryland)
 

 

  • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award
    Honors outstanding books, chosen annually by Maryland students. The purpose of this award is to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature. Find

    2010-2011 winners and 2011-2012 nominees (with links to BCPL's holdings.)

 

 

 

Native American

 

  • Native American Authors (hosted by VoiceNation)
    A select web bibliography of websites by and for Native American Authors.

 

  • Native Languages.org
    This page is a collection of links to recommended books by Native American authors.

 

Teen

 

 

  • Margaret A. Edwards Award Winners
    Administered by the ALA/YALSA and the School Library Journal and honors an author for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature which helps adolescents become aware of themselves and in addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.

 

 

Women

 

  • Willa Awards
    Annual award for outstanding literature featuring women's stories set in the west

 

Genres

  

 

Get book news by email at BCPL

 

 

 


 

Looking for some good
historical fiction?

 

 

 

 


 

 

Curl up with a good fright.

 


 

 

 

 

 

Find a good "who done it"...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love is in the air...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boldly go where no reader
has gone before!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audiobooks  | Historical Fiction | Horror | Mysteries | Nonfiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Westerns
 

Audiobooks

 

  • The Audies
    This the only awards program in the U.S. entirely devoted to recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment

 


 

Historical Fiction

 

  • Historical Fiction Network
    Discover historical fiction reading lists, book reviews, resources for writing historical fiction, and author information. Also, participate in discussions in the forums and on message boards.

 

  • Jefferson Cup Awards ( for children)
    The Virginia Library Association's Children's and Young Adult Round Table has presented the Jefferson Cup which honors a distinguished biography, historical fiction or American history book for young people.

 

 

  • Scott O'Dell Award  ( for children)
    The O'Dell Award goes to a meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults and to encourage writers to focus on historical fiction.

 

Horror

 

 

  • Horror Writers Association
    Formed in the 1980s to bring together writers and others professionally interested in horror and dark fantasy, it fosters a greater appreciation of dark fiction among the general public. 

 

  • Bram Stoker Award
    Presented by the Horror Writers Association for superior achievement in horror writing.

 

 

 

Mysteries

 

  • The Edgar Award
    In honor of Edgar Allan Poe, is given by The Mystery Writers of America to the best in mystery fiction and nonfiction produced the previous year. Listed here are the winners in the fiction category. The first Edgar was awarded in1954.

 

  • ClueLass Home Page
    A Mystery Lover's Notebook provides reading lists, convention schedules, new releases of mystery, crime and detective fiction and much more.

 

  • DorothyL: The Official Web Site
    A discussion and idea list for the lovers of the mystery genre. DorothyL is available via email as either a daily digest or as individual messages.

 

  • MysteryNet
    A timeline of mystery characters through the ages.

 

  • The Poisoned Pen
    A wealth of the latest mystery information, recommended reading, and reviews.

 

Nonfiction

 

  • Biology
    The Giverny Award ( for children)
    The Giverny Award for children's books on biology, is an annual award established in 1998 by Dr. James H. Wandersee and Dr. Elisabeth Schussler for the 15 Degree Laboratory. 

 

  • Children
    Orbis Pictus Award ( for children)
    The Orbis Pictus Award was established in 1990 by the National Council of Teachers of English to promote and recognize excellence in nonfiction writing.

 

  • Cooking
    James Beard KitchenAid Book Awards
    The James Beard Foundation/KitchenAid Book Awards, the oldest recognition program for books on culinary topics in the United States, were originally established in 1966 as the R.T. French Tastemakers Awards. After R.T. French discontinued its funding for the program, the awards were sponsored by a number of organizations before becoming a permanent part of the James Beard Foundation Awards in 1990.

 

  • Photography
    The Kraszna-Krausz Book Award 
    The Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards are made to encourage and recognize outstanding achievements in the publishing and writing of books on the art, practice and technology of photography and the moving image.

 

Romance

 

 

  • Celebration of Regency Romance
    From Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer to the writers of today, the Regency Era has inspired authors to create some of their finest work. Sponsored by the Beau Monde.

 

 

  • RITA Awards
    Romance Writers of America proudly sponsors the romance-publishing industry's highest award of distinction — the RITA Award. RITA awards are presented annually to the best published romance novels of the year. The award itself is a golden statuette named after RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada, and has become the symbol for the best in published romance fiction.

 

Science Fiction

 

  • Hugo Awards
    The Hugo Award was named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, "The Father of Magazine Science Fiction," as he was described in a special award given to him in 1960. The Hugo Award, also known as the Science Fiction Achievement Award, is given annually by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS).

 

  • Nebula Award
    Science fiction and fantasy book awards given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

 

  • Baltimore Science Fiction Society
    An established non-profit organization dedicated to "grass-roots" involvement in the appreciation and production of Science Fiction.

 

  • SF Site
    Provides an extensive directory of SF, fantasy, and horror writers on the web, interviews, reviews of new books, magazines, and SF clubs.

 

  • SFF Net
    A site for authors, editors, readers, and publishers to discuss books, stories, the art and craft of popular fiction. Offers service from authors selling their own hard-to-get works. Includes out of print, signed, and special books.

 

  • Wands and Worlds
    Search for youth science fiction and fantasy by subject, author or series.

 

 Westerns

 

  • Spur Award
    The Western Writers of America's award for distinguished writing in the western field, from 1953-present.

 

 

  • Willa Awards
    Annual award for outstanding literature featuring women's stories set in the west.

 

  • Women Writing the West
    Non-profit association of writers and professionals promoting western writing by and about women. Links to information on their annual conference, the Willa Awards, and publishers of women's western titles and more.