2026 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Ceremony

Since 1953, our award has recognized books that ‘effectively engage children’ in the causes Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jane Addams championed. This year we celebrated children’s book authors and illustrators at the historic site where Addams’ peace advocacy began.

Winner of Books for Chapter Books Category and an Honor Book for Picture Books Category
Winner of Books for Picture Books Category and an Honor Book for Chapter Books Category
An Honor Book for Chapter Books Category and an Honor Book for Picture Books Category
Caroline McAlister, author of A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa, Honor Book in Picture Books Category
Courtyard outside the Hull House, Chicago, IL
Attendees
Welcoming attendees
Welcoming attendees
Ceremony attendees
Author head table
Author Caroline McAlister and Selection Committee Member Amina Chaudhri
Caroline McAlister accepting the Honor Book Award for Picture Books for A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa
Selection Committee Member Robin Seglem and author / illustrator James Ransome
James Ransome accepting the Honor Book Award for Picture Books for A Place for Us: A Story in Pictures.
Selection Committee Member Heather Matthews and Nikkolas Smith, author / illustrator of The History of We.
Nikkolas Smith accepting the Winner Book Award for Picture Books for The History of We.
Selection Committee Member Anthony Whaley and Derrick Barnes, author of The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze.
Derrick Barnes accepting the Honor Book Award for Chapter Books for The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze.
Selection Committee Member Lettycia Terrones and Sonja Cherry-Paul, adapter of How The Word Is Passed: A Reckoning of the History of Slavery Across America.
Sonja Cherry-Paul accepting the Honor Book Award for Chapter Books for her adaptation of Clint Smith's How The Word Is Passed: A Reckoning of the History of Slavery Across America.
Ceremony Attendees
Selection Committee Member Jackie Arnold and María Dolores Águila, author of A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Robert Alvarez.
María Dolores Águila accepting the Winner Book Award for Chapter Books for A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Robert Alvarez.
Susan Friess, recipient of the Visionary Partner Award
Executive Director Angela Medina and Susan Freiss, recipient of the Visionary Partner Award
Sarah Aronson, Executive Board Member
Winner of one of the raffle prizes
Jane Addams Peace Association Grant Research Associate Sandra Aguirre-Miranda with the winner of one of the raffle prizes
Child drawing the raffle prize winners.
Executive Board Member Sarah Aronson and a raffle winner
Ceremony attendees
Selection Committee Member Jackie Arnold
Derrick Barnes and María Dolores Águila
Derrick Barnes shares a hug
Executive Board Members Ross Stanton Jordan and Patty Wong

Photo Credit: Sarah Elizabeth Larson

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The Jane Addams Peace Association celebrated the 2025 Children’s Book Award, on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

https://vimeo.com/1083608938?share=copy

2024 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Ceremony

On April 26th, 2024, the Jane Addams Peace Association celebrated the winners and honorees of the 2024 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. This joyous ceremony featured talks from our amazing authors and illustrators, book signings, and a Q and A with the award winners and honorees. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate!

70th Anniversary of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award

70th anniversary event for award ceremonies

The Jane Addams Peace Association celebrated the 70th anniversary of its Children’s Book Award, together with the Chicago Public Library, celebrating its 150th anniversary, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago.