We envision a future where people actively work to dismantle injustices and build a more peaceful, equitable world.
Browse Books Donate
JAPA Award Winners collage
Deepening understanding of peace and justice for children and their adults through reflection, dialogue and social action.

All children deserve the opportunity to see themselves reflected in books, as well as learn about those who are different from them. We believe books open our minds, our hearts, and our worlds. Jane Addams Children’s Book Award commended titles are books in which young people feel seen, celebrated, valued, and empowered to question, discuss, and act. – With gratitude for the work of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop

2023 Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards

Winner

Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement

Books for Younger Children by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington

Winner

Undercover Latina

Books for Older Children by Aya De León

Honor

Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie’s Place

Books for Younger Children
Honor

Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth: Educator, Feminist, and Anti-Lynching Civil Rights Leader,

Books for Younger Children
Honor

Yonder

Books for Older Children
Honor

Swim Team

Books for Older Children
2023 Finalists Younger/Older Children
Finalist
Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas
Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas Jeanne Walker Harvey, Illustrated by Loveis Wise. Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Finalist
Because Claudette
Because Claudette Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Tonya Engel. Dial Books for Young Readers, an Imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC.
Finalist
Because of You. John Lewis: A True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
Because of You. John Lewis: A True Story of a Remarkable Friendship Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown. Scholastic Press, an Imprint of Scholastic, Inc.
Finalist
Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement
Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington. Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.
Finalist
Going Places: Victor Hugo Green and His Glorious Book
Going Places: Victor Hugo Green and His Glorious Book Tonya Bolden, illustrated by Eric Velasquez. Quill Tree Books an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Finalist
I Am An American : The Wong Kim Ark Story
I Am An American : The Wong Kim Ark Story Martha Brockenbrough with Grace Lin, illustrated by Julia Kuo. Little Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.
Finalist
The Mother of a Movement: Jeanne Manford Ally, Activist and Co-Founder of PFLAG
The Mother of a Movement: Jeanne Manford Ally, Activist and Co-Founder of PFLAG Rob Sanders, illustrated by Sam Kalda. Magination Press, an imprint of the Ameridan Psychological Association.
Finalist
Until Someone Listens: A Story about Borders, Family, and One Girl’s Mission
Until Someone Listens: A Story about Borders, Family, and One Girl’s Mission Estela Juarez with Lissette Norman, illustrated by Teresa Martinez. Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.
Finalist
Alice Austen Lived Here
Alice Austen Lived Here Alex Gino. Scholastic Press.
Finalist
The Civil War of Amos Abernathy
The Civil War of Amos Abernathy Michael Leali. HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Finalist
Dream, Annie, Dream
Dream, Annie, Dream Waka T. Brown. Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Finalist
Fight Back
Fight Back A.M. Dassu. Tu Books/Lee & Low Books.
Finalist
The First Rule of Climate Club
The First Rule of Climate Club Carrie Firestone. G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House.
Finalist
The Last Beekeeper
The Last Beekeeper Pablo Cartaya. Harper/HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Finalist
Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution
Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution Sherri Winston. Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
Finalist
Rima’s Rebellion: Courage in a Time of Tyranny
Rima’s Rebellion: Courage in a Time of Tyranny Margarita Engle. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster.
Finalist
A Seed in the Sun
A Seed in the Sun Aida Salazar. Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House.
Finalist
Swim Team
Swim Team Johnnie Christmas. Harper Alley/HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Finalist
Undercover Latina
Undercover Latina Aya de León. Candlewick Press.
Finalist
Yonder
Yonder Ali Standish. Harper/HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Jane Addams Peace Association 70th Anniversary Children’s Literature Awards

2022 Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards

Winner

Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress

Books for Younger Children by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by April Harrison

View Award Acceptance
Winner

How to Find What You’re Not Looking For

Books for Older Children by Veera Hiranandani

View Award Acceptance
Honor

Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame

Books for Older Children Book Feature
Honor

Rez Dogs

Books for Older Children Book Feature
Honor

Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge

Books for Younger Children Book Feature
Honor

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre

Books for Younger Children Book Feature

About the Jane Addams Children's Book Award

The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people. A national committee of members with passion for and expertise in children’s literature and social justice is responsible for making the choices each year.

Learn More

Newsletters

June 2023 Celebrating Pride Month with the Jane Addams Peace Association Newsletter
May 2023 Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month With Us! Newsletter

Instagram

Follow us

Help Support Our Mission

Your gift of any size to the Jane Addams Peace Association will help support and promote social justice narratives for today’s children and their adults as well as the reflection, dialogue, and social action that such narratives inspire.

Ways to Support Donate Today

Jane Addams

(1860-1935)

Jane Addams was a social activist who struck at the roots of social injustice through astute, persistent, thoughtful action during the first decades of the twentieth century. Addams worked tirelessly for reforms in child labor law, sanitation, housing conditions and work conditions for nearly four decades. Firmly grounded in the Chicago immigrant neighborhood surrounding Hull House–the settlement house she founded with Ellen Gates Starr in 1889–her vision went far beyond its boundaries.

Jane Addams and the White Supremacy of Her Time

Jane Addams Peace Association