The NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature is a new award intended to enhance the quality of children’s and young adult literature by promoting writing that contributes to the quality of their lives. Made possible through the generosity of Nancy Barcelo, Susan Neustadt Schwartz, and Kathy Neustadt, this award is sponsored by World Literature Today and The University of Oklahoma.
It will be awarded every other year to a living writer with significant achievement, either over a lifetime or in a particular publication. The essential criterion for awarding this prize is that the writer’s work is having a positive impact on the quality of children’s and young adult literature. The prize is intended to include all of literature written for children. It could be given for work that is illustrated, juvenile, young adult, etc. There is no limitation to a particular age group or type of children’s and young adult literature.
Each NSK Neustadt jury will narrow to areas of children’s and young-adult literature principally through the author nominations it brings forward. All nominations will come from the jury members. No outside nominations will be accepted. A check for $25,000, a silver medallion, and a certificate will be presented to the laureate at a public ceremony at The University of Oklahoma every other year in odd-numbered years.
For more information and a list of past NSK Neustadt Prize laureates, visit www.worldliteraturetoday.org.
Photo: Shevaun Williams and Associates/Simon Hurst
