Sydney Taylor Book Award

The Sydney Taylor Book Award recognizes the best in Jewish children's literature. Medals are awarded annually for outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience. The award was established in 1968 by the Association of Jewish Libraries. It is named in memory of Sydney Taylor, author of the classic All-of-a-Kind Family series. Taylor's were some of the first children's books with Jewish characters that were of literary interest to readers of all backgrounds.

Awards are presented in three categories: Younger Readers, Older Readers and Teen Readers. In each category, a single gold medalist is named annually. Each year there may also be several silver medalists named in each category. A list of ten to twenty Notable Children's Books of Jewish Content is also named in each category, but these titles do not receive medals.

Most Sydney Taylor Book Award winning titles are universal in theme while Judaic in specific content, and will be of interest to Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike.

Younger Reader: I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy

Older Reader: The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz

Teen Reader: Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit

Younger Readers: Fascinating: The Life of Leonard Nimoy by Richard Michelson, A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love by Michelle Edwards

Older Readers: Dreidels on the Brain by Joel Ben Izzy, A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of the Snowy Day by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Teen Readers: There were no titles designated in 2017

Authors who have received the award include Jane Yolen, Paul Janeczko, Daniel Pinkwater, Michael Morpurgo, Barbara Cohen, Gregory Maguire, Eric Kimmel, Tomie dePaola and April Halprin Wayland.

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