Irma Black Award

Past Winners

2023 Irma S. & James H. Black Award

Bathe the Cat
Gold Medal
 John's Turn
Silver Medal
 The World Belonged to UsSilver Medal The Best Kind of Mooncake
Silver Medal

Gold Medal

Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty; illustrated by David Roberts (Chronicle)

Silver Medals

John’s Turn by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Kate Berube (Candlewick)

The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson; illustrated by Leo Espinosa (Penguin)

The Best Kind of Mooncake by Pearl AuYeung (Page Street Kids)

News Coverage

2023 Irma Black Award and Cook Prize Winners Announced
School Library Journal, May 4, 2023

  • 2021 – 2030

    2023 Irma S. & James H. Black Award

    Bathe the Cat
    Winner
    		 John's TurnHonor Book
    		 The World Belonged to UsHonor Book The Best Kind of MooncakeHonor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2022

    Winner Irma Black Contender 2022Honor Book Irma Black Contender 2022
    Honor Book
    		 Irma Black Contender 2022
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2021


    Honor Book    		 Winner
    Honor Book
    Honor Book
  • 2011 – 2020

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2020


    Honor Book
    Honor Book
    Winner
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2019

    We Don't Eat Our Classmates
    Winner    		 Stumpkin
    Honor Book
    		 Sun! One in a Billion
    Honor Book
    		 The Wall in the Middle of the Book
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2018

    7 Ate 9
    Winner    		 How the Cookie Crumbled
    Honor Book    		 After the Fall
    Honor Book    		 Sparkle Boy
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2017

    The Night Gardener
    Winner    		 Quackers
    Honor Book    		 Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion
    Honor Book    		 A Hungry Lion
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2016

    It's Only Stanley
    Winner    		 Ragweed's Farm Dog Handbook
    Honor Book    		 A Red Crayon's Story
    Honor Book    		 You Can Do It Bert!
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2015

    Sam & Dave Dig a Hole
    Winner    		 Blizzard
    Honor Book    		 Elizabeth Queen of the Seas
    Honor Book    		 Shh! We Have a Plan
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2014

    This Is Not A Good Idea!
    Winner    		 Are the Dinosaurs Dead Dad?
    Honor Book    		 Chick-O-Saurus-Rex
    Honor Book    		 The King of Little Things
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2013

    Big Mean Mike
    Winner    		 This is Not My Hat
    Honor Book    		 The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?
    Honor Book    		 Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2012

    What Animals Really Like
    Winner    		 All the Way to America
    Honor Book    		 I Want My Hat Back
    Honor Book    		 You Will Be My Friend!
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2011

    How Rocket Learned to Read
    Winner    		 Children Make Terrible Pets
    Honor Book    		 Dust Devil
    Honor Book    		 A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea
    Honor Book
  • 2001 – 2010

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2010

    Robot Zot
    Winner    		 Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem
    Honor Book    		 A Penguin Story
    Honor Book    		 Sergio Saves the Game
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2009

    Mail Harry to the Moon
    Winner    		 Nic Bishop Frogs
    Honor Book    		 The Ghost Catcher
    Honor Book    		 What to Do About Alice?
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2008

    The Wicked Big Toddlah
    Winner    		 The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County
    Honor Book    		 Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
    Honor Book    		 Honor Book Some Dog!
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2007

    Once I Ate a Pie
    Winner    		 Duck and Goose
    Honor Book    		 Library Lion
    Honor Book    		 Roasted Peanuts
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2006

    Sammy the Classroom Guinea Pig
    Winner    		 Precious and the Boo Hag
    Honor Book    		 Terrific
    Honor Book    		 Willa and the Wind
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2005

    Kernuffle Bunny
    Winner    		 The Firekeeper's Son
    Honor Book    		 Henry and the Kite Dragon
    Honor Book
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2004

    How I Became a Pirate
    Winner    		 The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman
    Honor Book    		 The Dot
    Honor Book    		 Tanuki's Gift
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2003

    Bubba and Beau Best Friends
    Winner    		 I Stink!
    Honor Book    		 Epossumondas
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2002

    The Three Pigs
    Winner    		 A Fine, Fine School
    Honor Book    		 And the Dish ran Away With the Spoon
    Honor Book    		 Milo's Hat Trick
    Honor Book

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 2001

    The Raft
    Winner    		 Basho and the Fox
    Honor Book    		 Click Clack, Moo Cows That Type
    Honor Book    		 Mammalabilia
    Honor Book
  • 1991 – 2000

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 1991 – 2000

    A Dog Like Jack
    2000 Winner    		 Tasty Baby Belly Buttons
    2000 Honor Book    		 Zak's Lunch
    1999 Winner    		 Raising Dragons
    1999 Honor Book
    Akiak: A Tale From the Iditarod
    1998 Winner    		 Jojofu
    1997 Winner    		 Wicked Jack
    1996 Winner    		 Pink and Say
    1995 Winner
    Three Sacks of Truth
    1994 Winner    		 The King's Equal
    1993 Winner    		 The Enchanted Wood
    1992 Winner    		 Charlie Anderson
    1991 Winner
  • 1981 – 1990

    Irma Black Award Winners 1981 – 1990

    The Talking Eggs
    1990 Winner    		 The Porcupine Mouse
    1989 Winner    		 Heckedy Peg
    1988 Winner    		 Doctor Change
    1987 Winner
    The Mysteries of Harris Burdick
    1985 Winner    		 No-One Is Going To Nashville
    1984 Winner    		 The Stories Julian Tells
    1982 Winner    		 Gorky Rises
    1981 Winner

    1986 Winner

    • Chloe and Maude by Sandra Boynton (Little, Brown)

    1983 Winner

    • Mustard by Charlotte Graebner, illustrated by Donna Diamond (Macmillan)
  • 1973 – 1980

    Irma Black Award Winner & Honor Books 1973 – 1980

    The Garden of Abdul Gasazi
    1980 Winner    		 Felix in the Attic
    1979 Winner    		 The Mysterious Tadpole 
    1978 Winner
    The Easter Egg Artists
    1977 Winner    		 Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like
    1977 Honor Book    		 Morris’s Disappearing Bag
    1976 Winner    		 The Maggie B.
    1976 Honor Book
    She Comes Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl
    1975 Winner    		 Bear and Mouse
    1974 Winner    		 Harlequin and the Gift of Many Colors 
    1974 Honor Book    		 Mouse Tales
    1973 Winner