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 MooncakeSilver 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 Turn
    Honor 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 2022Honor Book
    Irma Black Contender 2022Honor 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