The American Indian Library Association (AILA) awards are presented every two years to recognize the most outstanding contributions to children's literature by and about American Indians. The awards were established as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. Books selected to receive the award will present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts.[1]
The first American Indian Library Association American Indian Youth Literature Awards were presented during the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color in 2006.
Up to 5 honor books may be selected in each category.
| Category | Recipient | Title | Citation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Best Picture Book | Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (author) with Johnny Arlee (contributor) and Sam Sandoval (illustrator) | Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story | Winner |
| Best Middle School Book | The Birchbark House | Winner | ||
| Best Young Adult Book | Hidden Roots | Winner | ||
| 2008 | Best Picture Book | (author) with Jeanne Rorex Bridges (illustrator) | Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom | Winner |
| Best Middle School Book | Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond | Winner | ||
| Best Young Adult Book | (Rescinded 2018) [3] | |||
| 2010 | Best Picture Book | (author) with Gary Clement (illustrator) | A Coyote Solstice Tale | Winner |
| Best Middle School Book | Winner | |||
| Best Young Adult Book | Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me | Winner | ||
| 2012 | Best Picture Book | (author) with Ellen Beier (illustrator) | The Christmas Coat | Winner |
| (author) with Karen Clarkson (illustrator) | Saltypie: a Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light | Honor | ||
| (author) with Aaron Kawai'ae'a (illustrator) | Kohala Kuamo'o: Nae'ole's Race to Save a King | |||
| (author) with Matthew Kawika Ortiz (illustrator) | Mohala Mai 'o Hau How Hau Became Hau'ula (English) | |||
| I See Me | ||||
| Best Middle School Book | Free Throw & Triple Threat | Winner | ||
| Jordin Tootoo the Highs and Lows in the Journey to the First Inuit to Play in the NHL | Honor | |||
| Awesiinyensag: Dibaajimowinan ji-Gikinoo'amaageng | ||||
| Native Defenders of the Environment and other titles in the "Native Trailblazers series. | ||||
| Best Young Adult Book | Pipestone: My Life in an Indian Boarding School | Winner | ||
| 2014 | Best Picture Book | (author) with John Rombough (illustrator) | Caribou Song, Atihko Oonagamoon | Winner |
| Best Middle School Book | How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story | Winner | ||
| Danny Blackgoat, Navajo Prisoner | Honor | |||
| Best Young Adult Book | Killer of Enemies | Winner | ||
| If I Ever Get Out of Here | Honor | |||
| 2016 | Best Picture Book | (author) with Julie Flett (illustrator) | Little You | Winner |
| Sitting Bull: Lokata Warrior and Defender of His People | Honor | |||
| Best Middle School Book | (author) with James Mark Yellowhawk (illustrator) | In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse | Winner | |
| and Mary Beth Leatherdale (editors) | Dreaming in Indian Contemporary Native Voices | Honor | ||
| Best Young Adult Book | House of Purple Cedar | Winner | ||
| Her Land, Her Love | Honor | |||
| 2018 | Best Picture Book | , Hans Chester, David Katzeek, Nora Dauenhauer, and Richard Dauenhauer (editors) with Michaela Goade (illustrator), | Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy | Winner |
| Best Middle School Book | (editor) with Theo Tso, Jonathan Nelson, Kristina Bad Hand, Roy Boney Jr., Lee Francis IV, Johnnie Diacon, Weshoyot Alvitre, Renee Nejo, and Michael Sheyahshe (contributors) | Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers, Volume 1 | Winner | |
| Best Young Adult Book | and Mary Beth Leatherdale (editors) | Winner | ||
| 2020 | Best Picture Book | (author) with Gordon Jourdain (translator) and Jonathan Thunder (illustrator) | Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi’idim | Winner |
| (author) with Juana Martinez-Neal (illustrator) | Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story | Honor | ||
| (author and illustrator) | Birdsong | |||
| (author) with Weshoyot Alvitre (illustrator) | At the Mountain's Base | |||
| (author) with Frané Lessac (illustrator) | We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga | |||
| (adaptor and illustrator) | Raven Makes the Aleutians | |||
| Best Middle Grade Book | (author) with Traci Sorell | Indian No More | Winner | |
| I Can Make This Promise | Honor | |||
| (author) with Natasha Donovan (illustrator) | The Grizzly Mother | |||
| Best Young Adult Book | (author) | Hearts Unbroken | Winner | |
| (author) with Natasha Donovan (llustrator) | Surviving the City | Honor | ||
| (author) with Cora De Vos (photography) | Reawakening Our Ancestors’ Lines: Revitalizing Inuit Traditional Tattooing | |||
| and Jean Mendoza (authors), adapted from Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States | An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People | |||
| Apple in the Middle | ||||
| 2022[4] | Best Picture Book | (author) with Corey Begay (illus.) | Herizon | Winner |
| Learning My Rights with Mousewoman | Honor | |||
| (author) with Natasha Donovan (illustrator) | Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer | |||
| (author) with Corey Begay (designer) | Diné Bich’eekę Yishłeeh (Diné Bizaad) / Becoming Miss Navajo (English) | |||
| (author) with Michaela Goade (illustrator) | I Sang You Down From the Stars | |||
| (author) with Frané Lessac (illustrator) | We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know | |||
| Best Middle School | Healer of the Water Monster | Winner | ||
| (author) with Tashia Hart (illustrator) | Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Honor | ||
| (author) with Tashia Hart (lllustrator) | Ella Cara Deloria: Dakota Language Protector | |||
| (author) with Tashia Hart (lllustrator) | Peggy Flanagan: Ogimaa Kwe, Lieutenant Governor | |||
| (author) with Tara Audibert (illustrator) | ||||
| Best Young Adult | Apple (Skin to the Core) | Winner | ||
| (author) with Rahsan Ekedal (illustrator) | Soldiers Unknown | Honor | ||
| (author) with Ciara Sana (illustrator) | Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present | |||
| Hunting by Stars | ||||
| Elatsoe | ||||
| Firekeeper’s Daughter | ||||
| 2024[5] | Best Picture Book | (author) with Jonathan Nelson (illustrator) | Forever Cousins | Winner |
| (author) with Jonathan Nelson (illustrator) | ||||
| (author) with Kelsey Mata Foote (illustrator) | Celebration | Honor | ||
| (author) with Arigon Starr (illustrator) | Contenders | |||
| Berry Song | ||||
| (author) with Michaela Goade (illustrator) | Remember | |||
| (author) with Madelyn Goodnight (illustrator) | Rock Your Mocs | |||
| Best Middle School | We Still Belong | Winner | ||
| Eagle Drums | Honor | |||
| and Charles Waters | Mascot | |||
| (author) with Tara Audibert (illustrator) | Jo Jo Makoons: Fancy Pants | |||
| Jo Jo Makoons: Snow Day | ||||
| (author) with Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint (illustrators) | She Persisted: Maria Tallchief | |||
| (author) with Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint (illustrators) | She Persisted: Wilma Mankiller | |||
| (author) with Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint (illustrators) | She Persisted: Deb Haaland | |||
| Best Young Adult | Rez Ball | Winner | ||
| Warrior Girl Unearthed | Honor | |||
| Funeral Songs for Dying Girls | ||||
| (author) and Jeff Edwards | Man Made Monsters | |||
| Running with Changing Woman | ||||
| Heroes of the Water Monster |