Jane Addams Children’s Book Award

ByCynthia Locke

Worlds of WonderThis presentation is to encourage fifth graders to read books that connect to issues around the world such as: • Immigration • WWI • Key People • Holocaust • Great Depression • WWII • Civil Rights • Amendments

Jane Addams• Pioneer social worker in America as a feminist and as an internationalist• Rockford Female Seminary • Visited Toynbee Hall, in London's East End• Opened Hull-House with Ellen Gates Starr, in Chicago 1889

• Involved in peace movements to stop the first World War• Women's Peace Party (WILPF), which became the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in 1919• Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Organization •Presented annually since 1953 •Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the Jane Addams Peace Association

•Picture Book category in 1993•Honor books may be chosen in each category

Criteria Promotes

Peace Social Justice

World

Community

Equality

Children’s

Books

Questions • Books considered for the Awards should invite answers to

one or more of the following questions:• How can people peaceably settle disputes but with a special

emphasis on diverse make-up and outlook?• How can we begin to think more creatively and humanely

about injustice and conflict, past or present, real or fictionalized?

• How can young people participate in creative solutions to the problems of war, social injustice, racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, and the concerns of the physically challenged?

• How can people of all races, cultures, nations and economic systems live peacefully together?

• Does the book promote an understanding of the role of women in society, gender roles, the need to overcome gender stereotypes, e.g. role models of both genders?

Book Themes •Solving problems courageously and non-

violently•Overcoming prejudice•Breaking cycles of fear•Approaching life with self-confidence and

strength•Understanding human needs with compassion•Broadening outlook to appreciate a variety of

cultures•Accepting responsibility for the future of all

peoples

Other Guidelines•Books eligible for this award may be fiction, poetry or nonfiction•Entries should be suitable for ages two through twelve

•Entries may be books of any length.•Entries should be well-written and well-illustrated (however, illustrations are not required)

•--Adopted by the Jane Addams Peace Association, January 1994

Award Winners

Birmingham Sunday by Larry Dane

Emma’s Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty by Linda Glaser

The One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World

War II by Lita Judge

References• Amazon (2012). Amazon Books. Retrieved June 24,

2012, from http://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-

• Spartacus (2012). Spartacus Educational. Retrieved June 24, 2012, from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAaddams.htm textbook

• Nobleprize (2012). Oble Prizes. Retrieved June 24, 2012, from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1931/ s/b?ie=UTF8&node=283155