Identity or community
Schneider Family Book Award
American Library Association (ALA)
In short
The Schneider Family Book Award, administered by the American Library Association, honors books for readers aged 4 to 18 that show the disability experience, with a main or secondary character who has a disability. Librarians and educators building inclusive collections use the winners, which are announced with the association's other youth awards, and each winner receives $5,000 and a plaque. There is no fee. Anyone may suggest a title on the application form by December 1, including the author or illustrator, as long as a financial interest is disclosed.
Deadline December 1, 2026Checked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Every label is a fact from the official rules, never a judgment about whether the award is worth entering. How we describe awards.
The Schneider Family Book Award, endowed by Dr. Katherine Schneider and administered by the American Library Association (ALA), honors books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Awards are given in three age bands: younger children (ages 4 to 8), middle grade (ages 9 to 13), and young adult (ages 14 to 18). The book may be fiction, biography or memoir, or general nonfiction.
The title must feature a main or secondary character with a disability, portray disability as part of a full life rather than as an object of pity, and be accurate about the disability. Books must be published in English in the year before the announcement. Anyone may suggest a title through the application form by December 1; publishers, agents, or anyone with a financial interest must disclose it. Once a title is confirmed eligible, ALA staff or a jury member says where to send copies.
There is no fee. Winners are announced in January or February with the other ALA Youth Media Awards and presented at the ALA Annual Conference in June. Each winner receives $5,000 and a commemorative plaque.
Why it may matter
This is the principal library award for disability representation in children's and young adult books, and its winners are used by librarians and educators building inclusive collections. Unlike most ALA youth awards, the suggestion form is open to anyone, so an author or publisher with an eligible book can put it forward directly as long as the financial interest is disclosed.
2027 cycle: 2027 award (books published in 2026)
- Eligible publication dates
- January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026
- Final deadline
- December 1, 2026Checked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Deadline note
- Suggestions for the 2027 award due December 1, 2026
- Entry fee
- No entry feeChecked September 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Results
- Announced in January or February 2027; presented at the ALA Annual Conference in June 2027
| Tier | Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Per title | See rules | No fee |
Worth knowing
Our reading, not a rule the organization published. We judge an award on the rubric in how we describe awards.
The award is announced alongside the other ALA Youth Media Awards; see the combined record on this site for the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King awards. Suggesting a title does not guarantee it is read by the full jury; the jury confirms eligibility first.
Rules and deadlines change. We last checked this information on September 13, 2026. If you see something that needs updating, please tell us.
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