Laura Ingalls Wilder Literacy Award Medal Photo Images originated from the U.S. National Archive & Records Administration & are used in this project for educational purposes only.

Quote: It is best to be honest, truthful, and make the most of what we have. Be happy and cheerful with simple pleasure. Have courage when things go wrong American Writer Author of the “Little House” book series – a total of seven books. She wrote five historical fiction books about her childhood. She wrote one book Farmer Boy about her husband’s childhood on a farm in New York State. These Happy Golden Years was written about her first four years of married life. Laura won her “namesake” award.

August 25, 1885 Laura Ingalls married Alamanzo Wilder Laura Ingalls was born in 1867 in Wisconsin. Her childhood was spent traveling by covered wagon and her dad farming in four states Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, and Minnesota. She became an elementary school teacher and married Almanzo Wilder. They had a daughter named Rose born in Laura died at age ninety in Mansfield, Missouri.

Quote: “The longest lives are short; our work last longer.” Daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder She encouraged her mother to write fiction & became her agent, editor, & collaborator. First female real-estate agent in California. She became a nationally known journalist writing for the San Francisco Bulletin & Sunset Magazine.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal A bronze medal that honors an author or illustrator who has made a substantial contribution to children’s literature over the years. The award is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. The award is given every two years. Winners receive the award at the annual American Library Association conference in June. The author and illustrators work must be published in the United States.

Past Winners of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal 2003: Eric Carle 2001: Milton Meltzer 1998: Russell Freedman 1995: Virginia Hamilton 1992: Marcia Brown 1989: Elizabeth Speare 1986: Jean Fritz 1983: Maurice Sendak 1980: Theodore S. Geisel (Dr. Seuss) 1975: Beverly Clearly 1970: E.B. White 1965: Ruth Sawyer 1960: Clara Ingram Judson 1954: Laura Ingalls Wilder

Garth Williams Illustrator & Designer Illustrator & Designer Garth is the beloved illustrator of the “Little House” books. He designed the bronze Laura Ingalls Wilder medal. In 1947, he visited Almanzo and Laura Wilder and retraced the steps of the Ingalls family. He illustrated other popular books such as the goldenbook Mister Dog, Stuart Little, and Charlotte’s Web.

Most recent winner of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award 2005 Winner! He wrote The Lost Garden, The Khan’s Daughter, & Dragonwings. Laurence liked fantasy books because “children leave their everyday world & adjust to a new situation when they go to school.” Laurence says, “ when you write it doesn’t have to be grand just about everyday happenings from a different perspective.”

Another recent winner of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal 2003 Winner! He wrote the popular books The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Busy Spider, and Pancakes, Pancakes. Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, many of which he also wrote. His art work is created in collage technique, using hand painted papers, which he cuts & layers to form bright and cheerful images. The theme of his stories are drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature.

One thing is for sure when you read a book chosen for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award Medal, the works have been chosen because of the substantial contribution to children’s literacy over the span of years. Children will read these books and continue to read these books in the generations to come!