The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award recognizes authors and illustrators whose literary work depict the Mexican American experience.[1] This award was established in 1995 by the Texas State University College of Education in honor of distinguished alumnus, Tomás Rivera[2] an educator, poet and author of literary works depicting the difficulties experienced by Mexican migrant farmers[3] and also the first Mexican American to hold a chancellor position at the University of California.[4]
Criteria
- The book is written for children and young adults (0–16 years).
- The text and illustrations are of the highest quality.
- The portrayal/representations of Mexican Americans are accurate and engaging, avoid stereotypes, and reflect rich characterization.
- The book may be fiction or non- fiction.[5]
Recipients
Tomás Rivera Book Award Winners [6] | Year | Category | Author | Illustrator | Title |
| 2025 | For Younger Readers | Laekan Zea Kemp | Beatriz Gutíerrez Hernández | Desert Song |
| For Older Readers | Aida Salazar | | Ultraviolet |
| 2024 | For Younger Readers | Michael Genhart | John Parra | Spanish is the Language of My Family/El Español es la Lengua de Mi Familia |
| For Middle Readers | Carmen Tafolla | | Warrior Girl |
| For Older Readers | Pedro Martín | Pedro Martín | Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir |
| 2023 | For Younger Readers | Celia C. Pérez | | Tumble |
| For Older Readers | Aida Salazar | Karina Perez | A Seed in the Sun |
| 2022 | For Younger Readers (tie) | David Bowles | Erika Meza | My Two Border Towns |
| For Younger Readers (tie) | Yuyi Morales | Yuyi Morales | Bright Star |
| For Older Readers | Daniel Aleman | | Indivisible |
| 2021 | For Younger Readers (tie) | Duncan Tonatiuh | Duncan Tonatiuh | Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns: A Mesoamerican Creation Myth |
| For Younger Readers (tie) | Beatrice Zamora | Maira Meza | The Spirit of Chicano Park/El espíritu del Parque Chicano |
| For Older Readers | Sonia Gutiérrez | | Dreaming with Mariposas |
| 2020 | | Isabel Quintero | Zeke Peña | My Papi Has A Motorcycle |
| 2019 | For Younger Readers | Yuyi Morales | Yuyi Morales | Dreamers |
| For Older Readers | David Bowles | | They Call Me Güero |
| 2018 | For Younger Readers | Xelena González | Adriana M. Garcia | All around Us |
| For Older Readers (Middle Grade) | Celia C. Pérez | | The First Rule of Punk |
| For Older Readers (Young Adult) | Erika L. Sánchez | | I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter |
| 2017 | For Younger Readers | Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell | Rafael López | Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood |
| For Older Readers | Francisco X. Stork | | The Memory of Light |
| 2016 | For Younger Readers | Duncan Tonatiuh | Duncan Tonatiuh | Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras |
| 2016 | For Older Readers | Ashley Hope Pérez | | Out of Darkness |
| 2015 | For Younger Readers | Duncan Tonatiuh | Duncan Tonatiuh | Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Méndez and her Family's Fight for Desegregation |
| 2015 | For Older Readers | Isabel Quintero | | Gabi, a Girl in Pieces |
| 2014 | For Younger Readers | Duncan Tonatiuh | Duncan Tonatiuh | Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale |
| For Older Readers | Susan Goldman | | Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People |
| 2013 | | Guadalupe García McCall | | Under the Mesquite |
| 2012 | For Older Readers | Winifred Conkling | | Sylvia and Aki |
| For Younger Readers | Duncan Tonatiuh | Duncan Tonatiuh | Diego Rivera: His World and Ours |
| 2011 | | Alex Sánchez | | Bait |
| 2010 | | Carmen Tafolla | Magaly Morales | What Can You Do With a Paleta? |
| 2009 | | Carmen Tafolla | | The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans |
| | Benjamin Alire Sáenz | | He Forgot to Say Goodbye |
| 2008 | | Marisa Montes | Yuyi Morales | Los Gatos Black on Halloween |
| 2007 | | Juan Felipe Herrera | | Downtown Boy |
| 2006 | | Susanna Reich | Raúl Colón | José! Born to Dance |
| 2005 | | Pam Muñoz Ryan | | Becoming Naomi León |
| 2004 | | Yuyi Morales | Yuyi Morales | Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book |
| 2003 | | Pat Mora | Beatriz Vidal | A Library for Sor Juana |
| 2002 | | Francisco Jiménez | | Breaking Through |
| 2001 | | Amada Irma Pérez | Maya Christina Gonzalez | My Very Own Room/Mi Propio Cuartito |
| 2000 | | Rudolfo Anaya | Amy Córdova | My Land Sings: Stories of the Río Grande |
| 1999 | | Bobbi Salinas | Bobbi Salinas | The Three Pigs/Los Tres Cerdos: Nacho, Tito, and Miguel |
| 1998 | | Pat Mora | Raúl Colón | Tomás and the Library Lady |
| 1997 | | Carmen Lomas Garza | Carmen Lomas Garza | In My Family/En Mi Familia |
| 1996 | | Rudolfo Anaya | Edward Gonzales | The Farolitos of Christmas |
| | Gary Soto | Susan Guevara | Chato's Kitchen |
External links
References