Education Resources: Orbis Pictus Award
Orbis Pictus Award
The award was established in 1989 to promote and recognize excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children. The name Orbis Pictus commemorates the work of Johannes Amos Comenius, Orbis Pictus—The World in Pictures (1658), considered to be the first book actually planned for children. - National Council of Teachers of English
Award-Winning & Honorary Books
Border Crossings by
Publication Date: 2023Follow two endangered ocelots as they attempt to cross the border in this powerful picture book about the environmental impact of the Wall.Blue by
Publication Date: 2022Discover a world of creativity and tradition in this fascinating picture book that explores the history and cultural significance of the color blue. From a critically acclaimed author and an award-winning illustrator comes a vivid, gorgeous book for readers of all ages.Nina by
Publication Date: 2021This luminous, defining picture book biography illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson, tells the remarkable and inspiring story of acclaimed singer Nina Simone and her bold, defiant, and exultant legacy.Above the Rim by
Publication Date: 2020 (eBook)Above the Rim is a poetic, exquisitely illustrated telling of the life of an under-recognized athlete and a celebration of standing up for what is right.The Teachers March! by
Publication Date: 2020Noted nonfiction authors Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace conducted the last interviews with Reverend Reese before his death in 2018 and interviewed several teachers and their family members in order to tell this story, which is especially important today.Honeybee by
Publication Date: 2020Eric Rohmann's exquisitely detailed illustrations bring the great outdoors into your hands in this poetically written tribute to the hardworking honeybee. Award-winning author Candace Fleming describes the life cycle of the honeybee in accessible, beautiful language.If You Take Away the Otter by
Publication Date: 2020Susannah Buhrman-Deever offers a beautifully written account of a trophic cascade, which happens when the removal of a single element affects an entire habitat. Asides that dig deeper are woven throughout Matthew Trueman's dynamic illustrations, starring a raft of charismatic sea otters.Lifting As We Climb by
Publication Date: 2020Author Evette Dionne, a feminist culture writer and the editor-in-chief of Bitch Media, has uncovered an extraordinary and underrepresented history of black women. In her powerful book, she draws an important historical line from abolition to suffrage to civil rights to contemporary young activists--filling in the blanks of the American suffrage story.A Place to Land by
Publication Date: 2019As a new generation of activists demands an end to racism, A Place to Land reflects on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the movement that it galvanized.Soldier for Equality by
Publication Date: 2019Soldier for Equality is based in part on Luz's diary during the war. It includes a biography of Luz's later years, an author's note, a timeline, a bibliography, and an index.Planting Stories: the Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by
Publication Date: 2019Brought to colorful life by Paola Escobar's elegant and exuberant illustrations and Anika Aldamuy Denise's lyrical text, this gorgeous book is perfect for the pioneers in your life.Between the Lines by
Publication Date: 2018Between the Lines is a story of inspiration, spirit, and of an American original who pursued his dream. This enchanting picture book includes pieces of artwork created by this little known artist who captured the truth and beauty of the world he saw around him.Champion by
Publication Date: 2018Narrative nonfiction master Sally M. Walker tells a tale of loss, restoration, and the triumph of human ingenuity in this beautifully photographed middle-grade book.Pass Go and Collect $200 by
ISBN: 9781627791687Publication Date: 2018Boldness, imagination, and ruthless competition combine in this riveting story that sets the record straight on the history of Monopoly's origins.The Secret Kingdom by
Publication Date: 2018Author Barb Rosenstock introduces readers to the outsider artist's stunning creation, while Claire A. Nivola's illustrations bring to life the land's natural beauty and the surreal world Nek coaxed from his wild landscape.Thirty Minutes over Oregon by
Publication Date: 2018This remarkable true story, beautifully illustrated in watercolor, is an important and moving account of reconciliation after war.We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by
Publication Date: 2018The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences.Grand Canyon by
Publication Date: 2017Follow a father and daughter as they make their way through the cavernous wonder, discovering life both present and past. Weave in and out of time as perfectly placed die cuts show you that a fossil today was a creature much long ago, perhaps in a completely different environment.Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix by
Publication Date: 2017Together with food ethnographer June Jo Lee and internationally renowned graffiti artist Man One, they bring an exuberant celebration of street food and street art.Dazzle Ships by
Publication Date: 2017Author Chris Barton and illustrator Victo Ngai vividly bring to life this little-known story of how the unlikely and the improbable became just plain dazzling.Her Right Foot (American History Books for Kids, American History for Kids) by
Publication Date: 2017In this fascinating and fun take on nonfiction for kids, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris investigate a seemingly small trait of America's most emblematic statue. What they find is about more than history, more than art. What they find in the Statue of Liberty's right foot is the powerful message of acceptance that is essential of an entire country's creation.The Quilts of Gee's Bend by
Publication Date: 2017The Quilts of Gee's Bend shares specifics about a rare community and its rich traditions, allowing children to pause to consider history through the eyes of the people who lived it and through a legacy that is passed on to the next generation.The World Is Not a Rectangle by
Publication Date: 2017Get to know Zaha Hadid in this nonfiction picture book about the famed architect's life and her triumph over adversity from celebrated author-illustrator Jeanette Winter.
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