Since 1953, AAUW of North Carolina has partnered with the NC Literary and Historical Association to present an award in recognition of the most significant work of original juvenile literature published over the course of the last year by a North Carolina author. The judges include a representative from Lit & Hist, one from AAUW NC, and a librarian familiar with young people’s literature. The deadline for the award nominations is July 15 of each year, with the award presented at the fall meeting of the Literary and Historical Association. For full details on the nomination process, requirements, and criteria considered by the judges, see www.ncdcr.gov/about/history/lit-and-hist/awards
| Year | Author | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Ruth and Latrobe Carroll | Peanut |
| 1954 | Mebane Holoman Burgwyn | Penny Rose |
| 1955 | Ruth and Latrobe Carroll | Digby, the Only Dog |
| 1956 | Julia Montgomery Street | Fiddler's Fancy |
| 1957 | Nell Wise Wechter | Taffy of Torpedo Junction |
| 1958 | Ina B. Forbus | The Secret Circle |
| 1959 | Thelma Harrington Bell | Captain Ghost |
| 1960 | Jonathan Daniels | Stonewall Jackson |
| 1961 | Glen Rounds | Beaver Business |
| 1962 | Manly Wade Wellman | Rifles at Ramsour's Mill |
| 1963 | Julia Montgomery Street | Dulcie's Whale |
| 1964 | Randall Jarrell | The Bat-Poet |
| 1965 | Alexander Key | The Forgotten Door |
| 1966 | Richard Walser and Julia Montgomery Street | North Carolina Parade: Stories of History and People |
| 1967 | Glen Rounds | The Snake Tree |
| 1968 | Neal F. Austin | A Biography of Thomas Wolfe |
| 1969 | Mary Lina Bledsoe Gillet | Bugles at the Border |
| 1970 | Mebane Holoman Burgwyn | The Crackajack Pony |
| 1971 | Suzanne Newton | Purro and the Prattleberries |
| 1972 | No award | |
| 1973 | Barbara M. Parramore | The People of North Carolina |
| 1974 | Suzanne Newton | C/O Arnold's Corners |
| 1975 | Alexander Key | The Magic Meadow |
| 1976 | Glen Rounds | Mr. Yowder and the Lion Roar Capsules |
| 1977 | Ruth White Miller | The City Rose |
| 1978 | Suzanne Newton | What Are You Up To, William Thomas? |
| 1979 | Suzanne Newton | Reubella and the Old Focus Home |
| 1980 | Caroline B. Cooney | Safe As the Grave |
| 1981 | No award | |
| 1982 | Suzanne Newton | M. V. Sexton Speaking |
| 1983 | Glen Rounds | Wild Appaloosa |
| 1984 | Belinda Hurmence | Tancy |
| 1985 | Catherine Petroski | The Summer That Lasted Forever |
| 1986 | Nancy Tilly | Golden Girl |
| 1987 | Sue Ellen Bridgers | Permanent Connections |
| 1988 | Lila Hopkins | Eating Crow |
| 1989 | Belinda Hurmence | The Nightwalker |
| 1990 | Lila Hopkins | Talking Turkey |
| 1991 | Suzanne Newton | Where Are You When I Need You? |
| 1992 | Bill Brittain | Wings |
| 1993 | Christina Askounis | The Dream of the Stone |
| 1994 | Joanne Compton | Ashpet: An Appalachian Tale |
| 1995 | Joanne and Kenn Compton | Sody Sallyratus |
| 1996 | William Hooks | Freedom's Fruit |
| 1997 | Gloria Houston | Littlejim's Dreams: An Appalachian Christmas Story |
| 1998 | Jacqueline K. Ogburn | Jukebox Man |
| 1999 | Gloria Houston | Bright Freedom's Song: A Story of the UndergroundRailroad |
| 2000 | Lisa Williams Kline | Eleanor Hill |
| 2001 | Reynolds Price | A Perfect Friend |
| 2002 | Carole Boston Weatherford | Remember the Bridge |
| 2003 | Michelle Groce | Jasper |
| 2004 | Blonnie Bunn Wyche | The Anchor: P. Moore Proprietor |
| 2005 | Carole Boston Weatherford | Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-ins |
| 2006 | Joyce Moyer Hostetter | Blue |
| 2007 | Eleanora E. Tate | Celeste's Harlem Renaissance |
| 2008 | Cathryn Sill | About Habitats: Wetlands |
| 2009 | Clay Carmichael | Wild Things |
| 2010 | John Claude Bemis | The Nine Pound Hammer |
| 2011 | Gloria Houston | Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile |
| 2012 | John Claude Bemis | The White City |
| 2013 | Kelly Starling Lyons | Tea Cakes for Tosh |
| 2014 | Joan Holub | Little Red Writing |
| 2015 | Frances O'Roark Dowell | Anybody Shining |
| 2016 | Sheila Turnage | The Odds of Getting Even |
| 2017 | Ali Standish | The Ethan I Was Before |