WLA LITERARY AWARDS

The Literary Awards Committee and the Children's Book Awards Committee select outstanding published works by Wisconsin-connected authors. The WLA Literary Awards Committee is responsible for the selection of the WLA Literary Award, Outstanding Books of the Year, and Notable Wisconsin Authors. The Children’s Book Award Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association’s Youth Services Section is responsible for the selection of the Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award, Outstanding Books of the Year, and Notable Wisconsin Authors/Illustrators. 

Literary Awards for Works Published for Adults

WLA Literary Award 
This award is for the highest literary achievement by an author with a Wisconsin connection, for a work written in the previous year.

Outstanding Achievement Award
These are Wisconsin authors & illustrators recognized for outstanding achievement for books published in the previous year.

Notable Wisconsin Authors
Notable Wisconsin Authors is an annual project funded through the WLA Foundation which honors Wisconsin authors, past and present, for their literary contributions. The Wisconsin Library Association hopes to promote a greater awareness of the state's literary heritage through this recognition.

VIEW MOST RECENT AWARDS
VIEW PAST AWARDS

Literary Awards for Works Published for Youth 

Elizabeth Burr/Sheridan Worzalla Award
Awarded to the most distinguished work in children’s and young adult literature written and/or illustrated by a Wisconsin book creator. The Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award is made possible by the Sheridan Worzalla Publishing Company, Stevens Point, through a gift to the WLA Foundation.

Outstanding Children's Books of the Year
Noteworthy honor titles are selected for Outstanding Achievement in children’s literature, written and/or illustrated by Wisconsin book creators.

Notable Wisconsin Children's Authors
Notable Wisconsin Children's Authors is an annual project funded through the WLA Foundation which honors Wisconsin authors, past and present, for their literary contributions. The Wisconsin Library Association hopes to promote a greater awareness of the state's literary heritage through this recognition. 

VIEW MOST RECENT AWARDS
VIEW PAST AWARDS

Submission Criteria 

Criteria for the, WLA Literary Award, the Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award, and the Outstanding Achievement include:

  1. Publication in the year preceding the year of presentation;
  2. recognition of a single work, not for the body of an author’s/illustrator’s work; and
  3. the work must be written or illustrated by a person who was born in Wisconsin, is currently living in Wisconsin, or who lived in Wisconsin for a significant length of time. 

Criteria for the Notable Wisconsin Authors Award include:

  1. To be eligible, an author must have written a work or works which are a contribution to the world of literature and ideas; and
  2. the work must be written or illustrated by a person who was born in Wisconsin, is currently living in Wisconsin, or who lived in Wisconsin for a significant length of time.
  3. No set number of authors need to be honored in any given year; however, no more than three living authors will be recognized each year.

Bio-bibliographies of the authors are prepared by members of the WLA Literary Awards Committee and Children's Book Award Committee.

Nominations may be sent electronically to [email protected] or via regular mail to the current chair of the Literary Awards Committee or the Children's Book Awards Committee. 

How to Submit a Nomination

The WLA Literary Awards Committee accepts nominations of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry written for adult audiences. Nominations for works of children's and young adult literature should be directed to the Children's Book Awards Committee.

2026 nominations for the awards may be sent electronically to the current chair, Amy Manion at [email protected] or to [email protected].   Nominations should include:

  • The title and author of the nominated work
  • The year of publication
  • The author's connection to Wisconsin
In many cases, committee members are able to borrow a nominated title from their local library. However, if the book is not widely available (e.g., poetry chapbooks, independently published works), a physical copy should be mailed to:
WLA Literary Awards Committee c/o
Amy Manion
Director of Library Services
WCTC Library
800 Main Street | Pewaukee, WI 53072
Submissions for the current award year (2026, for works published in 2025) must be received by March 31, 2026, to be considered. Submissions for the future award year are accepted on a rolling basis.

Click here to view more details on nominating a book to the Literary Awards Committee.