We’re in the midst of award seaÂson, when best of the year lists and specÂuÂlaÂtion about award winÂners proÂlifÂerÂate on the social media platÂforms swirling around chilÂdren’s and teen books. In NovemÂber, we attendÂed the award cerÂeÂmoÂny at the SigÂurd Olson EnviÂronÂmenÂtal InstiÂtute’s ChilÂdren and Young Adult LitÂerÂaÂture ConÂferÂence, which takes place at NorthÂland ColÂlege in AshÂland, WisÂconÂsin (on the awe-inspirÂing south shore of Lake SupeÂriÂor). Inspired by the authors, natÂuÂralÂists, and librarÂiÂans who speak at this conÂferÂence, we interÂviewed the dedÂiÂcatÂed comÂmitÂtee who select this imporÂtant award each year.
How do you select the awarded books?
We have a committee of eight members who all have an interest in promoting both the natural world and high quality literature for children. Because committee members remain on the committee from year to year we have a dedicated, knowledgeable group of professionals. Each member first ranks books and then those results are tallied. The top ranked books becomes the focus of a committee meeting. A final vote is taken with numerical rankings following that in-depth discussion.
What are the criteria for this award?
The Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award for Children’s Literature is given to a published children’s book of literary nature writing (nonfiction or fiction) that captures the spirit of the human relationship with nature, and promotes the awareness, preservation, appreciation, or restoration of the natural world for future generations. (Here's a full list of SONWA books since 1991.)
How do you gather the books?
Since most, if not all, publishers are on Twitter, we established a SONWA Awards Twitter account two years ago (@sonwa_awards). For the past two years, we’ve promoted the awards through our feed and by directly tweeting to publishers. We also post to the SOEI (Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute) Facebook feed periodically.
We activeÂly ask pubÂlishÂers to subÂmit books that fit the criÂteÂria. Since we’re one of the few nature writÂing awards for young adult and children’s litÂerÂaÂture, the pubÂlishÂers of this type of book are aware of us.
What selection criteria do you apply?
First of all, as the name of the award suggests, the book has to be about some aspect of nature and written for children appropriate to the age group. In addition, it has to be written in the year prior to the year the award is received.
After that, we look at:
- Human RelaÂtionÂships with NatÂurÂal World: Does the book capÂture the spirÂit of the human relaÂtionÂship with nature?
- LitÂerÂary ValÂue: Does the book take on eleÂments such as charÂacÂter develÂopÂment, metaphor, cliÂmax, alluÂsion, theme, motif, etc?
- ValÂues: Does the book proÂmote the valÂues for nature this award seeks to proÂmote for future genÂerÂaÂtions: awareÂness, preserÂvaÂtion, appreÂciÂaÂtion, restoration?
- IllusÂtraÂtions: When books meet all the above criÂteÂria, then illusÂtraÂtions and the artÂwork are considered.
What is the impetus you feel for donating your time to this award process?
Living in the Northwoods, whether an outdoor person or not, creates a strong connection to the earth and concern for its future. Our committee is also well aware of how literacy can impact our humanity. This award process allows us to commit to two efforts that are important to us. We hope the chain from writers to publishers will be validated for their efforts. And we hope the reader will be enriched in multiple ways.
You are housed within, and sponsored by, the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute. Why is this a good fit for a nature-writing award?
The mission of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute is to promote experiences of wildness and wonder, while also working to protect wildlands for future generations. Literary depictions and accounts of wild nature and the wonder it evokes in people often inspire readers to seek similar experiences, or, if they’ve already had those experiences, the literary works help to further affirm the value of those experiences.
SigÂurd F. Olson’s writÂing is one of the richÂest and most influÂenÂtial parts of his legaÂcy, and the nature writÂing award is one of the ways that we carÂry that legaÂcy forward.

Your focus was initially regionally written adult books. Why did you develop a specific award for children’s books?
In part this was a circumstantial decision: each year publishers were submitting children’s books, even though they didn’t meet the criteria we had established for the original adult award. Although we could not consider these submissions for the adult award, we were impressed by their quality and wanted to recognize and promote the work of the authors and illustrators of the children’s books.
Of course, we also recÂogÂnize how imporÂtant it is to capÂture the imagÂiÂnaÂtions of chilÂdren and the role that stoÂries can play in shapÂing their valÂues and visions for themÂselves and their future. We want chilÂdren to grow up havÂing and valuÂing expeÂriÂences of wildÂness and wonÂder in their lives, and the children’s nature writÂing award, as well as our children’s litÂerÂaÂture conÂferÂence, help us to realÂize this goal.
Having read so many nature-themed children’s books, what trends are you noticing?
We do see topic trends from time to time. A few years ago it was whales and then water the next year. Just like publishing in other areas, the trends tend to follow what is going on in the world. This year we have a few hurricane books. Often times, grandparents are depicted as nurturer, guardian, or storyteller of nature.
We are seeÂing more diverÂsiÂty and incluÂsion. There are more picÂture books with more white space but with detailed author notes or supÂpleÂmenÂtal added valÂue. In recent year, nonÂficÂtion books for oldÂer readÂers will have side bars, graphÂics, capÂtioned phoÂtos, and more alongÂside the main body. This can be either an enhanceÂment or a distraction.
What themes or topics do you wish were being addressed in children’s books?
We are always looking for books that have a strong relationship to human interaction with the natural world. Books for older children with this aspect are not as readily available. There are always some that stand out in this area but we would happily welcome more.
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Thank you for your comÂmitÂment to readÂing and recÂomÂmendÂing the very best in nature writÂing for chilÂdren and teens. Your focus on human interÂacÂtion with the natÂurÂal world is critÂiÂcal to the lives of our chilÂdren and our planÂet. ImporÂtant work you’re doing!
[The subÂmisÂsion deadÂline for 2018 award conÂsidÂerÂaÂtion is DecemÂber 31, 2017. Learn more.]