Marion Vannett Ridgway Award

About the award

The Marion Vannett Ridgway Award is a memorial award given to an author or illustrator in recognition of an outstanding debut in the world of children’s picture books. 

A First Prize and Honor Awards are announced each spring. Any author or illustrator (or photographer if the book in question is illustrated with photographs) can win provided the book is a debut appearance for that person.

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2023 Ridgway Award

Winner

The Best Kind of Mooncake--Pearl AuYeung (author/illustrator)

 A lesson in kindness and compassion shifts a child’s perspective and has a rippling effect amongst the crowd in the bustling marketplace. The warming story is brought to life by the detailed, vibrant, and lively illustrations that depict a historic Hong Kong market. 

Pearl AuYeung was born in Hong Kong, raised in Shanghai, and now lives in California, where she designs toys. Childhood visits to her grandma and uncle’s pajama hawker stall on Tai Yuen Street, as well as her passion for learning about people’s pasts, inspired Pearl to tell this story in her debut picture book. She enjoys cooking, pursuing internet rabbit holes, and mooncakes with double-yolk centers. (From jacket of The Best Kind of Mooncake)

Honorable mentions

Nigel and the Moon--Antwan Eady (author)

At night, Nigel shares his dreams with the moon. It’s through the support of his family that he gets the courage to voice his aspirations in the daytime. This feel-good book about self acceptance and being proud of who you are.

Finding Fire--Logan S. Kline (author/illustrator)

A young boy goes on an adventure through mountains, rivers, and fields to find fire for his family and their survival. He finds an extraordinary friend and together they succeed, which individually, they could not. The detailed images in this nearly-wordless-picture book engage and excite the reader, inviting them to return again and again.

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History of the award

Born in 1903, Marion Vannett Ridgway was a successful artist’s representative in New York City for about forty years. She was one of the first women to forge her way into this career, and she was known for giving generously of her time to those artists and authors who needed help navigating the publishing world. It is in memory of her helpful and generous spirit that the Marion Vannett Ridgway Awards were founded.

Ms. Ridgway was also the author of a children’s book called Time to Eat published in 1945 by Robert T. Weaver Associates and Howell, Soskin, Publishers Inc. (Her name on the cover was misspelled as “Ridgeway” with an e.) After a life rich with friendships and a rewarding career, Marion Vannett Ridgway passed away in 1992.

The Marion Vannett Ridgway Award was founded in 1993 by Elizabeth Park, a long-time friend of Marion’s. Ms. Park oversaw the awards for the first several years. In 1998, she asked one of the judges at the time, painter and children’s book author and illustrator Mark Shasha to become the new administrator of the national award.

In 2005, Mark passed the administrative baton to Christine Alfano, who has written regularly about children’s literature for The Hungry Mind Review, Ruminator Review, and Riverbank Review.

In 2017 curator Lisa Von Drasek and the University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections assumed administration of the award.

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Past winners

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Information on the award and submissions

Who can win the Ridgway Award?
Any author or illustrator (or photographer if the book in question is illustrated with photographs) can win provided the book is a debut appearance for that person.

Why does this award focus on debut books?
Marion Vannett Ridgway was often supportive to lesser known artists and authors. She was eager to guide those who needed help. When these memorial awards were founded in 1993 it was decided they would best reflect Marion’s generous spirit by encouraging the sort of book most likely to be overlooked in the world of children’s literature — the debut appearances of authors and illustrators.

What are your submission guidelines?
In order to qualify for a Ridgway Award a book must:
1. Be a debut appearance for the author or illustrator.
2. Have been published initially in the United States.
3. Have a copyright date for the year under review.
4. Be a hardcover or paperback. Books that are available only in electronic form are not yet eligible.

Who finances these awards?
These awards are financed by the Elizabeth Park Trust.

Who are the judges?
The judges are a group of educators and librarians affiliated with the Children's Literature Research Collections/Kerlan Collection.

What is the prize?
First prize is $800. Honor book winners receive $200.

Additional information on submitting for the 2024 Ridgway Award will be posted at a later date. Please email asc-clrc@umn.edu with any questions.

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