Cynsations

Book Awards & Honors

for Cynthia Leitich Smith

  • 2021 Neustadt NSK Laureate (Winner of the NSK Prize for Children’s Literature)
  • Austin chapter of SCBWI instituted the Cynthia Leitich Smith Mentor Award (2014)
  • Spirit of Texas YA Author, chosen by the Texas Library Association (2012, 2013)
  • Illumine Award Author, chosen by the Friends of the Austin Public Library (2013)
  • 2001 Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers Writer of the Year

for JINGLE DANCER

  • Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies and a Selector’s Choice for 2001
  • Named to the 2001 2 x 2 Reading List of twenty books recommended for children ages two through second grade by the Texas Library Association
  • Finalist, children’s/YA division, the Oklahoma Book Awards
  • Runner-up for the Storyteller Award from the Western Writers of America
  • Named a CCBC Choice for 2001
  • NEA Native American Book List
  • Featured in “Debuts That Deliver” (Book Magazine)
  • Featured title, Texas Book Festival
  • Featured title, GREAT BOOKS ABOUT THINGS KIDS LOVE by Kathleen Odean (Ballantine, 2001)
  • Editor’s Choice, Library Talk
  • 2002 Read Across Texas Bibliography (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
  • Named among “Best Multicultural Children’s Books for Early Childhood Educators” (Montessori Life)
  • Suggested Title, Recommended Native Literature for Youth Reading Circles from American Experience: “We Shall Remain” (April 2009) from PBS.
  • Listed title, Talk Story: sharing stories, sharing culture: a joint project of the American Indian Library Association and the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association.
  • Named to the Reading Is Fundamental 2011 Multicultural Books List

for RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME

  • Named one of the 30 Most Influential Children’s Books of All Time by Book Riot. 
  • Dishchii’Bikoh High School Reader Award. DHS is on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in eastern Arizona.
  • Smith named a Writer of the Year (Children’s Prose) by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers in recognition of the novel
  • Finalist, children’s/YA division, the Oklahoma Book Award
  • Featured title, GREAT BOOKS FOR GIRLS by Kathleen Odean (Ballantine, 2002)
  • Featured title, St. Petersburg Times “You Gotta Read This” Book Club
  • NEA Native American Book List
  • Featured title, Texas Book Festival
  • Featured title, Second National Book Festival.
  • Book of the Month, Red Tales, Aboriginal Voices Radio
  • Recommended title, THE CHILDREN’S LITERATURE LOVER’S BOOK by Joanna Sullivan (Jossey-Bass, 2003)
  • Recommended title, DOES ANYBODY ELSE LOOK LIKE ME? A PARENT’S GUIDE TO RAISING MULTIRACIAL CHILDREN by Donna Jackson Nakazawa (Da Capo Press, 2004)
  • Recommended title, SEVEN CHOICES: FINDING DAYLIGHT AFTER LOSS SHATTERS YOUR WORLD by Elizabeth Harper Neeld (Warner Books, 2003)
  • Suggested Title, Recommended Native Literature for Youth Reading Circles from American Experience: “We Shall Remain” (April 2009) from PBS.

for INDIAN SHOES

  • Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
  • Planet Esme’s Don’t-Miss List for 2002
  • Finalist, Friends of the Austin Public Library Award/Texas Institute of Letters
  • 2003 Best Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
  • Choices 2003, Cooperative Children’s Book Center
  • NEA Native American Book List
  • 2003 Chicago Public Schools Fourth Grade Recommended Reading
  • Featured title, Texas Book Festival
  • 2004-2005 Children’s Crown Award List
  • Featured title, Read On, Wisconsin
  • Listed title, 50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know, compiled by Ginny Moore Kruse and Kathleen T. Horning, updated by Kathleen T. Horning and Megan Schliesman (Cooperative Children’s Book Center, 2001, 2006, 2010).

for SANTA KNOWS

  • Featured title, 2007 Kansas Book Festival
  • Horn Book Holiday High Notes

for TANTALIZE

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

  • Top Ten pick, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) list of 2011 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults in the “What’s Cooking?” category (“tasty reads to fill your belly and warm your soul”)
  • Borders Original Voices Nominee, March 2007
  • Featured title, 2007 National Book Festival
  • 2007-2008 Tayshas List
  • Chapters (Canada) Junior Advisory Board (JAB) pick
  • Featured title, 2007 Texas Book Festival
  • BBYA nominee
  • Featured title, 2007 Kansas Book Festival
  • Cybils nominee
  • Featured title, Readergirlz 31 Flavorite Authors for Teens

for ETERNAL

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

for HOLLER LOUDLY

  • Featured title, 2010 Texas Book Festival
  • Dolly Parton Imagination Library selection
  • Finalist, Writers’ League of Texas Children’s Book Award

for BLESSED

  • Cybils nominee
  • Teens Top Ten Nominee
  • 2012 Teen Choice Book of the Year

for TANTALIZE: KIEREN’S STORY

tantalize_kieransstory_tbm_

  • Cybils Nominee
  • Featured title, 2011 Texas Book Festival

for FERAL NIGHTS

  • Cybils Nominee
  • Writers’ League of Texas Book Award

for HEARTS UNBROKEN

for ANCESTOR APPROVED: INTERTRIBAL STORIES FOR KIDS

for SISTERS OF THE NEVERSEA

for Children’s & YA Literature Resources

Great Web Sites for Kids Seal