Award In Her Honor
Wilder was highly acclaimed in her lifetime and was a five-time runner-up of the Newbery Medal, which celebrates excellence in children’s literature. Given out by the American Library Association, it is the top prize a children’s book can receive. She never won, but she got something even better: a new award in her honor.
In 1954, the ALA honored Wilder with a lifetime achievement award and created the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. This medal would be given to living authors or illustrators published in America, acknowledging their significant and enduring contributions to children’s literature.
