American Academy of Religion Awards for Excellence

New scholarly publications that make significant contributions to the study of religion are recognized annually by the American Academy of Religion Awards for Excellence. The awards, given in three categories, “honor works of distinctive originality, intelligence, creativity and importance, books that affect decisively how religion is examined, understood, and interpreted.” A separate competition and prize for the Best First Book in the History of Religions is also held each year. Last visited: 12/2009

CCL Book of the Year

Presented annually by the Conference on Christianity and Literature (CCL) the awards recognize works which have “contributed most to the dialogue between literature and the Christian faith.” Occasionally two awards are given, one for scholarship and another for belles letters. Last visited: 12/2009

Christian Booksellers Association: Best Seller Lists

Included here for quick access to those seeking Christian bestseller lists. Weekly updated lists for fiction, nonfiction, children's, gift books, music, videos, Bibles, and mass market paperbacks. The “CBA is the international trade association of Christian product suppliers and retailers.” Last visited: 12/2009

Christopher Awards

Established in 1949 the Christopher Awards “affirm the highest values of the human spirit” and have been presented in a variety of categories, including books, movies, and television. Visitors to the site will need to browse the winners lists by year. The addition of a search engine or a single list with all winners would enhance the site's usability. Last visited: 12/2009

Christy Awards

"Presented annually in July to recognize and promote Christian fiction of exceptional quality and impact." Last visited: 12/2009

Crown and Lamplighter Awards

Founded by a Christian school librarian in 1992, the awards “...encourage elementary and junior high students to read wholesome and uplifting books by providing lists each year of the best literature.” The nominees and award winners are not necessarily religious books, but must “...convey wholesome values, uplifting characters, and edifying themes that inspire children toward positive goals....” Sandra Morrow, founder of the Awards, says: “The programs are filling a need for Christian, parochial and private schools. The programs are designed to use mainstream books to influence authors and publishers to put out higher quality books.” Last visited: 12/2009

CSLA Rodda Book Award

Established in 2005 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association the award recognizes “a book that has contributed significantly to congregational libraries due to excellent writing that nurtures spiritual growth.” Adult, young adult, and children's books compete separately because the award rotates between the three categories on a yearly basis. Last visited: 12/2009

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Bestseller Lists and Awards.

Included here for quick access to bestseller lists and award winners. The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association is an international, not-for-profit, trade organization. The ECPA Christian Book Awards, formerly the Gold Medallion Book Awards, have been presented in six categories since 1978. Other awards are based on sales data. Last visited: 12/2009

ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards

Publications of small, independent presses are recognized in the categories of religion and spirituality. Award criteria ensure a variety of religious traditions are represented among winners and finalists. Winners are selected by “a jury of librarians, booksellers and reviewers...based on editorial excellence and professional production as well as the originality of the narrative and the value the book adds to its genre.” Last visited: 12/2009

Gantz Zahler Grant for Jewish Nonfiction Publishing

Awarded biannually to an American author of a "nonfiction book project that is under contract and reflects upon Jewish life, history, tradition, thought or culture." Last visited: 2/2010.

Goldberg Prize for Jewish Fiction by Emerging Writers

"Established in 1999 the prize spotlights promising new talent, and is awarded to an American fiction writer for a first or second full-length work that was published in the previous calendar year." Last visited: 2/2010.

Grawemeyer Award in Religion

Sponsored by the Grawemeyer Foundation, the University of Louisville and the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary the award “honor[s] and publicize[s] insights into the relationship between human beings and the divine and the ways this relationship may empower human beings to attain wholeness, integrity or meaning.” The award may be presented to either fiction or non-fiction, but went exclusively to non-fiction works until 2006. Last visited: 12/2009

Huston Smith Publishing Prize

Presented annually by HarperCollins/HarperOne Publishing, this award recognizes the best unpublished manuscript representing "non-fiction written for a popular audience that promotes the cause of religious understanding in the world and its interface with culture." The winner receives a publishing contract and $25,000 (USD).

IPPY Awards

Presented annually since 1996 by Independent Publisher Online relevant categories include religious fiction, inspirational/spiritual, and religion. Diverse religious views are recognized by works from independent publishers. Last visited: 12/2009

Judaica Reference and Bibliography Awards

Established in 1984 by the Association of Jewish Libraries these awards recognize outstanding reference and bibliographical works related to Judaism. Last visited: 12/2009

National Jewish Book Awards

Presented by the Jewish Book Council since 1948, the awards are the oldest Jewish book awards presented in the United States. Presented in sixteen categories, including American Jewish Studies, Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir, Children's and Young Adult Literature, Contemporary Jewish Life & Practice, Education and Jewish Identity, Fiction, History, Holocaust, Illustrated Children's Book, Jewish Family Literature, Modern Jewish Thought & Experience, Scholarship, Sephardic Culture, Women's Studies, Writing Based On Archival Material, and Reference. Last visited: 12/2009

Nautilus Book & Audio Book Awards

"Recognizes Books and Audio Books that promote spiritual growth, conscious living & positive social change, while at the same time they stimulate the "imagination" and offer the reader "new possibilities" for a better life and a better world." Last visited: 12/2009

Quills Award

“The Quills is the first national book awards program in which the people, not the critics, decide who's the best of the best." Founded in 2004 with support from Reed Business Information, parent of Publishers Weekly, the Quills staff identify titles released in the U.S. that receive starred reviews or appear on national bestseller lists during the year. A group of booksellers and librarians are invited to vote for their top five favorites. Readers select the winners by electronic voting. This process results in books with broad religious and popular appeal.” Last visited: 12/2009

Religious Communication Association (RCA) Book Award

Presented annually by the RCA to the best scholarly book on religious communication. Last visited: 12/2009

Salo Wittmayer Baron Book Prize

Sponsored by the American Academy for Jewish Researchers, this annual awward honors a first time author of academic non-fiction. Last visited: 12/2009

Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature

A $100,000 (USD) prize is administered by the Jewish Book Council and presented annually, alternating years between fiction and non-fiction works. Non-fiction works are limited to History, Biography/ Autobiography/ Memoir, Contemporary Jewish Life, Jewish Scholarship, and Current Affairs. Last visited: 12/2009

Sophie Brody Medal

Established in 2005 by The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) of the American Library Association, Arthur Brody, and the Brodart Foundation this award recognizes a U.S. author for distinguished contribution to Jewish literature for adults. Consisting of a medal for the winner and citations for honor books, works of fiction and non-fiction for adults published in the preceding year are eligible for the award. Last visited: 12/2009

Sydney Taylor Book Awards

Presented by the Jewish Library Association the award is given to outstanding children's books of Jewish content. Awards for younger readers, older readers, and manuscripts have been presented annually since 1971. Last visited: 12/2009

Theologos Awards

Presented annually in several categories by the Association of Theological Booksellers (ATB) these awards honor the Best General Interest Book, Best Children's Book, Best Academic Book and Book of the Year. An award for Publisher of the Year is also granted. Winners since 1999 are indicated. Last visited: 12/2009

Wilbur Awards

Established in 1950 by the Religion Communicators Council's (RCC) the awards “recognize excellence in the communication of religious issues, values, and themes in the secular media.” The awards are given in a number of categories including books, newspapers, magazines, editorial cartoons or comic strips, photography, television and radio programs, and films. Last visited: 12/2009