The recognition of graphic novels with national literary honors and awards marks a pivotal shift in how the medium is perceived. No longer dismissed as mere entertainment, comics are now celebrated as serious and impactful literature. When titles receive distinctions such as the Newbery Medal, the National Book Award, or are included in school curricula, it affirms the artistic and educational value of visual storytelling. These accolades legitimize graphic novels as powerful tools for literacy, empathy, and cultural expression, helping to break down outdated stigmas and opening doors for young readers to engage with rich, diverse narratives in accessible and meaningful ways.
National Book Awards
The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in America. Since 1989, they have been overseen by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture. Although other categories have been recognized in the past, the Awards currently honors the best Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature published each year.
A panel of judges selects a Longlist of ten titles per category, which is then narrowed to five Finalists, and a Winner is announced at the Awards Ceremony in the fall.
Gene Luen Yang’s “American Born Chinese” was the first graphic novel to be recognized as a National Book Award Finalist in 2006 for Young People’s Literature. Finally, March: Book Three was the first graphic novel to win a category with the 2016 Winner for Young People’s Literature. Over the course of the past decade, graphic novels have consistently been represented as the medium has evolved and the immense quality of material :
- 2006 Finalist for Young People’s Literature – American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
- 2009 Finalist for Young People’s Literature – Stitches by David Small
- 2013 Finalist for Young People’s Literature – Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang
- 2015 Finalist for Young People’s Literature – Nimona by ND Stevenson
- 2016 Winner for Young People’s Literature – March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
- 2018 Finalist for Young People’s Literature – Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczca
- 2020 Finalist for Young People’s Literature – When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
- 2021 Finalist for Young People’s Literature – Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor
- 2022 Finalist for Young People’s Literature – Victory Stand by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile
- 2023 Winner for Young People’s Literature – A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat
- 2023 Finalist for Young people’s Literature – Huda F Cares? by Huda Fahmy
The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. It is largely considered the highest award in children’s literature. Unfortunately, very few Graphic Novels have been recognized by the awards. “El Deafo” by Cece Bell was the first graphic novel to be recognized as a Newbery Honor book (runner-up) in 2015. Finally, in 2020, the first Newbery Medal was awarded to a graphic novel:
- 2015 Honor Book – El Deafo by Cece Bell
- 2016 Honor Book – Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
- 2020 Winner – New Kid by Jerry Craft
- 2024 Honor Book – MexiKid
The Michael L. Printz Award is annual literary award administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) which is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The Printz Award recognizes the “best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit”. It is sponsored by Booklist magazine and named for the Topeka, Kansas, school librarian Mike Printz, a long-time active member of YALSA. Up to four worthy runners-up may be designated Printz Honor Books each year.
The following graphic novels have received the top award:
- 2007 Winner – American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
- 2015 Honor Book – This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
- 2017 Winner – March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
- 2020 Honor Book – Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
- 2021 Honor Book – Dragon Hoops by Gene Lang Yuen
The Caldecott Medal is a prestigious annual award given by the American Library Association (ALA) to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the previous year. Named after 19th-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, the medal celebrates excellence in illustration rather than writing.
It is one of the highest honors in children’s literature, highlighting the power of visual storytelling and its role in children’s early reading experiences. While traditionally awarded to picture books, a few graphic novels and illustrated works have also been recognized with Caldecott Honors, signaling growing recognition of the artistic merit in the comics medium.
- 2015 Honor Book – This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
The Pulitzer Prize is an award administered by Columbia University for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online jounralism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fortune as a newspaper publisher. As of 2023, prizes are awarded annually in twenty-three categories.
In 1992 was historic for the form a graphic story-telling as the first graphic novel was recognized with a Pulitzer Prize:
- 1992 Special Awards and Citations Winner – Maus by Art Spiegelman
