Library Research: Find Your Next Book: Bestsellers and Awards Lists

Bestsellers Lists from Popular Sites

National Indie Bestsellers
Produced just two days after the end of the sales week, this is a current snapshot of what's selling in independent bookstores nationwide.

New York Times Bestsellers
Weekly lists of the New York Times Bestsellers in fiction, nonfiction and children's books. If you see interesting books that are not in the FCPL catalog you can always use this form to suggest a title to be purchased.

Publishers Weekly
Weekly lists of the Publishers Weekly Bestsellers in over ten categories including fiction, nonfiction, children's book and biographies.

National and International Book Awards

Children's Literature Awards

There are a variety of awards for the hundreds of Children's books released each year. Below you will find some of the major awards for both writing and illustration.

Caldecott Medal
The Randolph Caldecott medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Coretta Scott King Award
Awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
Horn Book Award
Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards are awarded to children's or young adult titles published in the United States but may be written and/or illustrated by citizens of any country.
Jefferson Cup
The Youth Services Forum of the Virginia Library Association's award for an American biography, historical fiction or history book for young people.
NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
The National Council of Teachers of English award for outstanding nonfiction for children.
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz award is awarded for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
Pura Belpré Award
Presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays the Latino cultural experience in a work of literature for children and young adults.
Sibert Medal
The Robert F. Sibert Information Book Medal is awarded annually for the most distinguished informational book (nonfiction) for children.
Virginia Readers Choice
Awards are presented to noteworthy books in the field of children's/young adult literature representing each of the following reading levels: primary, elementary, middle and high school.
Walter Awards
The Walter Dean Myers Awards for outstanding children's literature recognize diverse authors whose works feature diverse main characters and address diversity in a meaningful way.

National and International Book Awards

Adult Literature Awards

The following is a sampling of some of the awards presented to authors and narrators who enlighten, entertain, and broaden our perspective on the world. Award descriptions are provided by the group that administers the award.

In addition to exploring the awards and organizations listed below, Fairfax County Public Library customers have access to more Award lists found in Gale Books and Authors and NoveList Plus. These databases can be found on the Fairfax County Public Library’s website www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library in the listing of A – Z Online Resources.

Gale Books and Authors | Book Lists | Award Winners
NoveList Plus | Browse By | Award Winners

Agatha Award
Established in 1989, Malice Domestic is an annual fan convention that takes place each year in Maryland. Malice celebrates the Traditional Mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore or violence.
AUDIE
The Audie Awards is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment. Publishers and rights holders enter titles in various categories for recognition of achievement.
Bram Stoker Award
Each year, the Horror Writer’s Association presents the Bram Stoker Awards for Superior Achievement, named in honor of Bram Stoker, author of the seminal horror work, Dracula. Any work of Horror first published in the English language may be considered for an award during the year of its publication. The categories for which a Bram Stoker Award may be presented have varied over the years, reflecting the state of the publishing industry and the horror genre.
Christy Award
The Christy Award was established in 1999 to acknowledge the value and impact of the novel of faith in contemporary culture. The Award is named for Catherine Marshall’s enduring bestselling novel, Christy, published in 1967 and inspiring a continuing book series and a CBS television series.
Edgar Awards
The “Edgars,” as they are commonly known, are named after Edgar Allan Poe and are presented to authors of distinguished work in various categories by the Mystery Writers of America. Books, short stories and television shows in the mystery, crime, suspense, and intrigue fields are eligible for Edgar Awards in their respective categories.
Hugo Awards
The Hugo Award is an annual fan voted literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. It is awarded at the World Science Fiction Convention
Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards
Honors Black writers in the United States and around the globe for literary achievement. Introduced in 2001, the Legacy Award was the first national award presented to Black writers by a national organization of Black writers. Fiction, nonfiction and poetry honorees are selected in a juried competition.
Lambda Literary Awards
The Lambda Literary Awards identify and honor the best lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender books. Lambda Literary Award submissions are judged principally on literary merit and content relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer lives. Specific guidelines must be met for each award category.
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.
Nebula Awards
The Nebula Awards are voted on, and presented by, full members of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. Since 1965, the Nebula Awards have been given each year for the best novel, novella, novelette, and short story eligible for that year’s award. The Award for Best Script was added in 2000.
Spur Award
Awarded by the Western Writers of America, the Spurs are given for the best western historical novel, best western traditional novel, best western contemporary novel, best short story, best short nonfiction. Also, best contemporary nonfiction, best biography, best history, best juvenile fiction and nonfiction, best drama, best documentary, and best first novel as well as best first nonfiction book.
Story Prize
The Story Prize is an annual book award honoring the author of an outstanding collection of short fiction. Eligible books must be written in English and first published in the United States during a calendar year. Publishers, authors, or agents may enter eligible works of short fiction.
Thriller Awards
All novels first published in the English language by an International Thriller Writers recognized publisher or from an International Thriller Writers active member are eligible. Nominees and recipients of the Thriller Awards are presented during ThrillerFest.
Vivian
Recognizes excellence in romance writing and showcases author talent and creativity. Entries must be a work of original Romance Fiction. To be defined as a romance, all entries must have a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. Book reviewers, librarians, professional critics, bookstore personnel, and authors are examples of individuals who possess the background necessary to serve as judge
Will Eisner Comic Industry Award
Commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, the Eisner’s are given for creative achievement in American comic books. Named for the pioneering comics creator and graphic novelist Will Eisner, the awards are given out in more than two dozen categories during a ceremony each year at Comic-Con International: San Diego. The nominees in each category are chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges who meet in San Diego in the spring of each year.