Books Honored by the National Book Foundation

National Book Award Medals

The mission of the National Book Foundation is to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand its audience, and to enhance the cultural value of great writing in America. National Book Awards are given five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature.

Here we highlight the winners of African descent. The first African-American writer to win a National Book Award was Ralph Ellison, in 1953, for Invisible Man.

Check Out AALBC’s Coverage of the National Book Awards:  2023 – 2017 – 2016 – 2015 – 2014 – 2013


3 Books Honored by the National Book Foundation in 2013

Finalist - Poetry

Click for a larger image of The Big Smoke (Poets, Penguin)

The Big Smoke (Poets, Penguin)
by Adrian Matejka

    Publication Date: May 28, 2013
    List Price: $18.00
    Format: Paperback, 128 pages
    Classification: Poetry
    ISBN13: 9780143123729
    Imprint: Penguin Books
    Publisher: Penguin Random House
    Parent Company: Bertelsmann

    Longlist - Poetry

    Click for a larger image of Bury My Clothes

    Bury My Clothes
    by Roger Bonair-Agard

      Publication Date: May 07, 2013
      List Price: $16.00
      Format: Paperback, 120 pages
      Classification: Poetry
      ISBN13: 9781608462698
      Imprint: Haymarket Books
      Publisher: Haymarket Books
      Parent Company: Haymarket Books

      Longlist - Young People’s Literature

      Click for a larger image of The Summer Prince

      The Summer Prince
      by Alaya Dawn Johnson

        Publication Date: Jul 29, 2014
        List Price: $9.99
        Format: Paperback, 289 pages
        Classification: Fiction
        Target Age Group: Middle Grade
        ISBN13: 9780545417808
        Imprint: Arthur A. Levine Books
        Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
        Parent Company: Scholastic Inc.