Awarded to an outstanding work of fiction for children (not picture books) written by a British or Commonwealth author, first published in the UK in the preceding year.
The medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Services to Children of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in the preceding year.
Awarded to the New Zealand author of the book that is considered to be the most distinguished contribution to nonfiction for young people.