Award Applications

The Children’s Literature Association (ChLA) is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting serious scholarship and high standards of criticism in children’s literature. To encourage these goals, the association offers various awards and grants annually, in addition to organizing an annual academic conference.

ChLA Faculty Research Grants have a combined maximum fund of up to $5,000 per year; individual awards may range from $500 to $1,500, based on the number and needs of the winning applicants. The grants are awarded for proposals dealing with criticism or original scholarship with the expectation that the undertaking will lead to publication and will make a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature in the area of scholarship or criticism. In honor of the achievement and dedication of Dr. Margaret P. Esmonde, proposals that deal with critical or original work in the areas of fantasy or science fiction for children or adolescents will be awarded the Margaret P. Esmonde Memorial Grant. Applications will be evaluated based upon the quality of the proposal and the potential of the project to enhance or advance children’s literature studies. Funds may be used for—but are not restricted to—research-related expenses such as travel to special collections or purchasing materials and supplies. The awards may not be used for obtaining advanced degrees, for researching or writing a thesis or dissertation, for textbook writing, or for pedagogical projects. Winners must either be members of the Children’s Literature Association or join the association before they receive any funds. Winners should acknowledge ChLA in any publication resulting from the award. The annual deadline for applying is February 1.

ChLA Hannah Beiter Graduate Student Research Grants were established to honor the memory of Dr. Hannah Beiter, a long-time supporter of student participation in ChLA. The Beiter Grants have a combined maximum fund of up to $5,000 per year, and individual awards may range from $500 to $1,500, based on the number and needs of the winning applicants. The grants are awarded for proposals of original scholarship with the expectation that the undertaking will lead to publication or a conference presentation and contribute to the field of children’s literature criticism. Beiter Grant funds are not intended as income to assist in the completion of a graduate degree, but as support for research that may be related to the dissertation or master’s thesis. The grant may be used to purchase supplies and materials (e.g., books, videos, equipment), as research support (photocopying, etc.), or to underwrite travel to special collections or libraries. Winners must either be members of the Children’s Literature Association or join the association before they receive any funds. Winners should acknowledge ChLA in any publication resulting from the award. The annual deadline for applying is February 1.

ChLA awards Diversity Research Grants to support research related to children’s and young adult cultural artifacts (including media, culture, and texts) about populations that have been traditionally underrepresented or marginalized culturally and/or historically. Applications for this grant are to be considered annually and will be awarded as warranted. Awards will range from $500 to $1,000, depending upon the winning proposal’s projected budgetary considerations. Each grant will be awarded with the expectation that the undertaking will lead to publication and make a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature scholarship or criticism. Within two years of receiving the grant, the recipient will be asked to submit a paper proposal based upon the project for presentation at a ChLA annual conference. Applications will be evaluated based upon the quality of the proposal and the potential of the project to enhance or advance children’s literature studies. Funds may be used for—but are not restricted to—research-related expenses such as travel to special collections, subvention funds, or purchasing materials and supplies. The awards may not be used for obtaining advanced degrees, for researching or writing a thesis or dissertation, for textbook writing, or for pedagogical projects. Winners must be members of the Children’s Literature Association before they receive any funds. Winners must acknowledge ChLA in any publication or other...