The Golden Duck Awards for Excellence in Children's Science Fiction were given annually from 1992 to 2017. The awards were presented every year at either

Worldcon Worldcon, or more formally the World Science Fiction Convention, the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), is a science fiction convention. It has been held each year since 1939 (except for the years 1942 to 1945, during ...

or the

North American Science Fiction Convention NASFiC, a.k.a. the North American Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention scheduled only during years where the Worldcon is being held outside the North American continent. NASFiC bids are voted on by the membership of the Wor ...

(NASFiC). In 2018 they were replaced by Notable Book Lists of the same names sponsored by the

Library and Information Technology Association The Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) was a division of the American Library Association (ALA), focusing on the intersections of libraries and information technology. Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Chicago, LITA was disso ...

(LITA). The Golden Duck Awards were funded by Super-Con-Duck-Tivity, Inc., the sponsor of the U.S. midwest regional science fiction convention

DucKon DucKon was an annual science fiction convention held every May or June in the Chicago area between 1992 and 2014. The name is a shortening of DUpage County KONvention. DucKon served as a fundraiser for Super-Con-Duck-Tivity, a non-profit org ...

. Winners were selected by a group of teachers, librarians, parents, high tech workers and reviewers.

Golden Duck Award Winners

Picture Book

The picture book award is sometimes given to a book with non-fictional science content with a story "wrapper" as well as traditional Science Fiction themes. * 1992 – ''Time Train'' by

Paul Fleischman Paul Fleischman (born 1952) is an American writer of children's books. He and his father Sid Fleischman have both won the Newbery Medal from the American Library Association recognizing the year's "most distinguished contribution to American lite ...

, illustrated by Claire Ewart * 1993 – ''June 29, 1999'' by David Wiesner * 1994 – ''Richie's Rocket'' by Joan Anderson, photographed by George Ancona * 1995 – ''Time Flies'' by

Eric Rohmann Eric Rohmann (born 26 October 1957) is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He is a graduate of Illinois State University and Arizona State University. He won the 2003 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recog ...

* 1996 – ''Insects from Outer Space'' by Vladimir Vagin and

Frank Asch Frank Asch (August 6, 1946 in Somerville, New Jersey – 2022) was an American children's book writer, best known for his Moonbear picture books. In 1968, Asch published his first picture book, '' George's Store''. The following year, he gr ...

* 1997 – ''Grandpa Takes Me to the Moon'' by Timothy Gaffney, illustrated by Barry Root * 1998 – ''Floating Home'' by David Getz, illustrated by Michael Rex * 1999 – ''Noah and the Space Ark'' by Laura Cecil, illustrated by

Emma Chichester Clark Emma Chichester Clark (born 15 October 1955) is a British children's book illustrator and author. She has published over 60 books and is best known for her series of picture books about a child's toy called Blue Kangaroo.Joanna CareyCroc on ice ( ...

* 2000 – ''Hush, Little Alien'' by Daniel Kirk * 2001 – ''Rex'' by Robert Gould and Kathleen Duey, illustrated by Eugene Epstein * 2002 – '' Baloney (Henry P.)'' by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by

Lane Smith Walter Lane Smith III (April 29, 1936 – June 13, 2005) was an American actor. His well-known roles included newspaper editor Perry White in the ABC series '' Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'', Walter Warner in ''Son in Law'', coll ...

* 2003 – ''Incredible Cross-Sections of Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' by Curtis Saxton and Richard Chasemore * 2004 – ''Hazel Nutt, Mad Scientist'' by David Elliot, illustrated by True Kelley (Holliday House, ) * 2005 – ''Science Verse'' by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by

(Viking) * 2006 – ''Captain Raptor and the Moon Mystery'' by Kevin O'Malley, illustrated by Patrick O'Brien * 2007 – ''Night of the Homework Zombies'' by Scott Nickel, illustrated by Steve Harpster () * 2008 – ''Mars Needs Moms'' by Berkeley Breathed * 2009 – ''We're Off to Look for Aliens'' by

Colin McNaughton Colin McNaughton (born 18 May 1951) is a British writer and illustrator of over seventy children's books. He is also a poet, focusing mainly on humorous children's poetry. He trained in graphic design at the Central School of Art and Design in ...

* 2010 – ''Swamps of Sleethe'' by Jack Prelutsky * 2011 – ''Oh No! (Or, How My Science Project Destroyed the World)'' by

Mac Barnett Mac Barnett is an American writer of children's books living in Oakland, California. Barnett graduated from Pomona College, where he studied under the writer David Foster Wallace.Dan Santat Dan Santat (born 1975) is an American author and illustrator known for his children's book '' The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend'', which won the 2015 Caldecott Medal for distinguished illustration. He also wrote ''The Guild of Ge ...

* 2012 – ''Earth to Clunk'' by Pam Smallcomb, illustrated by

Joe Berger Joseph David Berger ( ; born May 25, 1982) is a former American football guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the ...

* 2013 – ''Oh No! Not Again!: (Or How I Built a Time Machine to Save History) (Or At Least My History Grade)'' by

* 2014 – ''Vader's Little Princess'' by Jeffrey Brown * 2015 – ''Max Goes to the Space Station'' by Jeffrey Bennett, illustrated by Michael Carroll * 2016 - ''Interstellar Cinderella'', b
Deborah Underwood
illustrated b
Meg Hunt
* 2017 - ''Blip!'' written and illustrated b
Barnaby Richards

Eleanor Cameron Award

This award is given to chapter books and middle grade novels. The protagonists are science users and problem solvers. Occasionally books with fantasy elements but a science fiction theme have won. * 1992 – '' My Teacher Glows in the Dark'' by

Bruce Coville Bruce Farrington Coville (, born May 16, 1950) is an author of young adult fiction. Coville was first published in 1977 and has written over 100 books. Biography Coville was born on May 16, 1950, in Syracuse, New York, where he resided . Br ...

* 1993 – ''Weirdos of the Universe Unite!'' by Pamela Service * 1994 – ''Worf's First Adventure'' by

Peter David Peter Allen David (born September 23, 1956), often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films and video games.Buxton, Marc (March 29, 2014)"From 'Future Imperfect' to '2099': Peter David's Greatest Hits" Co ...

* 1995 – ''Shape Changer'' by

Bill Brittain William E. Brittain (December 16, 1930 – December 16, 2011) was an American writer. He is best known for work set in the fictional New England village of Coven Tree, including ''The Wish Giver'', a Newbery Honor Book. Brittain was born in Roche ...

* 1996 – ''Star Hatchling'' by

Margaret Bechard Margaret Bechard (born 1953) is an American author of contemporary and science fiction for children and young adults. Biography Bechard was born in 1953 in Chico, California. She received her bachelor's degree in English literature from Reed C ...

* 1997 – ''Kipton and the Tower of Time'' by

Charles L. Fontenay Charles Louis Fontenay (March 17, 1917 – January 27, 2007) was an American journalist and science fiction writer. He wrote science fiction novels and short stories. His Nonfiction includes the biography of the prominent New Deal era politician ...

* 1998 – '' The Andalite Chronicles'' by

Katherine Applegate Katherine Alice Applegate (born October 9, 1956), known professionally as K. A. Applegate or Katherine Applegate, is an American young adult and children's fiction writer, best known as the author of the ''Animorphs'', ''Remnants'', ''Everworld'' ...

* 1999 – ''

Young Jedi Knights ''Young Jedi Knights'' is a '' Star Wars'' young adult fiction series by science fiction writer Kevin J. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta. It was published from 1995 to 1998. It covers the Jedi training of Jacen and Jaina Solo, the twin c ...

'' series by

Kevin J. Anderson Kevin James Anderson (born March 27, 1962) is an American science fiction author. He has written spin-off novels for ''Star Wars'', ''StarCraft'', ''Titan A.E.'' and ''The X-Files literature#Novels, The X-Files'', and with Brian Herbert is the ...

and

Rebecca Moesta Rebecca Moesta Anderson (born November 17, 1956) is an American writer and the author of several science fiction books. Early life Rebecca Moesta Anderson was born in Germany to American parents, and raised in Pasadena, California, where she li ...

* 2000 – ''I Was a Sixth Grade Alien'' by

* 2001 – ''The Power of Un'' by

Nancy Etchemendy Nancy Elise Howell Etchemendy (born February 19, 1952) is an American writer of science fiction, fantasy fiction, fantasy, and horror fiction, horror including four children's novels. Nancy Elise Howell was born in Reno, Nevada. Her novels, shor ...

* 2002 – ''Beatnik Rutabagas from Beyond the Stars'' by Quentin Dodd * 2003 – ''

Andrew Lost ''Andrew Lost'' is a series of children's science fiction adventure novels written by J. C. Greenburg and published by Random House from 2002 to 2008. It features a boy inventor named Andrew Dubble whose inventions rarely work the way he expect ...

'' series: ''Andrew Lost on the Dog''; ''Andrew Lost in the Bathroom''; ''Andrew Lost in the Kitchen'' by J. C. Greenburg * 2004 – '' Escape from Memory'' by Margaret Peterson Haddix * 2005 – ''

The Supernaturalist ''The Supernaturalist'' is a science fiction cyberpunk novel by Irish author Eoin Colfer. The book was influenced by film noir and other predecessors of the cyberpunk Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction in a dystopian futuristic setti ...

'' by

Eoin Colfer Eoin Colfer (; born 14 May 1965) is an Irish author of children's books. He worked as a primary school teacher before he became a full-time writer. He is best known for being the author of the Artemis Fowl (series), ''Artemis Fowl'' series. I ...

(Hyperion) * 2006 – (tie) ::'' Whales on Stilts'' by

M. T. Anderson Matthew Tobin Anderson (born November 4, 1968), is an American writer of children's books that range from picture books to young adult novels. He won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2006 for '' The Pox Party'', the first o ...

, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (Harcourt, 2005. ) ::'' The Fran That Time Forgot'' by

Jim Benton Jim K. Benton (born October 31, 1960) is an American illustrator and writer. Licensed properties he has created include Dear Dumb Diary, Dog of Glee, Franny K. Stein, Just Jimmy, Just Plain Mean, Sweetypuss, The Misters, Meany Doodles, Vampy Doo ...

(Aladdin, ) * 2007 – ''Apers'' by Mark Jansen with Barbara Day Zinicola (Dailey Swan Publishing, 2006; ) * 2008 – (tie) ::''Shanghaied to the Moon'' by Michael J. Daley ::''Gravity Buster: Journal #2 of a Cardboard Genius'' by

* 2009 – ''Lighter than Air'' by Henry Melton * 2010 – ''Z Rex'' by Steve Cole * 2011 – ''Alien Encounter'' by Pamela Service and Mike Gorman * 2012 – ''Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure #2: Mars!'' by Hena Kahn and David Borgenicht * 2013 – ''Alien on a Rampage'' from the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series by Clete Barrett Smith * 2014 – Two books from the Galaxy Zack series: ''Hello, Nebulon!'' and ''Journey to Juno'' by Ray O'Ryan and Colin Jack * 2015 – ''Ambassador'' by William Alexander * 2016 - ''Fuzzy Mud'', by Louis Sacher

Hal Clement Award

Hal Clement's own writings weren't YA, but his high school science teaching career strongly connects him to the YA age group. The primary story elements are correct science with science fictional extrapolations and characters who solve problems on their own. * 1992 – '' Invitation to the Game'' by

Monica Hughes Monica Hughes (November 3, 1925 – March 7, 2003) was an English-Canadian author of books for children and young adults, especially science fiction. She also wrote adventure and historical novels set in Canada, and the text for some children's ...

* 1993 – ''River Rats'' by

Caroline Stevermer Caroline Stevermer (born 1955) is an American writer of young adult fantasy novels and shorter works. She is best known for historical fantasy novels. Personal life Caroline Stevermer was born in 1955, and grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota a ...

* 1994 – ''

The Giver ''The Giver'' is a 1993 American young adult dystopian novel written by Lois Lowry, set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. In the novel, the society has taken away pain ...

'' by Lois Lowry * 1995 – ''

The Ear, the Eye and the Arm ''The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm'' is a children's science fiction novel by Nancy Farmer. It was awarded a Newbery Honor. The novel is set in Zimbabwe in the year 2194, with a strong theme of Afrofuturism. Combining elements of science fiction a ...

'' by Nancy Farmer * 1996 – (tie) ::''The Winds of Mars'' by H. M. Hoover ::''The Night Room'' by E. M. Goldman * 1997 – ''Wildside'' by

Steven Gould Steven Charles Gould (born February 7, 1955) is an American science fiction writer and teacher. He has written ten novels. He is best known for his 1992 novel ''Jumper'', which was adapted into a film released in 2008. Biography Steven Charles ...

* 1998 – ''

Shade's Children ''Shade's Children'' is a young adult science fiction novel by Garth Nix. It was first published in Australia in 1997 by HarperCollins. Background ''Shade's Children'' takes place in a not-so-distant future where evil Overlords have ruled for ...

'' by

Garth Nix Garth Richard Nix (born 19 July 1963) is an Australian writer who specialises in children's and young adult fantasy novels, notably the ''Old Kingdom'', '' Seventh Tower'' and '' Keys to the Kingdom'' series. He has frequently been asked if his ...

* 1999 – ''Alien Dreams'' by Larry Segriff * 2000 – ''The Game of Worlds'' by

Roger McBride Allen Roger MacBride Allen (born September 26, 1957) is an American science fiction author. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and grew up outside of Washington, D.C., graduating from Walt Whitman High School. He graduated from Boston University ...

from David Brin's Out of Time series * 2001 – '' Jumping Off the Planet'' by David Gerrold * 2002 – ''This Side of Paradise'' by Steven Layne * 2003 – '' Feed'' by M.T. Anderson * 2004 – ''

Gunpowder Empire ''Gunpowder Empire'' is a 2003 alternate history novel by Harry Turtledove. It is the first part of the Crosstime Traffic series. Plot In the novel, Jeremy and Amanda Solter are two teenagers living in the late 21st century. Their parents wor ...

'' by Harry Turtledove (Tor Books) * 2005 – ''Balance of Trade'' by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Meisha Merlin, 2004) * 2006 – ''

Uglies ''Uglies'' is a 2005 science fiction novel by Scott Westerfeld. It is set in a future post scarcity dystopian world in which everyone is considered an "ugly," but then turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery when they reach the age of 16. I ...

'' by Scott Westerfeld (

Simon Pulse Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest publ ...

) * 2007 – ''

Rash A rash is a change of the human skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cr ...

'' by

Pete Hautman Peter Murray Hautman (born September 29, 1952) is an American author best known for his novels for young adults. One of them, '' Godless'', won the 2004 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. The National Book Foundation summary is, "A ...

(Simon & Schuster, 2006; ) * 2008 – ''Sky Horizon'' by David Brin and illustrated by

Scott Hampton Scott Hampton (born April 10, 1959) is an American comic book artist known for his painted artwork. He is the brother of fellow comics-creator Bo Hampton. Andelman, Bob"Scott Hampton & Bo Hampton Interview,"''A Spirited Life'' (July 17, 2006). E ...

(Subterranean Press, 2007, ) * 2009 – (tie) ::''

The Hunger Games ''The Hunger Games'' is a series of young adult dystopian novels written by American author Suzanne Collins. The first three novels are part of a trilogy following teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen, and the fourth book is a prequel set ...

'' by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press, 2008, ) ::'' Little Brother'' by Cory Doctorow (Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC, 2008, ) * 2010 – ''

Catching Fire ''Catching Fire'' is a 2009 science fiction young adult novel by the American novelist Suzanne Collins, the second book in ''The Hunger Games'' series. As the sequel to the 2008 bestseller ''The Hunger Games'', it continues the story of Katni ...

'' by Suzanne Collins * 2011 – ''WWW: Watch'' by Robert J. Sawyer * 2012 – (tie) :: '' A Beautiful Friendship'' by

David Weber David Mark Weber (born October 24, 1952) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He has written several science-fiction and fantasy books series, the best known of which is the Honorverse, Honor Harrington science-fiction series. His ...

:: ''A Long, Long Sleep'' by Anna Sheehan * 2013 – '' Cinder'' by

Marissa Meyer Marissa Meyer (born February 19, 1984) is an American novelist. Her debut novel, ''Cinder (novel), Cinder,'' was released on January 3, 2012. It is the first in her series ''The Lunar Chronicles''. Early life and education Meyer was born in Ta ...

* 2014 – ''The Planet Thieves'' by Dan Krokos * 2015 – ''Expiration Day'' by William Campbell Powell * 2016 - '' Armada'', by Ernest Cline

Special Awards

* 1997 Strong Female Characters – ''Kipton and the Android'' by

(Royal Fireworks Press, 1996) * 1999 Australian Contribution to Children's Science Fiction –

* 2000 Promotion of Reading – ''

Harry Potter series ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hog ...

'' by J. K. Rowling * 2003 Best Science and Technology Education – ''Tales from the Wonder Zone'' (entire series) by

Julie E. Czerneda Julie E. Czerneda (born April 11, 1955) is a Canadian science fiction and fantasy author. She has written many novels, including four Aurora Award for Best Novel winners (''In the Company of Others'', ''A Turn of Light'', ''A Play of Shadow'', an ...

(Trifolium Books) * 2007 Nonfiction – ''Write Your Own Science Fiction Story'' by Tish Farrell (Compass Point Books, 2006; ) * 2008 Nonfiction – ''World of Science Fiction'' – 12 titles by John Hamilton (ABDO Publishing Company) :: + Stone Arch Books for publishing quality science fiction graphic novels * 2010 Nonfiction – ''You Write It: Science Fiction'' by John Hamilton (ABDO Publishing Company)

External links

*
Science Fiction Awards Database listings for the Golden Duck AwardsLITA Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists
{{Science fiction, state=collapsed Science fiction awards American children's literary awards Awards established in 1992

Categories

Golden Duck Award Winners

Picture Book

Eleanor Cameron Award

Hal Clement Award

Special Awards

External links