NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS

annual awards given to books of the highest quality written by Americans and published by American publishers. The awards were founded in 1950 by the American Book Publishers Council, American Booksellers Association, and Book Manufacturers Institute. From 1976 to 1979 they were administered by the National Book Committee, and in 1980 they were replaced by American Book Awards given by the Association of American Booksellers. They were renamed the National Book Awards, administered by the National Book Foundation, in 1987. Publishers submit selected books to be judged, and prizes for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people's literature prizes are awarded. Winners are chosen by five-member panels selected for each genre; they receive a $10,000 cash award and a crystal sculpture.