UWM Libraries houses the Américas Award Collection, with over 400 books recognized by the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Regular workshop offerings highlight new books in the collection, or feature Américas authors and illustrators.
The Américas Award is given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. By combining both and linking the Americas, the award reaches beyond geographic borders, as well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere. The award is sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP).