We live in a world of technology, of progress and movement, in a world where books have lost their impact and their importance, having remained for some just a memory. In this modern world, books often enter a consideration as ancient and useless things. Nevertheless, it is a pity. Children should be able to learn the importance of reading from an early age.

Children no longer play as they used to, they do not laugh as much as they should, do not enjoy their childhood to the fullest. Most of them spend their time in front of the computer, not being aware of how many wonderful things they miss. Among these wonderful things, there is, of course, the pleasure of reading and of exploring new worlds.

Book awards have the purpose of bringing literature closer to children, of making them aware of the existence of an incredible number of books and of convincing them to read more. These awards point out the fact that children's literature still exists and that there are people who do their best to write interesting stories for children. Children should benefit from guidance towards books from an early age. Thus, they can have happy experiences with books. The Children's Book Award exposes them to the world of quality books of all types.

One of the most important Children's Book Award in the United States is the Newbery Medal. This award goes annually to the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year. The prize got its name from John Newbery, a bookseller. Frederich G. Melcher proposed this award on June 21, 1921, and his proposal received approval in 1922. The purpose of this medal was to encourage creative work in the area of children's books and to encourage good writing in this domain. Thus, this book award became the first Children's Book Award in the world.

Among the most important book awards, there is also the Caldecott Medal, named in the honor of the English illustrator, Radolph Caldecott. This particular Children's Book Award goes to the artist who creates the most interesting picture book for children, published in the United States. The international children's book awards are the H.C.Anderson Medal, which came to life in 1956, and the Phoenix Award, which first emerged in 1985. These book awards are important in the same measure, because they have in common the goal of making children read more and of making them read for pleasure and not because they have to do it.

Children should discover the pleasures of reading so that they could transmit it to the next generations. It is up to them to perpetuate the magnificent world of books and to make sure that reading will never die. Literature increases children's creativity and imagination, it opens new doors, it clarifies difficult situations and it helps children perceive different worlds and new possibilities. Through reading, we experience different things and feelings, and it is up to us and to our children to see that the world of books will not succumb to the world of computers.

Children's literature will always be reason of enjoyment. Children are not the only ones who can benefit from the many wonders of such readings. On the contrary, adults will (re)discover the magnificence of truly imaginative quality literature when reading amazing stories to their sons and daughters. Let us not waste our chances of experiencing unique feelings through literature.