Tomás Rivera Award
The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award recognizes authors and illustrators whose literary work depict the Mexican American experience. This award was established in 1995 by the Texas State University College of Education in honor of distinguished alumnus, Tomás Rivera an educator, poet and author of literary works depicting the difficulties experienced by Mexican migrant farmers and also the first Mexican American to hold a chancellor position at the University of California.
Criteria
- The book is written for children and young adults.
- The text and illustrations are of the highest quality.
- The portrayal/representations of Mexican Americans are accurate and engaging, avoid stereotypes, and reflect rich characterization.
- The book may be fiction or non- fiction.
Recipients
| Year | Category | Author | Illustrator | Title |
| 2025 | For Younger Readers | Laekan Zea Kemp | Beatriz Gutíerrez Hernández | Desert Song |
| 2025 | For Older Readers | Aida Salazar | Ultraviolet | |
| 2024 | For Younger Readers | Michael Genhart | John Parra | Spanish is the Language of My Family/El Español es la Lengua de Mi Familia |
| 2024 | For Middle Readers | Carmen Tafolla | Warrior Girl | |
| 2024 | For Older Readers | Pedro Martín | Pedro Martín | Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir |
| 2023 | For Younger Readers | Celia C. Pérez | Tumble | |
| 2023 | For Older Readers | Aida Salazar | Karina Perez | A Seed in the Sun |
| 2022 | For Younger Readers | David Bowles | My Two Border Towns | |
| 2022 | For Younger Readers | Bright Star | ||
| 2022 | For Older Readers | Indivisible | ||
| 2021 | For Younger Readers | Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns: A Mesoamerican Creation Myth | ||
| 2021 | For Younger Readers | The Spirit of Chicano Park/El espíritu del Parque Chicano | ||
| 2021 | For Older Readers | Dreaming with Mariposas | ||
| 2020 | My Papi Has A Motorcycle | |||
| 2019 | For Younger Readers | Dreamers | ||
| 2019 | For Older Readers | David Bowles | They Call Me Güero | |
| 2018 | For Younger Readers | All around Us | ||
| 2018 | For Older Readers | |||
| 2018 | For Older Readers | I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter | ||
| 2017 | For Younger Readers | and Theresa Howell | Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood | |
| 2017 | For Older Readers | |||
| 2016 | For Younger Readers | Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras | ||
| 2016 | For Older Readers | Out of Darkness | ||
| 2015 | For Younger Readers | Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Méndez and her Family's Fight for Desegregation | ||
| 2015 | For Older Readers | Gabi, a Girl in Pieces | ||
| 2014 | For Younger Readers | Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale | ||
| 2014 | For Older Readers | Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People | ||
| 2013 | Under the Mesquite | |||
| 2012 | For Older Readers | Sylvia and Aki | ||
| 2012 | For Younger Readers | Diego Rivera: His World and Ours | ||
| 2011 | Bait | |||
| 2010 | What Can You Do With a Paleta? | |||
| 2009 | The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans | |||
| 2009 | He Forgot to Say Goodbye | |||
| 2008 | ||||
| 2007 | Downtown Boy | |||
| 2006 | José! Born to Dance | |||
| 2005 | Becoming Naomi León | |||
| 2004 | Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book | |||
| 2003 | ||||
| 2002 | Breaking Through | |||
| 2001 | My Very Own Room/Mi Propio Cuartito | |||
| 2000 | My Land Sings: Stories of the Río Grande | |||
| 1999 | ||||
| 1998 | ||||
| 1997 | In My Family/En Mi Familia | |||
| 1996 | ||||
| 1996 | Chato's Kitchen |