In 2006 the Michigan Reading Association established a Board Award that would honor a Michigan author and/or illustrator. The candidate must have strongly influenced literacy in Michigan in any dimension of literacy: which may include but is not limited to: children's fiction/nonfiction, young adult fiction/nonfiction, adult fiction/nonfiction, drama, song, poetry, newspaper, magazine or multimedia.

The past recipients of the Gwen Frostic Award are listed below:

• 2006 – Gloria Whalen - Poet, Short Story Writer and Novelist
• 2007 – Wendy Anderson Halperin – Author and Illustrator.
• 2008 – Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen – Illustrator and Naturalist
• 2009 – Shirley Nietzel -Children's Author
• 2010 - Patricia Polacco - Author and Illustrator
• 2011 - Margaret Willey - Children's Author, Folklorist, and Novelist
• 2012 - Ryan Hipp - Author and Illustrator
• 2013 - Gary Schmidt - Author
• 2014 - Kelly DiPucchio - Author
• 2015 - Christopher Paul Curtis - Author
• 2016 - Matt Faulkner - Author
• 2017 - Devin Scillian - Author, Musician, Reporter, Broadcast Journalist and TV Anchor
• 2018 -  Mitch Albom - Author, Journalist, Screenwriter, Playwright, Radio & Television Broadcaster, and Musician
• 2019 - Carrie Pearson - Author
• 2020 - Leslie Helakoski - Author and Illustrator
• 2021 - Karen Bell-Brege & Darrin Brege - Authors/Illustrators
• 2022 - Angeline Boulley - Author
• 2023 - Kelly J. Baptist - Author
• 2024 - Nandi Comer - Author
• 2025 - Ruth McNally Barshaw

Nominations from MRA Board of Directors ONLY and are due December 31st of each year.

Gwen Frostic Nomination Form

Click the link above to submit a nomination.