ðɪ ɐwˈɔːɹd ɪnˈɪʃəli ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪzd bˈʊks fɔːɹ ˈoʊldɚ tʃˈɪldɹən, bˌʌt ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn, ðɪ ɐwˈɔːɹd kəmˈɪɾi stˈɑːɹɾᵻd tə ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz bˈʊks fɔːɹ jˈʌŋɡɚ ɹˈiːdɚz ænd ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvən, bɪɡˈæn tə ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz jˈʌŋ ɐdˈʌlt lˈɪɾɚɹᵻtʃɚ.
The award initially recognized books for older children, but in 1981, the award committee started to recognize books for younger readers and in 2007, began to recognize young adult literature.