ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli, ɪt wʌz nˈoʊn æz ðə ʃˈɜːli kɹˈævɪts tʃˈɪldɹənz bˈʊk ɐwˈɔːɹd ænd wʌz lˈeɪɾɚ ɹᵻnˈeɪmd ɪn ˈɑːnɚɹ ʌv sˈɪdni tˈeɪlɚɹ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt.
Originally, it was known as the Shirley Kravitz Children's Book Award and was later renamed in honor of Sydney Taylor in 1978.