| Author | Year |
| Joelle Charbonneau | 2024 |
| Jessamine Chan | 2023 |
| Allison Joseph | 2022 |
| Mikki Kendall | 2021 |
| Erika L. Sánchez | 2019 |
|
Brittany Cavallaro
|
2018 |
| Adam Selzer | 2017 |
| Melanie Benjamin | 2016 |
| Jesse Ball | 2015 |
| Libby Hellmann | 2014 |
| Marylin Brant | 2013 |
| Chris Ware | 2012 |
| Achy Obejas | 2011 |
| Tony Romano | 2010 |
| Li-Young Lee | 2009 |
| Simone Elkeles | 2008 |
| Scott Turow | 2007 |
| Mawi Asgedom | 2006 |
| Dave Eggers | 2005 |
| Fern Chapman | 2004 |
| Sandra Cisneros | 2003 |
| Mary Schmich | 2002 |
| Richard Powers | 2001 |
| Luis Rodriguez | 2000 |
| Jackie Joyner-Kersey | 1999 |
| Alex Kotlowitz | 1998 |
| Robert Owen Butler | 1997 |
| Leon Forrest | 1996 |
| Lisel Mueller | 1995 |
| Lucia Getsi | 1994 |
| Larry Heinemann | 1993 |
| Lucien Stryk | 1992 |
| Haki Madhubuti | 1991 |
| Elizabeth Talent | 1990 |
| Eugene Redmond | 1989 |
| Lloyd Kropp | 1988 |
| Stella Pevsner | 1987 |
| John Knoepfle | 1986 |
| Michael Anania | 1985 |
| Carl Sandburg | 1984 |
| Burl Ives | 1983 |
| Marguerite Henry | 1982 |
| J. M. Hook | 1981 |
| Harry Mark | 1980 |
| Natalia Belting | 1979 |
| Gwendolyn Brooks | 1978 |
| Richard Peck | 1977 |
| Victor Hicken | 1976 |
| Mike Royko | 1975 |
| Edgar Lee Masters | 1974 |
| Clyde S. Kilby | 1973 |
| Rebecca Caudill | 1972 |
| Dee Brown | 1971 |
Illinois's Affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English
