Founded originally as The American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) Awards in 1991, The Book Sense Book of the Year Awards currently recognize books in three different genres that were most recommended and appreciated during the previous year among American Booksellers Association member bookstores. Affiliated with Book Sense 76, these literary awards highlight the gems of the bookselling industry that might otherwise go unnoticed. We have listed the winners for the last ten years.

2004
Adult Fiction: The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown
Adult Non Fiction: Reading Lolita in Tehran : A Memoir in Books, Azar Nafisi
Children’s Illustrated: How I Became a Pirate, Melinda Long,
David Shannon (illustrator)
Children’s Literature: Eragon: The Inheritance, Christopher Paolini

2003
Adult Fiction Winner: The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold
Adult Nonfiction Winner: Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, Alexandra Fuller
Children’s Illustrated Winner: Dear Mrs. LaRue, Mark Teague
Children’s Literature Winner: The Thief Lord, Cornelia Funke

2002
Adult Fiction Winner: Peace Like a River, Leif Enger
Adult Nonfiction Winner: Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Children’s Illustrated Winner: Olivia Saves the Circus, Ian Falconer
Children’s Literature Winner: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Ann Brashares

2001
Adult Fiction Winner: The Red Tent, Anita Diamant
Adult Nonfiction Winner: Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture, Ross King
Children’s Illustrated Winner: Olivia, Ian Falconer
Children’s Literature Winner: Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo

2000
Adult Winner: The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
Children’s Winner: The Quiltmaker’s Gift, Jeff Brumbeau, illus. By Gail de Marcken

1999
Adult Trade ABBY Winner: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Rebecca Wells
Children's ABBY Winner: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling, illus. by Mary Grandpré

1998
Adult Trade ABBY Winner: Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier
Children's ABBY Winner: The Hat, Jan Brett

1997
Adult Trade ABBY Winner: Angela's Ashes: A Memoir, Frank McCourt
Children's ABBY Winner: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Kevin Henkes

1996
Adult Trade ABBY Winner: Snow Falling on Cedars, David Guterson
Children's ABBY Winner: Guess How Much I Love You, Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram

1995
Adult Trade ABBY Winner: Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Children's ABBY Winner: The Rainbow Fish, Marcus Pfister

1994
Adult Trade ABBY Winner: Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel
Children's ABBY Winner: Stellaluna, Janell Cannon

1993
Adult Trade ABBY Winner: The Bridges of Madison County, Robert James Waller
Children's ABBY Winner: Old Turtle, Douglas Wood, illus. by Cheng-Khee Chee

1992
ABBY Winner: Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message from Chief Seattle, Susan Jeffers

Other Awards