The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (1954—present) was established by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. The award honors authors or illustrators who have made "a lasting and substantial contribution to children's books." Initially given every five years; from 1980 to 2001 it was given every three years. It is currently given every two years.

• 2011: Tomie dePaola
  
  
• 2009: Ashley Bryan
  
  
• 2007: James Marshall
  
  
• 2005: Laurence Yep
  
  
• 2003: Eric Carle
  
  
• 2001: Milton Meltzer
  
  
• 1998: Russell Freedman
  
  
• 1995: Virginia Hamilton
  
  
• 1992: Marcia Brown
  
  
• 1989: Elizabeth George Speare
  
  
• 1986: Jean Fritz
  
  
• 1983: Maurice Sendak
  
  
• 1980: Theodore S. Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
  
  
• 1975: Beverly Cleary
  
  
• 1970: E.B. White
  
  
• 1965: Ruth Sawyer
  
  
• 1960: Clara Ingram Judson
  
  
• 1954: Laura Ingalls Wilder