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The Christopher Award (established 1949) is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, films and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit".^[1] It is given by The Christophers, a Christian organization founded in 1945 by the Maryknoll priest James Keller.

The 2016 Christopher Awards were announced on March 30, 2016, and were presented in a ceremony in New York City on May 19.^[2]

Judging process

Publishers, TV networks, and film directors are asked to submit titles and work that they believe to be award-worthy. Industry professionals and Christopher staff members make the final selections based on:

1. Artistic and technical proficiency


2. Significant degree of public acceptance


3. Affirmation of the highest values of the human spirit

Categories

• Christopher Leadership Awards


• Christopher Life Achievement Award


• Christopher Spirit Award


• James Keller Award


• Books for Adults


• Books for Young People


• Feature Films


• Television & Cable

Selection of previous winners/honorees

Christopher Leadership Awards

• 2011 Scotty Smiley^[3]


• 2008 Cardinal John Patrick Foley
  


• 2005 Sargent Shriver
  


• 2004 Father John T. Catoir
  


• 2002 Rudy Giuliani
  

Christopher Life Achievement Award

• 2016 Ernie Anastos^[4]


• 2012 Mother Dolores Hart^[5]


• 2008 David McCullough
  


• 2006 Dave Brubeck
  


• 2005 Robert Coles
  


• 2004 Art Linkletter
  


• 2003 Mary Higgins Clark
  

Christopher Spirit Award

• 2016 When Calls the Heart^[4]

James Keller Award

• 2012 Marty Lyons^[6]


• 2011 Shannon Hickey^[7]


• 2005 Pat LaFontaine
  


• 2004 Caroll Spinney
  

Books for Adults

2016^[2]

• 
  Five Years in Heaven: The Unlikely Friendship That Answered Life’s Greatest Questions by John Schlimm (Image Books/Crown Publishing)


• 
  The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare by Marcy Cottrell Houle and Elizabeth Eckstrom (Taylor Trade Publishing/Rowan & Littlefield)


• 
  One Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York by Arthur Browne (Beacon Press)


• 
  Tough As They Come by Travis Mills with Marcus Brotherton (Convergent Books/Crown Publishing)


• 
  Under the Same Sky: From Starvation in North Korea to Salvation in America by Joseph Kim with Stephan Talty (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)


• 
  The Wind in the Reeds: A Storm, a Play, and the City That Would Not Be Broken by Wendell Pierce (Riverhead Books/Random House)

2015

• 
  The Invisible Front: Love and Loss in an Era of Endless War by Yochi Dreazen (Crown Publishers).

2014^[8]

• 
  American Story: A Lifetime Search for Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things by Bob Dotson (Viking Press/Penguin Group)


• 
  Love and Salt: A Spiritual Friendship Shared in Letters by Amy Andrews and Jessica Mesman Griffith (Loyola Press)


• 
  The Miracle of Father Kapaun: Priest, Soldier, and Korean War Hero by Roy Wenzl and Travis Heying (Ignatius Press)


• 
  On These Courts: A Miracle Season That Changed a City, a Once-Future Star, and a Team Forever by Wayne B. Drash (Touchstone Books/Simon and Schuster)


• 
  Walk In Their Shoes: Can One Person Change the World? by Jim Ziolkowski with James S. Hirsch (Simon and Schuster)

2013

• 
  Carly’s Voice by Arthur Fleischmann and Carly Fleischmann


• 
  Fearless by Eric Blehm
  


• 
  A Good Man by Mark Shriver


• 
  My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carroll Campbell


• 
  Road to Valor by Aili and Andres McConnon

2012

• 
  A Good and Perfect Gift by Julia Becker


• 
  An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski


• 
  I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish
  


• 
  Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis and Beth Clark


• 
  Little Princes by Conor Grennan

2011

• 
  Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
  


• 
  The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin
  


• 
  Thea’s Song: The Life of Thea Bowman by Charlene Smith and John Feister


• 
  Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
  


• 
  Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
  

2010

• 
  A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald C. White, Jr.


• 
  Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
  


• 
  Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder
  


• 
  Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took on New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City by Anthony Flint

2009

• 
  Alex & Me by Irene Pepperberg
  


• 
  American-Made—The Enduring Legacy of the WPA: When FDR Put the Nation to Work by Nick Taylor


• 
  Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives by Jim Sheeler
  


• 
  Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America by Steven Waldman
  


• 
  The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music by Steve Lopez
  


• 
  Until Our Last Breath: A Holocaust Story of Love and Partisan Resistance by Michael Bart and Laurel Corona

2008

• 
  Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat
  


• 
  The Florist's Daughter by Patricia Hempl
  


• 
  The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers by Harry Bernstein
  


• 
  The Lonely Patient: How We Experience Illness by Michael Stein, M.D.


• 
  A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
  


• 
  A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom by David W. Blight
  

2007

• 
  Barefootin': Life Lessons from the Road to Freedom by Unita Blackwell with JoAnne Prichard Morris


• 
  Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario
  


• 
  The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis Collins
  


• 
  Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculée Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin


• 
  The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan
  


• 
  My Life with the Saints by James Martin
  

2006

• 
  The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions by Sister Helen Prejean
  


• 
  The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
  


• 
  One Soldier’s Story: A Memoir by Bob Dole
  


• 
  The Prison Angel: Mother Antonia’s Journey from Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail by Mary Jordan & Kevin Sullivan


• 
  They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng & Benjamin Ajak, with Judy A. Bernstein

2005

• 
  Anatomy of Hope by Jerome Groopman, M.D.


• 
  Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson
  


• 
  The Freedom Line by Peter Eisner
  


• 
  I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories by Sam Swope
  


• 
  Love in the Driest Season: A Family Memoir by Neely Tucker
  


• 
  Mao’s Last Dancer: A Memoir by Li Cunxin
  

2004

• 
  A Human Being Died That Night by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
  


• 
  If I Get to Five by Fred Epstein, M.D., & Joshua Horwitz


• 
  The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage by Paul Elie
  


• 
  My Heart Will Cross This Ocean: My Story, My Son, Amadou by Kadiatou Diallo & Craig Wolff
  


• 
  My Path Leads to Tibet by Sabriye Tenberken
  


• 
  Sisters: Catholic Nuns and the Making of America by John J. Fialka
  


• 
  Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle
  

2003

• 
  Choosing Naia: A Family’s Journey by Mitchell Zuckoff
  


• 
  The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
  


• 
  Fatal Passage: The Story of John Rae, The Arctic Hero Time Forgot by Ken McGoogan
  


• 
  Five Past Midnight in Bhopal by Dominique Lapierre & Javier Moro


• 
  Jim's Last Summer: Lessons on Living from a Dying Priest by Teresa Rhodes McGee


• 
  Standing on Holy Ground: A Triumph Over Hate Crime in the Deep South by Sandra E. Johnson

2002

• 
  Aging with Grace by David Snowdon, Ph.D.


• 
  Choosing Mercy by Antoinette Bosco
  


• 
  Freedom’s Daughters by Lynne Olson
  


• 
  An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter
  


• 
  John Adams by David McCullough
  


• 
  Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
  

2001^[9]

• Aging with Grace, by David Snowdon, Ph.D. (Bantam Books)


• Choosing Mercy, by Antoinette Bosco (Orbis Books)


• Freedom’s Daughters, by Lynne Olson (Scribner)


• An Hour Before Daylight, by Jimmy Carter (Simon & Schuster)


• John Adams, by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster)


• Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich (Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt and Company, LLC)

Books for Young People

2016 ^[2]

• Preschool and up: One Good Deed by Terri Fields, illustrated by Deborah Melmon (Kar-Ben Publishing)


• Kindergarten and up: An Invisible Thread Christmas Story by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski, illustrated by Barry Root (Little Simon/Simon & Schuster)


• Ages 6 and up: Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate (Peachtree Publishers)


• Ages 8 and up: Katie’s Cabbage by Katie Stagliano with Michelle H. Martin, illustrated by Karen Heid (Young Palmetto Books/University of South Carolina Press)


• Ages 10 and up: Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Christopher Denise (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster)


• Young Adult: Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)

2014^[8]

• Preschool and up: Maya Was Grumpy written and illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur (Flashlight Press)


• Kindergarten and up: Year of the Jungle: Memories from the Home Front by Suzanne Collins, illustrated by James Proimos (Scholastic Press)


• Ages 6 and up: The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (Candlewick Press)


• Ages 8 and up: Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by K.G. Campbell (Candlewick Press)


• Ages 10 and up: The Boy On the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson with Marilyn J. Harran and Elisabeth B. Leyson (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing)

2013

• 
  Forever You: A Book About Your Soul and Body by Nicole Lataif with illustrations by Mary Rojas


• 
  The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce with illustrations by Joe Bluhm


• 
  The House on Dirty-Third Street by Jo S. Kittinger with illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez


• 
  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate with illustrations by Patricia Castelao


• 
  Wonder by R.J. Palacio
  


• 
  Outcasts United by Warren St. John
  

2012

• 
  Shine: Choices to Make God Smile by Genny Monchamp with illustrations by Karol Kaminski


• 
  Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown with illustrations by John Parra


• 
  You Can Be a Friend by Tony Dungy and Lauren Dungy with illustrations by Ron Mazellan


• 
  Hooper Finds a Family by Jane Paley


• 
  Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy


• 
  Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
  

2011

• 
  Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems
  


• 
  Would You Still Love Me If… by Wendy LaGuardia with illustrations by Patricia Keeler


• 
  Brother Jerome and the Angels in the Bakery by Father Dominic Garramone


• 
  Lafayette and the American Revolution by Russell Freedman
  

2010

• Preschool: Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story by Yumi Heo


• Ages 6–8: Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, & Mary Nethery


• Ages 8–10: Most Loved in All the World by Tonya Cherie Hegamin with illustrations by Cozbi A. Cabrera


• Ages 10–12: Extra Credit by Andrew Clements with illustrations by Mark Elliott


• Young Adult: A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean by Tori Murden
  

2009

• Preschool: Close to You: How Animals Bond by Kimiko Kajikawa


• Ages 6–8: That Book Woman by Heather Henson with illustrations by David Small
  


• Ages 8–10: Clementine’s Letter by Sara Pennypacker with illustrations by Marla Frazee
  


• Ages 10–12: Shooting the Moon by Frances O’Roark Dowell


• Young Adult: Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers
  

2008

• Preschool: Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things That Make Me Happy by Scott Menchin
  


• Ages 6–8: How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara with illustrations by G. Brian Karas
  


• Ages 8–10: Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu with photographs by Peter Greste
  


• Ages 10–12: The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy
  


• Young Adult: Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney
  

2007

• Preschool: Hero Cat by Eileen Spinelli with illustrations by Jo Ellen McAllister Stammen


• Ages 6–8: How We Are Smart by W. Nikola-Lisa with illustrations by Sean Qualls
  


• Ages 8–10: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline


• Ages 10–12: Listen! by Stephanie S. Tolan
  


• Young Adult: Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson
  

2006

• Preschool: Am I a Color Too? by Heidi Cole & Nancy Vogl with illustrations by Gerald Purnell (Preschool)


• Ages 6–8: I Could Do That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote by Linda Arms White with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter
  


• Ages 8–10: Game Day by Tiki Barber and Ronde Barber with Robert Burleigh, illustrations by Barry Root


• Ages 10–12: Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
  


• Young Adult: Hitch by Jeanette Ingold

2005

• Preschool: Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson with illustrations by Doug Cushman
  


• Ages 6–8: The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey written and illustrated by Demi
  


• Ages 8–10: Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen with illustrations by Brian Biggs
  


• Ages 10–12: The Teacher’s Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck
  


• Young Adult: Thura’s Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq by Thura Al Windawi
  

2004

• Preschool: Little Bear’s Little Boat by Eve Bunting with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter
  


• Ages 6–8: The Dot written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
  


• Ages 8–10: Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull with illustrations by Yuyi Morales
  


• Ages 10–12: Iqbal by Francesco D’Adamo


• Young Adult: The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry
  

2003

• 
  People Mole and the Baby Bird by Marjorie Newman with illustrations by Patrick Benson
  


• Ages 6–8: Dear Mrs. Larue: Letters from Obedience School written and illustrated by Mark Teague
  


• Ages 8–10: The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool by Margaret Gray with illustrations by Randy Cecil


• Ages 10–12: Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
  


• Young Adult: Left for Dead by Pete Nelson

2002

• 
  Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest with illustrations by Anita Jeram
  


• Ages 6–8: Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier with illustrations by Lori Lohstoeter
  


• Ages 8–10: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
  


• Ages 10–12: Uncle Daddy by Ralph Fletcher
  


• Young Adult: Soldier X by Don L. Wulffson and Witness by Karen Hesse
  

2001^[9]

• Ages 6–8: How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague (The Blue Sky Press/Scholastic Inc.)


• Ages 9–10: The Mousery by Charlotte Pomerantz, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (Gulliver Books/Harcourt, Inc.)


• Ages 11–12: The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Henri Sørensen (Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.)


• Ages 11–12: Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer (G. P. Putnam’s Sons)


• Young Adult: The Wanderer by Sharon Creech (Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins Publishers)

Feature films

Television & Cable

2016^[2]

• 
  ABC News 20/20: Escaping ISIS (ABC News)


• 
  America ReFramed: If You Build It (World Channel/PBS)


• 
  Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors (NBC)


• 
  The Jim Gaffigan Show: My Friend the Priest (TV Land)


• Tashi and the Monk (HBO)

References

External links

• Official website