Given biennially since 1956 by the International Board on books for young people to an author and an illustrator (since 1966) in recognition of his or her body of work.

1956 Eleanor Farjeon, Great Britain
1958 Astrid Lindgren, Sweden
1960 Erich Kastner, GFR
1962 Meindert DeJong, USA
1964 Rene Guillot, France
1966 Author: Tove Jansson, Finland, Illustrator: Alois Carigiet, Switzerland
1968 Authors: James Kruss, GFR, Jose Maria Sanchez–Silva, Spain, Illustrator: Jirf Tmka, Czecho-slovakia
1970 Author: Gianni Rodari, Italy, Illustrator: Maurice Sendak, USA
1972 Author: Scott O’Dell, USA, Illustrator: Ib Spang Olsen, Denmark
1974 Author: Maria Gripe Sweden, Illustrator: Farshid Mesghali, Iran
1976 Author: Cecil Bodker, Denmark, Dustrator Tatjana Mawrina, USSR
1978 Author: Paula Fox, USA, Illustrator: Svend Otto S., Denmark
1980 Author: Bohumil Riha, Czechoslovakia, Illustrator: Suekichi Akaba, Japan
1982 Author: Lygia Bojunga Nunes, Brazil, Illustrator Zbigniew Rychlick, Poland)
1984 Author: Christine Nostlinger, Austria, Illustrator: Mitsumasa Anno, Japan
1986 Author: Patricia Wrightson, Australia, Illustrator: Robert Ingpen, Australia
1988 Author: Annie M.G. Schmidt, Netherlands, Illustrator Dusan Kallay, Czechoslovakia
1990 Author: Tormod Haugen, Norway, Illustrator: Lisbeth Zwerger, Austria
1992 Author: Virginia Hamilton, United States, Illustrator: Kveta Pacovska, Czechoslovakia