The PEN/Steven Kroll Award Honoring the Author of an Illustrated Children’s Book was established in memory of Steven Kroll to acknowledge the distinct literary contributions of picture book writers. Kroll, a former PEN Trustee and long-time Chair of PEN’s Children’s/Young Adult Book Authors Committee, was also a prolific author of books for children. His 100th and final book was published in March 2012. The annual award confers a prize of $5,000. It will acknowledge an American or U.S.-based writer for an exceptional story illustrated in a picture book.