The Golden Duck Awards were funded by Super-Con-Duck-Tivity, Inc., the sponsor of the U.S. midwest regional science fiction convention DucKon. Winners were selected by a group of teachers, librarians, parents, high tech workers and reviewers.
There was also a provision for a Special Award if a book was found to be outstanding but did not fit any of the standard categories.
Winners
Picture Book Award
The Picture Book Award is sometimes given to a book with non-fictional science content with a story "wrapper" as well as traditional science fiction themes.
1992 – Time Train by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Claire Ewart
2015 – Max Goes to the Space Station by Jeffrey Bennett, illustrated by Michael Carroll
2016 – Interstellar Cinderella, by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Meg Hunt
2017 – Blip! written and illustrated by Barnaby Richards
Eleanor Cameron Award
This award is given to chapter books and middle grade novels. The protagonists are science users and problem solvers. Occasionally, books with fantasy elements but a science fiction theme have won.
Hal Clement's own writings were not YA, but his high school science teaching career strongly connects him to the YA age group. The primary story elements are correct science with science fictional extrapolations and characters who solve problems on their own.