"It is the rare children's entertainer who can actually capture the attention of both kids and their parents. Barry Louis Polisar does it and you can't help but laugh."

All Things Considered
National Public Radio

"This award goes to a delightful man who has helped us all remember how to laugh at ourselves and delight in the ridiculous. It honors a man whom Booklist Magazine has said is a refreshing alternative; one who emphasizes respecting children as they are and who has captured their fears, excitement and wonder to reveal the humor in it all."

Library Association Awards Committee

See Additional Honors

Barry's Awards

Barry's TV show Field Trip won two different Emmy Awards. Barry starred in and hosted this series for children which was broadcast nationally. He also wrote the theme song, incidental music and contributed to the scripts of this award-winning educational television show for children.

Barry's newest CD Old Enough To Know Better received a NAPPA AWARD. This National Parenting Publication Honor was awarded in 2007 in the music category.

Barry's book Insect Soup won a Parents' Guide Award for Outstanding Children's Books.

Barry's recordings for children have won mulitple awards from the Parents Choice Foundation. Barry has received Parents' Choice Awards for his recordings Old Dogs, New Tricks and A Little Different as well as Barry's Scrapbook, and I'm A Three-Toed, Triple-Eyed, Double-Jointed Dinosaur.

Barry's audio recordings for children have also won a number of Children's Music Web Awards for Best Children's Album, Best Recording for Toddlers, Best "Classic" Recording for Children and Best New Song for Older Children. Barry's award-wnning titles include A Little Different, Juggling Babies, Famiy Trip, and the song, I'm A Slug.

Barry's Scrapbook video won a National Media Gold Award and an award from the Coalition on Quality Children's Media.

Barry has won two Maryland State Individual Artist Awards. He has also been awarded over two dozen arts grants to help low income schools fund author visits.

Barry's recording of Old Dogs, New Tricks was named "one of the twenty best Children's Recordings of all time" in The American Library Association's Children's Jukebox and listed in their Award Hall of Fame. Barry's early recordings are archived in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Barry won the Maryland Library Association's Special Recognition Award for his "contributions on behalf of children of all ages" for his "ability to communicate with children and excite them to read."