BOOK AWARDS
Throughout the year, students will learn about various book awards. Studying the various book awards, encourages students to read from many different genres. Check out the links below for more information on the different awards.
MONARCH AND BLUESTEM AWARDS
The Monarch Award and Bluestem Award are Illinois book awards that allows children to vote for their favorite. Throughout the fall and winter, the students will continue to read the nominees in the library and classroom. Check back in the spring to see which books have won! To participate in the Monarch Award, students need to read at least 5 out of 20 books. Third graders are encouraged to read at least 10 of the books. To participate in the Bluestem Award, students need to read at least 4 out of 20 books.
Orrington students K-2nd read and review almost all 20 Monarch Award nominees in library.
Students in 3rd grade are encouraged to participate in the Monarch Book Award and Bluestem Award on their own. 3rd graders must read 8 out of 20 Monarch books and/or 5 out of 20 Bluestem books to attend the special voting party in the spring!
Fourth and Fifth grade students are encouraged to participate in the Bluestem Book Award on their own. Students are required to read 4 out of 20 Bluestem books to attend the spring voting party.
Click on Monarch Award website to see past winners and see this year's nominees. Here is this years current list
Click on Bluestem Award website to learn more about the nominees! Here is this years current list
The Evanston Public Library also has these books on display for easy access. Click here to visit the EPL website.
NEWBERY AWARD
Each year, one book is awarded the John Newbery Medal. The medal is given to the author of “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”. For a list of past winners and more information about the award, check out the Newbery website.
Orrington Fifth graders read and learn about the Newbery Award books.
CALDECOTT AWARD
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded each year to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Take a look at the Caldecott website to see a list of past winners.
Orrington Second graders study and read Caldecott Award winners.
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD
First given in 1970, this award is given each year to an African American author and illustrator that create books that celebrate the Black American experience and carry on the message of Dr. Martin Luther King. As stated on the official website, “ the Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.” Check out the Coretta Scott King website to learn more.
Orrington Fourth graders read books and do a project in library revolving around the Coretta Scott King Award winners.
PURA BELPRE AWARD
Named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library, the Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. Check out the Pura Belpre Award website to learn more about the award and see a list of past winners.
Third graders at Orrington read and learn about the Pura Belpre Illustrator Award books.
BATCHELDER AWARD
The Batchelder Award, which was named after a former District 65 librarian, is an award given to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States. These winners come from all over the world, offering the reader a distinct perspective.
Fourth and Fifth graders at Orrington read and learn about the Batchelder Award.
MONARCH AND BLUESTEM AWARDS
The Monarch Award and Bluestem Award are Illinois book awards that allows children to vote for their favorite. Throughout the fall and winter, the students will continue to read the nominees in the library and classroom. Check back in the spring to see which books have won! To participate in the Monarch Award, students need to read at least 5 out of 20 books. Third graders are encouraged to read at least 10 of the books. To participate in the Bluestem Award, students need to read at least 4 out of 20 books.
Orrington students K-2nd read and review almost all 20 Monarch Award nominees in library.
Students in 3rd grade are encouraged to participate in the Monarch Book Award and Bluestem Award on their own. 3rd graders must read 8 out of 20 Monarch books and/or 5 out of 20 Bluestem books to attend the special voting party in the spring!
Fourth and Fifth grade students are encouraged to participate in the Bluestem Book Award on their own. Students are required to read 4 out of 20 Bluestem books to attend the spring voting party.
Click on Monarch Award website to see past winners and see this year's nominees. Here is this years current list
Click on Bluestem Award website to learn more about the nominees! Here is this years current list
The Evanston Public Library also has these books on display for easy access. Click here to visit the EPL website.
NEWBERY AWARD
Each year, one book is awarded the John Newbery Medal. The medal is given to the author of “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”. For a list of past winners and more information about the award, check out the Newbery website.
Orrington Fifth graders read and learn about the Newbery Award books.
CALDECOTT AWARD
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded each year to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Take a look at the Caldecott website to see a list of past winners.
Orrington Second graders study and read Caldecott Award winners.
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD
First given in 1970, this award is given each year to an African American author and illustrator that create books that celebrate the Black American experience and carry on the message of Dr. Martin Luther King. As stated on the official website, “ the Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.” Check out the Coretta Scott King website to learn more.
Orrington Fourth graders read books and do a project in library revolving around the Coretta Scott King Award winners.
PURA BELPRE AWARD
Named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library, the Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. Check out the Pura Belpre Award website to learn more about the award and see a list of past winners.
Third graders at Orrington read and learn about the Pura Belpre Illustrator Award books.
BATCHELDER AWARD
The Batchelder Award, which was named after a former District 65 librarian, is an award given to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States. These winners come from all over the world, offering the reader a distinct perspective.
Fourth and Fifth graders at Orrington read and learn about the Batchelder Award.
American Library Association Notable Children's Book List
For additional book recommendations check out the link to the ALA's website. Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children's books. According to the Notables Criteria, "notable" is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children's books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways.