Thirty-five fourth and fifth graders participated in the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award reading program this year. They gathered in the library on Thursday, March 3, for a special reception to celebrate the awards and to vote on their favorite titles. Eleven students read all of the twenty-five books nominated!

Dr. Helen Constant founded the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Program in 1975. The program is designed for Massachusetts schoolchildren in grades 4-6, who are given a master list of book titles compiled from nominations of participating teachers, librarians and interested publishers. A selection committee works with the nominations and chooses 25 titles to appear on the master list. 

After reading five of the books, students may vote for their favorite. Criteria for the master list include literary quality, genres variety, representation of diverse cultural groups, and reader appeal.  The author of the winning book receives a plaque to commemorate the award.

The contest is sponsored by Salem State University. Click here for more information about the program.