Monarch Award facts for kids

The Monarch Award is a special prize for books chosen by young readers in Illinois. It started in 2003 thanks to the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA). This award helps kids from Kindergarten to 3rd grade discover new books, authors, and illustrators. It also encourages them to think deeply about what they read. The award aims to highlight amazing children's books across the state.

The award is named after the Monarch butterfly. This name was chosen to represent growth, change, and freedom. It also helps students learn about Illinois' state insect.

How the Monarch Award Works

The Monarch Award is given out every year, starting in 2005. Students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade across Illinois vote for their favorite book. The book with the most votes wins!

Choosing the Books

A special committee manages the award. They ask librarians, teachers, and even students to suggest books. Then, a group of volunteers reads these suggestions. They create a list of 20 top books. This list includes books for different interests and reading levels. It always has:

• Picture books
• Easy readers
• Chapter books

Voting and Announcing Winners

Students vote for their favorite book from the list in February each year. The exciting results are announced the very next month!

What Makes a Book Eligible?

For a book to be considered for the Monarch Award, it must meet certain rules:

• The person suggesting the book must have read it.
• The book must have been published in the last five years.
• It needs to be available for purchase when it's chosen.
• The author or illustrator must be alive when the list is made.
• The book must be interesting and appealing to kids in K-3rd grade.
• It needs to be a high-quality book.
• It can be either fiction (made-up stories) or nonfiction (true stories).
• A book or series cannot be on the list two years in a row.
• If a book from a series has won, other books in that series cannot be nominated for five years.
• Textbooks, collections of stories, translations, or simple toys are not allowed.

Past Winners

The table below shows the winners and runners-up of the Monarch Award. Winners are highlighted in yellow.