Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award facts for kids

The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (RCYRBA) is a special prize given out every year. It celebrates the best book chosen by students in grades four through eight. These students are from schools and libraries across Illinois. The award is named after Rebecca Caudill, a famous children's author. She lived and worked in Urbana, Illinois. This award has been given out every year since 1988. Different groups work together to make sure the award happens.

About the Rebecca Caudill Award

The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award is a unique award. It lets young readers decide which book is the best. Students in grades four through eight get to vote for their favorite book. This makes the award truly special because kids pick the winner.

How Books Are Chosen

The process for choosing a winning book starts early. Students, teachers, and librarians suggest books they think are great. These suggestions happen two years before the award is given.

Next, a group of 70 to 80 people reviews all the suggested books. They pick the top twenty books. This list of twenty books is called the "Master List."

Then, schools and libraries that are part of the program get ready to vote. Students read books from the Master List. They start voting in the fall of the year before the award. Voting continues until the end of February in the award year. Finally, the winner is announced every March.

Past Award Winners

Here is a list of the books that have won the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award over the years. Many of these books are very popular with young readers.