Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award facts for kids

The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (RCYRBA) is a special award for books. Kids in grades four through eight in Illinois schools and libraries vote for their favorite book. The author of the winning book gets the award. This award is named after Rebecca Caudill, a children's author who lived in Urbana, Illinois. It has been given out every year since 1988. A group of volunteers helps run the award. They work with groups like the Illinois Association of Teachers of English and the Illinois School Library Media Association.

How Books Are Chosen

Have you ever wondered how books win awards? For the Rebecca Caudill Award, students in Illinois pick the winner!

Nominating Books

Books are suggested two years before they can win. Students, teachers, and librarians can all suggest books. These books are usually for kids in grades four through eight.

Creating the Master List

A special committee of 70 to 80 people reviews all the suggested books. They choose the top twenty books. This list of twenty books is called the "Master List."

Voting for the Winner

Schools and libraries that are part of the program collect votes from kids. Voting usually starts in the fall of the year before the award is given. It continues until the end of February in the award year. The winner is then announced every March. So, it's truly an award chosen by young readers!

Winners