Monarch Award


The Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Readers' Choice Award was established in 2003 by the Illinois school library media association to help Kindergarten through 3rd grade readers become familiar with books, illustrators and authors; encourage children to read critically; and to develop a statewide awareness of outstanding literature for children.
The award name and image was chosen as a symbol of growth, change and freedom and to help familiarize students with the state's insect.

Award Process

The award is given annually to a single author and/or illustrator by a collective vote of Kindergarten through 3rd grade students in Illinois. The award is administered by a steering committee that seeks nominations from public librarians, school library media specialist, teachers, and students. A volunteer reading committee then forms a master list of 20 of the nominated titles which include a range of interests and reading levels as well as 3 of each of the following types of children's books:
Students vote in February of each year for their favorite from the master list and the results are announced the following month.

Criteria for nomination

Yellow background distinguishes winners from those runners-up that are listed.
YearWriterIllustratorTitleCitation
2005ShannonWinner
20052nd Place
2005Child3rd Place
2006KaszaWinner
2007Winner
2008Winner
2009Winner
2010WattWinner
2011ThomasWinner
2012Winner
20122nd Place
2012Stein3rd Place