Did you know that 49 states have a state book award? Mississippi is the only one that doesn’t and they are considering it.

Why are state book awards so important? They get kids to read and think critically about literature in order to make their selection. The book lists of nominees are also great collection development tools.

The Pacific Northwest Young Reader’s award is the oldest of the state book awards, first given in 1940. Only 11 of the awards were chosen exclusively (nominated and selected) by children. In most cases, the books are nominated by adults and children, then voted on by children.

Nomination criteria vary, but in most cases there is a publication date, whether or not the book is still in print, and the author is living. Some states say that books that have won a Newbery or Caldecott are not eligible.

Generally, students must read a certain number of books to vote and librarians handle the voting in school and public libraries.

The major difference between state and national book awards is that children participate in the selection of the winner.

Big recent winners are:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini – 21 awards

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer – 16 awards

Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo – 15 awards

In the past four years, the top 5 winners have all been considered fantasy or science fiction or magical realism and all of these winners have had movies in production.

It is interesting to note that the top authors who have won state book awards have never won a national book award, such as the Newbery or Caldecott. Some of these authors are Peg Kehret, Andrew Clements, and Dan Gutman.

There are 27 books about dogs that won 47 awards. Five books with the word “ghost” in the title won 11 awards and 16 series books won 21 awards. Ten sequels won 70 awards.

What does this mean for collection development? Taken as a whole, state book awards show clearly what students like and want to read. These books have already been through a rigorous selection process. Looking at these lists also help you keep up with trends in student reading. It is an existing tool that many librarians are not using.

Janet and Jane have a book on this topic coming out this fall: Coast to Coast: Exploring State Book Awards from Libraries Unlimited. Another resource is H.W. Wilson’s Core Collection of state book awards.

A really great and untapped resource for collection development!

One Potato, Two Potato by Cynthia DeFelice, illustrated by Andrea U’Ren. From the 151,963 votes cast by Texas 3rd-6th graders, this book emerged as the favorite.

Author and illustrator will both be on hand to receive the award at the Bluebonnet luncheon in Houston on April 2.

If you are attending TLA, be sure and purchase a ticket for this event with your registration. During the luncheon you will meet the ten extraordinary children that proudly represent each TLA district. The children will introduce and present the 2009 TBA to the winning author and illustrator. This presentation is always one of the highlights of the conference.

Kids in Mesquite agreed with the state. Our voting was as follows:

1st – One Potato, Two Potato

2nd – How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor

3rd – The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Newbery Medal – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Newbery Honor Books:

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle

Savvy by Ingrid Law

After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

Caldecott Medal – Beth Krommes, illustrator of The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

Caldecott Honor Books:

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever written and illustrated by Marla Frazee

How I Learned Geography written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant

Printz Award – Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Printz Honor Books:

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

Coretta Scott King Author Award – We Are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League Baseball written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award – The Blacker the Berry illustrated by Floyd Cooper, written by Joyce Carol Thomas

Read the rest of the list here.