The Palmer Library Youth Department will be participating in the awards process for the annual Massachusetts Children’s book Award, and we are looking for 4th-6th grade judges to serve on the judges panel! The group will meet on the third Tuesday of each month from October through April to discuss the books, play games, eat snacks, do crafts, and at the last meeting, cast their votes while enjoying an ice cream party. Participants will also get their pictures in the newspaper!
About the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award: After finding that many children lose interest in books after reaching the intermediate grades, Dr. Helen Constant of Salem State College founded the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Program in 1975, as an award to be decided upon and bestowed by Massachusetts schoolchildren in grades 4-6.
A list is compiled from nominations of participating teachers, librarians, and interested publishers, and a selection committee works with the nominations and chooses 25 titles to appear on the master list of nominees. The books range in difficulty from low 4th grade level to middle school level, with a wide variety of genres from which to choose, including graphic novels, mysteries, sports stories, fantasy & science fiction, non-fiction, realistic fiction, novels in verse, and more.
Schools and libraries put together panels of judges, and hold book groups to support them in reading at least five of the books so they can qualify to vote. Votes must be cast by April 15th, 2027.
Registration for the group is required (you will be registered for the entire series when you sign up). Attendance at every meeting is encouraged but not required. Copies of all of the books will be available in the Youth Department.
Sign up today for this special opportunity here: