RI Children's Book Award

Information about the RI Children's Book Award can be found at https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award

The RI Children's Book Award is pleased to announce the 2025 nominees.

1. Art Club by Rashad Doucet
2. The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name by Sandhya Parappukkaran, illustrated by Michelle Pereira
3. Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Aparna Varma
4. Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Oliver Dominguez
5. Finch House by Ciera Burch
6. Grimwood by Nadia Shireen
7. The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Kevin Hong
8. Home Away from Home by Cynthia Lord
9. How Not to Get Eaten by Josette Reeves, illustrated by Asia Orlando
10. Jovita Wore Pants by Aida Salazar, illustrated by Molly Mendoza
11. The Last Plastic Straw by Dee Romito, illustrated by Ziyue Chen
12. Lolo’s Sari-Sari Store by Sophia N. Lee, illustrated by Christine Almeda
13. Mabuhay! By Zack Sterling
14. Meesh the Bad Demon by Michelle Lam, illustrated by Lauren “Perry” Wheeler
15. My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Steph Littlebird
16. Sam Makes a Splash by Nicole Melleby
17. Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms by Maya Prasad, illustrated by Abira Das
18. Shermy & Shake, the Not-So-Nice Neighbor by Kirby Larson, illustrated by Shinji Fujioka
19. Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango
20. These Olive Trees by Aya Ghanameh

RICBA Committee members will be at several events this spring to introduce the 2025 nominees and share information about the program.

We Are All Readers Festival

April 6, 9:30am - 2:00pm

North Kingstown High School

Kids Reading Across RI Kickoff

May 4, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

RI State House

RI Library Association Annual Conference

May 23, time TBA

Providence Public Library

It's time for your students and patrons in grades 3-5 to vote for their favorite book among the RI Children’s Book Award nominees for 2024! For over 20 years the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award has generated widespread enthusiasm for reading. Thank you to the many schools and libraries in Rhode Island that participate.

All voting and program evaluation will be completed online

March 1 – April 30 . Beginning March 1, your school or library’s voting results can be entered at https://olis-ri.libwizard.com/f/ricba2024.

Important voting information:

• Your school or library does not need to register to vote. Any school or library that would like to participate is encouraged to do so!
• Please complete ONE form per school or library building. If you work at multiple schools or libraries, please fill out a separate form for each building.
• This form is to collect your school or library’s total voting results, not a way to collect individual children’s votes.
• Distribute ballots to students/patrons who have read 3 or more of the nominated books, collect all completed ballots, and tally your school or library’s results on a blank ballot. Voting materials, including the paper ballot and graphics can be found at https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award/voting .
• The total number of votes for each book should be entered into the form.
• If you have any difficulties or need to edit your form after it has been submitted, please contact Youth Services Coordinator, Danielle Margarida (danielle.margarida@olis.ri.gov, 401-574-9309/401-400-3006) before 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30.
• All forms must be submitted by April 30, 2024.

All information, as well as the documents below, can be found at https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award/voting.

• Voting Instructions
• Blank Ballot
• Annotated List
  
• Schools and Libraries Voting Form (Submit between March 1 - April 30)
• Voting Google Folder - Voting materials, including the paper ballot and graphics.
  

Several 2024 RICBA nominated authors have recorded special messages for RI readers. They're perfect for sharing with your students ahead of voting and can be found on the LibGuide and at https://flip.com/mixtapes/+q04e8vq0.

Be sure to follow the Rhode Island Children's Book Award on Facebook and tag the award when sharing photos of your RICBA voting stations and activities. Not on Facebook? Send your photos to the RICBA committee to have them featured on the RICBA Facebook page or in a future newsletter.

Annually children in grades 3 to 5 have the opportunity to vote on their favorite book from a ballot of 20 selections nominated for the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award by a panel of librarians, reading specialists and teachers. Children vote as part of their class or with their local public library.

The award began in 1990 as a joint project of the Rhode Island State Council of the International Reading Association, the Rhode Island Library Association, and the Rhode Island Educational Media Association, under the coordination of the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services. Today, the Rhode Island Children's Book Award is co-sponsored by the School Librarians of Rhode Island (SLRI), the Rhode Island Library Association (RILA), and the Rhode Island Center for the Book at the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (RICFB), and is advised by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS).Three public youth services librarians, three members of SLRI, and three members of RICFB are each chosen to each serve three year terms on the committee.

20 nominees are announced each spring. Public libraries, school libraries, and classrooms promote the award and share the nominees throughout the year. Voting takes place the following February and the winner is announced in March. Children in grades 3-5 who have read at least 3 books from the list of 20 nominees are eligible to vote. Voting takes place at participating schools and public libraries throughout the state.

Please visit the RICBA web pages or contact Danielle Margarida for more information.

Email: danielle.margarida@olis.ri.gov
Website: https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rhode-Island-Childrens-Book-Award-1353731481320472/?ref=page_internal