RI Children's Book Award
August 20, 2024
Learn more about the RI Children's Book Award winners and nominees at
https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award
Free RICBA Book Sets for School Libraries
The Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) in partnership with the RI Center for the Book (RICfB) is offering book sets of the 2025 RI Children Book Award nominees to school libraries planning to participate in voting for the 2025 award in March - April 2025. Due to the limited number of book sets available, OLIS and RICfB may not be able to fulfill all requests and priority will be given to school libraries that demonstrate need.
Book sets are only available to school libraries, and the application may only be submitted by a school librarian. If your school does not have a librarian and you wish to apply on behalf of your school, please contact Danielle Margarida.
If your library received a set of 2024 RICBA nominees and your school did not participate in 2024 voting you are not eligible to apply for a 2025 book set.
School libraries that accept and receive a book set are required to conduct RICBA voting at their school March - April 2025 and must submit the voting results to OLIS by the April voting deadline. Failure to participate in voting will exclude a school library from receiving a book set in future years.
Please submit your application online by Monday, September 9. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by September 16. Book sets will be shipped to schools early October.
Please contact Danielle Margarida with any questions.
The RI Children's Book Award is a project of the RI Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) and is co-sponsored by the School Librarians of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Library Association, and the Rhode Island Center for the Book. The 2025 RI Children's Book Award book set distribution is supported by OLIS and the RI Center for the Book, with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
RICBA LibGuide
About the RI Children's Book Award
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.