| Monarch Award | |
| Awarded For: | Reader's choice award for K-3rd Illinois students |
| Presenter: | Illinois school library media association |
| Country: | United States |
| Year: | 2003 |
| Website: | ISLMA website |
The Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Readers' Choice Award was established in 2003 by the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) 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.[1]
The award name and image was chosen as a symbol of growth, change and freedom[2] and to help familiarize students with the state's insect.[3]
The award is given annually (beginning in 2005)[4] to a single author and/or illustrator by a collective vote of Kindergarten through 3rd grade students in Illinois.[5] 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[6] 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.
Yellow background distinguishes winners from those runners-up that are listed.
| Year | Writer | Illustrator | Title | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Shannon | Winner | ||
| 2nd Place | ||||
| Child | 3rd Place | |||
| 2006 | Kasza | Winner | ||
| 2007 | Winner | |||
| 2008 | Winner | |||
| 2009 | Winner | |||
| 2010 | Watt | Winner | ||
| 2011 | Thomas | Winner | ||
| 2012 | Winner | |||
| 2nd Place | ||||
| Stein | 3rd Place |