Each year, committees of Illinois teachers and librarians select the nominees for the following year’s Monarch, Bluestem, and Caudill Award lists. Preparation for the meetings begins months in advance, with committee members responsible for reading 50 titles that will be winnowed down to the final lists of 20 nominees. Illinois students vote on their favorites each winter, with the winners and new nominees announced every March.
All of the Illinois book awards are “Reader’s Choice” awards, meaning they are nominated and voted on by students. Books on each list can be new or old titles and must be at a reading level and interest appropriate for their designated age group. Monarch Award books are for kindergarten to second grade readers, Bluestem Award books are for graded 3-5, and Caudill Award nominees must appeal to students in grades 5-8.
Copies of the books on the 2027 Monarch , Bluestem , and Caudill lists are available now for checkout at the library!
