The Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Readers' Choice Award
The Monarch Award is given annually (beginning in 2005) to an author and/or illustrator of a book voted as their favorite by participating K - 3 children in Illinois. The award is sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) and is designed to encourage Illinois students to read critically and to become familiar with children's books, authors and illustrators.
The award is named in honor of the Monarch Butterfly, Illinois state insect. The butterfly symbolizes growth, change and freedom qualities that also characterize the emergent reader.
Monarch Awards Rules and Procedures
- Only Kindergarten - 3rd graders at GLS are eligible to participate in the Monarch program.
- You must read or listen to 5 books off the 2023 nominee list in order to be eligible to vote in February of 2023.
- Add your name to the Monarch bookself everytime you finish a book!
- You could have read the book from anywhere (public library, book store, book fair, teacher read it out loud, etc.) and anytime (last year, two years ago, etc.)!
- Each reader may vote for his or her favorite book from among the nominees. Details on how the votes will be taken will be available soon!
- Vote totals are then submitted (by the school) online by March 15th.