This Illinois Reader's Choice Award program began during the 2004-2005 school year. Carthage Public Library has provided students with an opportunity to participate each year.In order to vote in February, Kdg.-3rd grade students must read or listen to at least 5 of the 20 titles.
In Carthage, if a teacher reads at least 5 of the titles to his/her class, then all of the students will be eligible to vote, and the voting can be done in the classrooms, and the library will provide a treat for the classroom.
Students are also encouraged to check out and read additional titles at home. Therefore, any student who reads (or listens to) 2 or more extra titles, in addition to the ones read by the teacher, will receive an extra prize (such as a food coupon). The family must inform the Library that they have done this in order to receive the prize.
Home schooled students, or students whose teachers are not participating, will need to read or listen to 5 books and ask for a ballot at the library, in order to receive their prize.
Students who read or listen to all of the books on the list (at home and/or at school) will receive a book.
Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, 3rd grade students may choose to participate in the Monarch program or the new Bluestem program, or they may participate in both. Many of the books on the Bluestem list are chapter books, encouraging 3rd graders to make the transition from the Easy picture books to the Juvenile Fiction chapter books.
This program is sponsored by the Illionis School Library Media Association. More information and the list of titles may be found on the ISLMA website
This page maintained by: Amy Gee -
(cartlib@adams.net)