Bluestem Award

Students in grades 3-5 read books from a list prepared by Illinois librarians. In March, students vote for their favorite book. 

The Bluestem Award is Illinois's children's choice book award. The name Monarch was chosen because of its familiarity to primary children and to symbolize the growth, change and freedom that becoming a reader brings. The Monarch Award is designed to encourage children to read critically and become familiar with children's books, authors, and illustrators.

Click here for a link to all the 2024 Bluestem books in the Elm library catalog.