Monarch and Bluestem

The Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Children's Choice Award is designed to encourage the children of Illinois children to read critically and to become familiar with children's books, authors and illustrators. The award is named for the Monarch Butterfly and symbolizes the growth, change and freedom of the emergent reader. The Monarch Award is given annually to an author and/or illustrator and is voted on by Illinois K-3 children.

The Bluestem Award is an Illinois Readers’ Choice Award for grades 3-5. Named in honor of the Big Bluestem which is the state prairie grass. Twenty books are nominated each year, and children must read at least 4 of the books to be eligible to vote. The vote is taken towards the end of February and the results are announced in mid-March.