MCBA Reading Challenge

The Massachusetts Children's Book Award Program (MCBA) was founded by Dr. Helen Constant in 1975 to encourage children in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades to read great books. The selection committee nominates 25 books each year and a winner is chosen by 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students across Massachusetts.

MCBA Program Overview

Program Overview

The Dallin School Library encourages all 4th and 5th grade students to participate in the MCBA Reading Challenge.
Students must read 5 book to participate in the March 2026 voting day.
Students who read 15 or more books will receive a special commendation.
Books can be print or audiobooks.
Books are available at the Dallin Library, SORA, or any public library.

Program Goals

Celebrate reading and books school-wide.
Stretch and grow as readers exploring different genres and book formats.
Continue to build students’ interest and stamina as readers.

Download a copy of our MCBA 2025-26 Book Tracker

Students will track the books they finish and write a very short review for each one, even if they didn't finish or like it. Ms. M will give students one MCBA Stamp for every completed book. This stamp will serve as their entry ticket to our voting day and the MCBA 15+ Book Celebration.

The MCBA Nominees...

Aniana del Mar Jumps In

Jasminne Mendez

Attack of the Black Rectangles

A.S. King

Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms

Jamar J. Perry

Duel

Jessixa & Aaron Bagley

The Eyes & the Impossible

Dave Eggers

Four Eyes

Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza

Hidden Truths

Elly Swartz

Just Roll With It

Lee Durfey-Lavoie & Veronica Agarwal

Lion of the Sky

Ritu Hemnani

Lo & Behold

Wendy Mass & Gabi Mendez

Magnolia Wu Unfolds it All

Chanel Miller

Max in the House of Spies

Adam Gidwitz

Medusa

The Myth of Monsters series

Katherine Marsh

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

Nicholas Day

The Probability of Everything

Sarah Everett

The Secret Language of Birds

Lynne Kelly

Simon Sort of Says

Erin Bow

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

Beth Lincoln

Telephone of the Tree

Alison McGhee

We Are Big Time

Hena Khan & Safiya Zerrougui

Willodeen

Katherine Applegate

Wrath of the Rain God

(Legendarios series)

Karla Arenas Valenti

Wrecker

Carl Hiaasen

The Wrong Way Home

Kate O’Shaughnessy

The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet

Jack Maia Arlow

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