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.
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.
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