Vision

That all Nebraska children will have the opportunity to read and enjoy quality books that accurately depict themselves, their families, their communities, their culture, and the society in which they live. Children deserve to see themselves, their families, and their communities in books.

Mission

Inspired by the statue of the Sower which stands on top of the Nebraska State Capitol and symbolizes the agriculture of our state by sowing seeds onto the fertile ground where they will grow, the Golden Sower Award seeks to sow seeds of literacy which will grow within our children.

It is our mission to:

• stimulate critical thinking

• introduce different types of literature

• encourage independent reading

• increase information skills

• foster an appreciation for excellence in writing and illustrating

Criteria

Literary criteria:

• Nominated books should exhibit literary and/or artistic merit.

• Non-fiction titles should exhibit narrative and/or artistic quality suitable for reading aloud.

• Titles should exhibit qualities of originality, vitality, and clarity.

• Titles should accurately reflect cultural, ethnic, and gender diversities, as well as any depictions of characters with disabilities.

• Titles should allow children to view and understand people whose lives are different from their own.

Publishing criteria:

• Titles must have been published within the previous two years (i.e., books on the 2022 list were published in 2021 or 2020.

• Titles must be in print at the time of nomination.

• The winning author or illustrator in one year is disqualified for the following year but may be nominated on future lists.

• Authors and illustrators must be living in the United States at the time of nomination.

• Only one title of any author or illustrator may be included on a current list.

• Only the first title of a series may be nominated and must be enjoyable on its own.

• Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners are ineligible. Honor Books may be nominated.