Nebraska's Children's Choice Literary Award
Sponsored by Nebraska Library Association 


Since 1982, Nebraska Golden Sower Award has sought to sow seeds which stimulate children's thinking, introduce different types of literature, encourage independent reading, increase library skills, and foster an appreciation for excellence in writing and illustrating.

Congratulations to the 2021-2022 Golden Sower Award winners, as chosen by Nebraska students! 64,907 student votes in total.

If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen, illustrated by the author
Wildfire by Rodman Philbrick
Run, Hide, Fight Back by April Henry

Join us live at 10 a.m. CST on February 24, 2023 to hear each author accept their Golden Sower Award, share their words of wisdom about reading and writing, and answer audience questions submitted by YOU! 

RSVP here to receive the Zoom link before the event: RSVP link

Submit a question for the author Q&A: Question link

Tell the authors what your book meant to them. Your video may stream during the party!  https://flip.com/0bf09cc0

Book covers of the three winning titles listed above.
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Current School Year

See below for information on Golden Sower nominees for the 2022-2023 school year. The Picture Book category is primarily intended for grades K-2; Chapter Books for grades 3-5; and Novels for grades 6-8. However, it is up to local adults to decide which books to use and how. 

Students do not vote directly on this site. Instead, a local adult such as a teacher or librarian will collect their votes, then submit voting totals between November 1, 2022 and April 15, 2023. Visit our Voting page for more details.

This year we are offering the Nebraska Golden Sower Manual for free! Click here to download the manual. The manual offers links to Internet resources, discussion questions, activities, and more for this year's nominees. Our thanks to volunteer manual writers! Contact nlagoldensower@nebraskalibraries.org if you would like to help create the manual in the future.

Golden Sower manual cover
Covers of the ten picture nominees listed below.

2022-2023 Picture Book Nominees

How to Catch a Clover Thief by Elise Parsley, illustrated by the author

Lift by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat

Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor, illustrated by the author

On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex, illustrated by the author

Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham, illustrated by the author

The Box Turtle by Vanessa Roeder, illustrated by the author

The Perfectly Perfect Wish by Lisa Mantchev, illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle

The Three Billy Goats Buenos by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez

This Way, Charlie by Caron Levis, illustrated by Charles Santoso

Trees Make Perfect Pets by Paul Czajak, illustrated by Cathy Gendron

Click here for more details.

Covers of the 11 chapter book nominees listed below.

2022-2023 Chapter Book Nominees

Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard

Clues to the Universe by Christina Li

Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin

Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar

Stella by McCall Hoyle

The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter by Aaron Reynolds

The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

The Million Dollar Race by Matthew Ross Smith

The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman

Twins by Varian Johnson, illustrated by Shannon Wright

Click here for more details.

Covers of the 10 novels nominees listed below.

2022-2023 Novel Nominees

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

Coop Knows the Scoop by Taryn Souders

Dragon Ops by Mari Mancusi

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Flight of the Puffin by Ann Braden

Golden Arm by Carl Deuker

Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Unplugged by Gordon Korman

Click here for more details.