Treasure State Award
Montana Treasure State Picture Book Award
This award was started in Missoula in 1990 and has been a popular activity in school libraries ever since.
All over the state teachers and librarians read the 5 nominated titles to their classes, grades K-3.
Children enjoy voting for their favorite! The winning book is announced in April.
These are the 5 nominated titles for 2024. We will be reading them in February and voting in March.
***Past Winners***
2023
Fan Brothers. It Fell from the Sky.
2. George, Jean Craighead. Crowbar*.
3. Mr. Jay. Patrick Picklebottom and the Penny Book.
4. Rex, Adam. On Account of the Gum.
5. Weinstein, Jacob Sager. Princess Unlimited.
2022
Cole, Henry. Nesting.
2. Howell, Theresa. Scout Moore, Junior Ranger: Yellowstone.
3. Levis, Caron. This Way, Charlie*.
4. Luebbe. Tara. Ronan the Librarian.
5. Montanari, Susan McElroy. Goldilocks for Dinner.
2021
Biebow, Natascha. The Crayon Man.
2. Brett, Jan. The Tale of the Tiger Slippers.
3. Higgins, Ryan T. We Don't Eat Our Classmates.
4. Swanson, Shari. Honey, the Dog Who Saved Abraham Lincoln.
5. Van Dusen, Chris. If I Built a School*.
2020
1. Ering, Timothy Basil. The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred Fiddleduckling.
2. Fox, Janet. Volcano Dreams.
3. Jones, Pip. Izzy Gizmo.
4. McCormick, Patricia. Sergeant Reckless*.
5. McKissack, Patricia C. Who Will Bell the Cat?.
2019
1. Emmett, Jonathan. Prince Ribbit.
2. Ford, Gilbert. The Marvelous Thing that Came from a Spring
3. Shannon, David. Duck on a Tractor.
4. Van Dusen, Chris. Hattie & Hudson*.
5. Yamada, Kobi. What Do You Do with a Problem.
2018
1. Arena, Jen. Lady Liberty's Holiday.
2. Lazar, Tara. Little Red Gliding Hood.
3. Papp, Lisa. Madeline Finn and the Library Dog*.
4. Robinson, Michelle. There's a Lion in My Cornflakes.
5. Yardi, Robin. They Just Know: Animal Instincts.
2017
1. Coombs, Kate. The Tooth Fairy Wars*.
2. Gliori, Deb. Dragon's Extraordinary Egg.
3. O'Neill, Gemma. Monty's Magnificent Mane.
4. Shaw, Stephanie. The Legend of the Beaver's Tail.
5. Tate, Don. Poet: the Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton.
2016
1. Base, Graeme. Last King of Angkor Wat.
2. Becker, Bonnie. Library Book for Bear.
3. Lefebvre, Jason. Too Much Glue*
4. Van Allsburg, Chris. The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie.
5. Wade, Mary Dodson. No Year of the Cat.
2015
1. Beaty, Andrea. Rosie Revere, Engineer.
2. Hopkins, Jackie Mims. Prairie Chicken Little.
3. Kvatum, Lia. Saving Yasha: True Story of an Adopted Moon Bear.*
4. McConduit, Denise. The Boy Who Wouldn't Read.
5. Mortensen, Lori. Cowpoke Clyde and the Dirty Dawg.
2014
1. Bernheimer, Kate. The Lonely Book.
2. Coury, Tina Nichols. Hanging off of Jefferson's Nose.
3. Schwartz, Corey Rosen. The Three Ninja Pigs.
4. Shannon, David. Jangles.*
5. Spires, Ashley. Larf
2013
1. Casanova, Mary. The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town.
2. Laminack, Lester L. Three Hens and a Peacock.
3. McDermott, Gerald. Monkey: A Trickster Tale from India.
4. Van Dusen, Chris. King Hugo's Huge Ego.*
5. Winter, Jeanette. The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps.
2012
1. DiPucchio, Kelly S. Alfred Zector, Book Collector.
2. Kimmel, Eric A. Joha Makes a Wish: a Middle Eastern Tale.
3. Krause, Ute. Oscar and the Very Hungry Dragon.
4. McCully, Emily Arnold. Wonder Horse: Story of the World's Smartest Horse.*
5. Van Allsburg, Chris. Queen of the Falls.
2011
1. Crimi, Carolyn. Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates.*
2. Hopkinson, Deborah. Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: a Tall, Thin Tale
3. Love, Donna. Henry, the Impatient Heron.
4. Van Dusen, Chris. The Circus Ship.
5. Winter, Jeanette. Wangari's Trees of Peace: a True Story of Africa
2010
1. Broach, Elise. When Dinosaurs Came with Everything.
2. Deedy, Carmen Agra. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: a Cuban Folktale
3. Krensky, Stephen. Big Bad Wolves at School.
4. Larson, Kirby. Two Bobbies: a True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival.*
5. Shannon, David. Too Many Toys.
2009
1. Arnosky, Jim. Grandfather Buffalo.
2. Collins, Suzanne. When Charlie McButton Lost Power.
3. Ernst, Lisa Campbell. The Gingerbread Girl.
4. Knudsen, Michelle. Library Lion.*
5. Wilson, Karma. Whopper Cake.
2008
1. Asher, Sandy. Too Many Frogs.
2. White, Linda Arms. I Could Do That!: Ester Morris Gets Women the Vote
3. Collard, Sneed B. III. Shep.*
4. Howard, Arthur. Serious Trouble.
5. McKissack, Patricia C. Precious and the Boo Hag.
2007
1. Auch, Mary Jane. Souper Chicken.
2. Bridges, Shirin Yim. Ruby's Wish.
3. Hatkoff, Isabella. Owen & Mzee: the True Story of a Remarkable Friendship.
4. McDonald, Megan. Saving the Liberty Bell.
5. Stevens, Janet. The Great Fuzz Frenzy.*
2006
1. Funke, Cornelia. The Princess Knight.
2. Icenoggle,Jodi. 'Til the Cows Come Home.
3. Kaza, Keiko. My Lucky Day.*
4. Orloff, Karen Kaufman. I Wanna Iguana.
5. Rodanas, Kristina. The Blind Hunter.
2005
1. Eubank, Patty Reader. Seaman's Journal.*
2. Haseley, Dennis. A Story for Bear.
3. Ketteman, Helen. Armadillo Tattletale.
4. Melling, David. The Kiss That Missed.
5. Nolen, Jerdine. Thunder Rose.
2004
1. Calmenson, Stephanie. The Frog Principal.
2. Harris, Jim. The Three Little Dinosaurs.*
3. MacDonald, Allan. The Pig in a Wig.
4. Tchana, Katrin. Sense Pass King: A Story from Camaroon.
5. White, Linda Arms. Comes A Wind.
2003
1. Garland, Michael. Icarus Swinebuckle.
2. O'Neill, Alexis. The Recess Queen.
3. Reiss, Mike. The Great Show-and-tell Disaster.
4. Willey, Margaret. Clever Beatrice: an Upper Peninsula Conte.
5. Wilson, Gina. Ignis.*
2002
1. Cronin, Doreen. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.
2. Lester, Helen. Tacky and the Emperor.
3. Kimmel, Eric A. Robin Hook, Pirate Hunter!
4. Munson, Derek. Enemy Pie.*
5. San Souci, Robert D. Callie Ann and Mistah Bear.
2001
1. Blake, Robert J. Akiak : A Tale From The Iditarod.*
2. Eversole, Robyn Harbert. Red Berry Wool.
3. Lasky, Kathryn. The Emperor's Old Clothes.
4. Nolen, Jerdine. Raising Dragons.
5. Wood, Audrey. The Red Racer.
2000
1. Ernst, Lisa Campbell. Stella Louella's Runaway Book.
2. Howe, James. Horace And Morris But Mostly Dolores.
3. Roddie, Shen. Too Close Friends.
4. Tunnell, Michael O. Mailing May.
5. Wardlaw, Lee. Punia and the King Of Sharks: a Hawaiian Folktale.*
1999
1. Shannon, David. A Bad Case Of Stripes.*
2. Lowell, Susan. Little Red Cowboy Hat.
3. Hoberman, Mary Ann. The Seven Silly Eaters.
4. Kurtz, Jane. Trouble.
5. Ryder, Joanne. Winter White.
1998
1. Bernhard, Emery. The Girl Who Wanted To Hunt.*
2. Brown, Marc. Arthur Writes a Story.
3. Harper, Jo. Outrageous, Bodacious Boliver Boggs!
4. Silverman, Erica. Mrs. Peachtree's Bicycle.
5. Stanley, Diane. Saving Sweetness.
1997
1. Brown, Laurene Krasny. Rex and Lilly: Family Time.
2. Bruchac, Joseph. First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story.
3. Lester, Helen. Three Cheers for Tacky.*
4. Viorst, Judith. Alexander Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going To Move.
5. Yorinks, Arthur. Whitefish Will Rides Again.
1996
1. Archambault, John. Beautiful Feast for Big King Cat.
2. Cannon, Janell. Stellaluna.
3. Isaacs, Anne. Swamp Angel*
4. McDermott, Gerald. Zomo the Rabbit: Trickster Tale from West Africa.*
5. Rylant, Cynthia. Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog.
1995
1. Arnold, Tedd. Signmaker's Assistant.
2. Bunting, Eve. Someday a Tree.
3. Coehn, Barbara. Make a Wish, Molly.
4. Glaser, Linda. Keep Your Socks On, Albert!
5. Stevens, Janet. Coyote Steals the Blanket.*
1994
1. Brett, Jan. Trouble with Trolls.*
2. Byars, Betsy. Hooray for the Golly Sisters.
3. Kimmel, Eric. Tale of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp.
4. Polacco, Patricia. Just Plain Fancy.
5. Van Laan, Nancy. Rainbow Crow.
1993
1. Blake, Quentin. All Join In.
2. Calhoun, Mary. High Wire Henry.*
3. Henkes, Kevin. Chrysanthemum.
4. Hoffman, Mary. Amazing Grace.
5. Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge Take the Big Test.
1992
1. Fox, Mem. Shoes for Grandpa.
2. Karlin, Barbara. Cinderella.
3. Lewis, Patrick. A Hippopotamusn't and Other Animal Verses.
4. Peet, Bill. Cock-A-Doodle Dudley*.
5. Yolen, Jane. Sky Dogs.
1991 (1st year of award)
1. Carrick, Carol. What Happened to Patrick's Dinosaurs.
2. Goble, Paul. Iktomi and the Berries.
3. Henkes, Kevin. Shelia Rae, the Brave.
4. Kellogg, Steven. Johnny Appleseed.
5. Martin, C. L. The Dragon Nanny.*