About the Blue Crab Award

The Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award was created in 2004 in an attempt to stimulate interest in books for the beginning reader and the emergent independent reader. At that time, there were few books produced in this niche, and it was hoped that an award that could garner national attention would encourage authors, illustrators and publishers to produce better quality books in this niche.

Since the inception of this committee for the Maryland Library Association (MLA), other organizations have begun to offer beginning reader awards as well. For example, the American Library Association (ALA) established the Geisel award in 2004 in response to this need in children's publishing.

Each year,  one winning book and up to three honor books will be selected to receive an award in each of the following categories:

• Beginning Reader Fiction

• Beginning Reader Nonfiction

• Transitional Fiction

• Transitional Nonfiction

Purpose:

• Identify and promote the best fiction and nonfiction books published at the K-2nd grade reading level (early readers) and at the 2nd-4th grade reading level (transitional readers), both for children reading at grade level and for reluctant older readers.

• Provide teachers, librarians, and caregivers with a resource list of excellent books for beginning readers.

• Encourage publishers, authors, and illustrators to create high quality books for beginning readers.