Volunteer State Book Award Guidelines

Purpose of the Award

The purpose of the Volunteer State Book Award is to promote awareness, interest, and enjoyment of recently published children's and young adult literature of high quality to the children and teens of Tennessee. The award also hopes to promote literacy and life‐long reading habits by encouraging students to read award‐worthy contemporary literature which broadens understanding of the human experience and provides accurate, factual information. This award will honor outstanding books chosen annually by Tennessee students.

Its Unique Feature

The Volunteer State Book Award differs from awards such as the Newbery and Caldecott Medals in that students choose the book which receives the award each year. Tennessee students from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade read or have read to them at least three of the twenty titles on the annual master list. They then vote for their favorite book.

Who May Participate?

Any public or private school or public library in Tennessee is eligible to participate. It is not required that the entire school be involved. Each participating school or library system must have a minimum of twelve of the twenty titles per division available.

How Books are Chosen

Twenty books that appeal to students in each grade category are selected by professional librarians and educators who work continuously with students in grades K‐12. Four separate lists are compiled each year.

• Books may be fiction or nonfiction.

• Only one title of any one author will be included on that year's list.

• Only titles published in the current year of voting will be eligible.

• Only books by authors residing in the United States are eligible. Authors who reside part‐time in the US are also eligible to receive the award.

• Textbooks, anthologies, translations, and books from foreign publishers are not eligible.

• Titles from vanity publishers or that have been self‐published are not eligible. Titles that are available only in digital format are likewise not eligible.

• All books on the final list will have been read by a minimum of five members of the committee.

How to Vote

• Students who have read or had read to them a minimum of three of the twenty books will be allowed to vote.

• The library media specialist or public librarian will conduct the voting.

• Digital ballots will be posted on the VSBA website. There will be no paper ballots.

• Voting opens March 1st and closes April 30th.