All Kindergarten, First, and Second graders are getting a chance to have their voices heard through the Wisconsin book voting process, the Golden Archer Award. The Golden Archer Award goes through a nominating process each spring - asking children to nominate their favorite books based on the criteria shared at the end of this blog post. Each year the top 5 books, which are chosen by students around the state as the best picture book, are listed and shared. These books are then read to all K-2 grade students. After the 5 books are read, the students (and students only) are able to vote on their favorite book choice. All the votes are added together with other students around the state. Truly, the Golden Archer Award book is a Wisconsin's Children's Choice Award! I can't wait to see which book they will have chosen. The results will be announced in the last week of March.
Here are the titles we are reading:
- Big Mean Mike by Michelle Knudsen
- Press Here by Herv`e Tullet
- This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
- Extra Yarn by Marc Barnett and
- Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
So How does a book get to be a Golden Archer Nominee? Well, based on the WEMTA website that sponsors the Golden Archer Award, it's really 5 criteria points:
Children were asked to select a "best book" with these criteria: 1. Characters you never forget. - 2. Plot that is so exciting it keeps you reading to the very end. - 3. Place described so beautifully that you feel as if you are there. - 4. Theme so important that it makes you live the book as you read. - 5. Style: a story told so well that the book sings on in your mind ....
Be sure to ask your child about the readings that are happening and which will be their favorite Golden Archer Award!
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Benes