Mark Twain Award

MASL sponsors four children to young adult choice book awards: the Show Me Readers Award, the Mark Twain Award, the Truman Readers Award and the Gateway Readers Award. The Mark Twain Award is selected by students in grades four through six and presented annually. Nominations of titles of literary merit for the stated grade range to be considered for the award are invited.

PURPOSE: The Mark Twain Award is to provide the children of Missouri with a recommended reading list of literature that will enrich their lives through reading.. 

GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING BOOKS:
1. Books should interest children in grades four through six.
2. Books should be an original work written by an author living in the United States.
3. Books should be of literary value which may enrich children's personal lives.
4. Books should be published two years prior to nomination on a Master List of 12 Nominees.

Click here to recommend a book for the Mark Twain Award.

For a complete listing of current Mark Twain Committee members, click here.

WHO MAY VOTE: Although the list is chosen for grades 4 through 6, any student regardless of grade level is eligible to vote for their favorite book if they have read or have had read to them at least FOUR of the titles on the current master Mark Twain list.

HOW TO VOTE: Each school or qualifying group will design its own ballots. Each student gets ONE vote. Votes are tallied by each school or group on a tally sheet, which can be downloaded here (available during voting only.) The results from the tally sheet should be entered into the online voting system.

All votes must be entered by Midnight on March 11, 2008.

Mailed or faxed entries will NOT be accepted.

PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Many of the titles on the Mark Twain Master List are available in audio or Braille format to eligible students.For information, contact Wolfner Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Missouri State Information Center, 600 West Main, PO Box 387, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0387. E-mail: wolfner@sos.mo.gov. Telephone (573) 751-8720 or toll-free (800) 392-2614.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS: Click here to print an order form. Orders for posters, bookmarks, brochures, seals, labels, and the promotional video should be sent to:

MARK TWAIN AWARD MATERIALS
MASL Office
606 Dix Road
Jefferson City, MO 65109
or email: masl_org@earthlink.net 

Disclaimer: The Missouri Association of School Librarians does not endorse nor recommend any blog discussions relating to books that are on the reading lists for the Gateway, Mark Twain, Show Me, or Truman Reading Incentive Programs.