Truman Readers 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 Award is selected by students in grades six through eight and presented annually. Nominations of titles of literary merit for the stated grade range to be considered for the award are invited.

PURPOSE: The Truman Readers Award encourages students in the early teen years to express their unique voice through: exploring new literary genres, communicating with their peers about young adult literature, and honoring authors writing for young teens.

GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING BOOKS:
1. Books should interest early teens in grades six through eight.
2. Books should be written by an author living in the United States.
3. Books should be of literary value which may enrich early teens' personal lives.
4. Books should be published two years prior to nomination on a Master List of 12 nominees.
5. Some consideration should be given to genre diversity, gender representation, range of reading level, racial diversity, and diversity of social, political, economic, and religious viewpoints.

Click here to recommend a book for the Truman Readers Award.

Truman Readers Award Announcement - Click here for more information

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

WHO MAY VOTE: Missouri students are eligible to vote for their favorite book if they have read at least FOUR of the titles on the current master list. Since this is the first year for the Truman Readers Award, voting will not begin until March, 2009.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS: Orders for available promotional items will be available in April, 2008. Click here to print an order form.

PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Many of the titles on the Truman 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.

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.