The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award is a student choice award for the state of Maryland that has been awarded each year since 1992. The award seeks to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature.
Reading committees of school and public librarians, and other interested members of the Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL) meet to determine which books will be nominated and placed on student reading lists. A winner is chosen from each list of nominees that is published that year. Over the years the focus of the lists has changed to reflect changes in children's and young adult literature.
To participate, a student must read, or have read to them, a minimum number of books in each category. Those minimums are as follows:
a. Picture Books: 8 nominees
b. All other categories: 3 nominees in that category
See your school's librarian for more information on the voting process if you have met the guidelines to paricipate. The voting process usually runs Mid-January through Mid-April.
The nominated books are expected to be outstanding books that broaden the human experience and provide students with new insights into their own lives. Books may be suggested for consideration by students, teachers, parents, or other interested readers. If you would like to submit a nomination for consideration, please do so on this form by October 1 of each year.
Criteria for Nominated Books:
Books must have been read, discussed, and voted upon by the appropriate Black-Eyed Susan reading committee before being placed on the corresponding list.
There are six different reading lists:
Students who have followed the “Guidelines for Participation” may cast one vote for the book they consider to be the most outstanding book in each of the categories. The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Committee gathers and tallies all votes from across the state to determine the winner.
The winning authors and/or illustrators receive an award engraved with the book title, the year, and the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award logo. Authors, illustrators, and publishers recognize the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award as an honor bestowed by Maryland student readers.
The information above has been directly taken from the Maryland Association of School Librarians website.
Maryland Association of School Librarians. "Black-Eyed Susan Award." MarylandAssociation of School Librarians, MASL, www.maslmd.org/black-eyed-susan-award. Accessed 18 July 2023
