Frequently Asked Questions
Timeline
- February 1st: Nominations announced
- April 1st: Ballots due. Recommendations due for next year
- May 1st: Winners announced
- July - March: Students read nominees
- November: Committee nominates for next year. Awards presented (CLA, CRA, CSLA). Packets presented for next year.
- February: Award presented at CATE
General Description
The California Young Reader Medal program is sponsored by:
CATE California Association of Teachers of English
Box 23833
San Diego, CA 92193-3833
(800)303-CATE
CLA California Library Association
717 20th Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-8541
CRA California Reading Association
3186 D-1 Airway
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 435-1983
CSLA California School Library Association
717 K Street, Suite 515
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-2684
The purpose of the California Young Reader Medal Program is to:
- encourage California young readers to become better acquainted with good literature.
- honor favorite books and authors (as well as illustrators in the Primary Category)
The award is given each year in four categories (grade levels):
- Primary (K-2)
- Intermediate (3-6)
- Middle School/Junior High (6-9)
- Young Adult (9-12)
The winning book in each category is determined by the vote of young readers of California. The award is a bronze medal depicting California State and a child reading. Medals are presented at the annual conferences of CATE, CLA, CRA, and CSLA.
Nomination Requirements
To be eligible for nomination, a book must:
- have strong appeal to the age group for which the recommendation is made.
- be a title most often read or requested by children and young adults.
- have been published within the previous five years and still be in print.
- be written by an author who is living.
- be an original work of fiction available in the English language.
Titles are submitted for nomination by young readers through their teacher and/or librarian. Nominations are due by April 1 of each year. The California Young Reader Medal Committee considers all titles nominated in each category and verifies that they meet the criteria above. Nominations include:
- 5 titles in the Primary category
- 3 titles in the intermediate category
- 3 titles in the Middle School/Junior category
- 3 titles in the Young Adult category