Iowa Children's Choice Award

Purpose of the Iowa Children's Choice Award

To encourage to read more and better books
To provide an avenue for positive dialogue between teachers, parents, and children about books and authors
To give recognition to those who write books for children
To provide children an opportunity to choose a book to receive the award
To offer an avenue for students to suggest books for the yearly reading list

The Iowa Children's Choice Award is unique in that it gives children an opportunity to choose the book to receive the award and to suggest books for the yearly reading list.

Iowa Children's Choice Award Books

2024-2025

Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominees

Supply Order Form

Book Award Resources

Voting Specifications

Nature of award: Engraved plaque

Frequency and/or number of awards given: 1 each year

Funding from sale of posters, bookmarks and label supplies for award books.

Voting Process for Selecting Winner

Voting Process

In the spring, 3rd through 6th grade students across Iowa take part in the nomination of books for the Iowa Children's Choice Award. The nominations may come exclusively from these students so that it is ensured that these are the favorites of students in this age group. Nominations are not allowed from authors or publishers.
After the suggestions are submitted, these books are reviewed by the committee and volunteer readers and the list is narrowed. During the summer, the adult readers read and rate the titles. The committee members finalize the list a year ahead of time.
Students should read at least two titles to be eligible to vote. It is acceptable for students to read these themselves or have heard them read aloud.
Students may vote for only one title and may not vote for any title they have not read or heard read.
Voting will be conducted on ballots produced by each attendance center. Each participating school will send the results by web ballot unless another method is designated by the Iowa Children's Choice chair. There will be a voting template available created by the ICCA chair for those attendance centers who wish to use them. Students can then suggest titles for upcoming ICCA reading lists at this same time.

Process for notification

Notification is sent immediately after winner is announced. Winner is contacted through publisher or agent, or through personal contact. Iowa Children's Choice chair notifies winner.

Requirements of winners, if any, with details as to compliance follow-up procedures

None, although if thank you letters are received from winners, they are included on the ICCA website.

Iowa Children's Choice Selection and Nomination Criteria

Selection Criteria

Book Criteria

Eligible works must be published for young adults within two years of the list year. (If a list will be released in 2021, then books will be copyright year 19& 20)
Works may be fiction or nonfiction and should represent a wide range of subjects and reading levels.
Twenty works from twenty different authors will be selected.
Books should be written predominately in English and currently in print.
A variety of genres will be selected to as a great extent as is practical.
Works selected will appeal to readers of any gender and to the range of readers in grades 3-6.
Works must have at least one positive review from a major library reviewing periodical.
Series books are accepted if they can stand alone.
Graphic novels are accepted.
Works NOT considered for inclusion on the list include:
- Newbery Winners (although Honor Books are eligible)
- Books which have appeared on previous IASL Book Awards Lists