The Louisiana Young Readers' Choice program was founded in 1999 with the first award given in 2000. Louisiana’s young people have read nearly 1.4 million books and cast 438,000 votes in the 24 years since the program began. The purpose of the program is to foster a love of reading in the children of Louisiana by motivating them to participate in the recognition of outstanding books. The lists are well-balanced selections of high-quality fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Now entering its 24th year, the program continues to encourage Louisiana’s youth to read for pleasure. The Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award is a reading enrichment program of the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library with additional support from the following sponsors:

2022-2023 Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards Winners and Honors

3-5th Grade

Winner: Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator (Little Bigfoot, Penguin Random House) written by Emma Bland Smith, illustrated by Jennifer M. Potter

Honor: Swish! The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Hachette) written by Suzanna Slade, illustrated by Don Tate

6-8th Grade

Winner: Dress Coded (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House)
written by Carrie Firestone

Honor: Twins (Graphix, Scholastic) written by Varian Johnson, illustrated by Shannon Wright

9-12th Grade

Winner: Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir (Balzer + Bray, HarperCollins) written by Robin Ha

Honor: I’ll Be the One (Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins) written by Lyla Lee

To be Qualified to Vote Each Student:

• Must read 2 or more titles (9-12th) or 3 or more titles (K-2nd, 3-5th, 6-8th) on the ballot.
• Must live in Louisiana.
• Must be in grades K-2nd, 3-5th, 6-8th, 9-12th (or equivalent).
• Students with special needs may participate regardless of their grade.
• May vote only once and vote for only one book

How To Submit Votes:

• Each student may vote in his/her participating school or public library.
• Teachers and librarians must total the votes of their class or group and submit the tally. Individual ballots from students in groups will not be accepted. You may submit your votes online with the Vote Submittal Forms.
• The Vote Submittal Forms may be submitted online or printed and emailed to mthomas@slol.lib.la.us with Subject "Voting for LRC" or mailed to Megan Thomas, LRC, State Library of Louisiana, PO Box 131, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
• Children who do not have access to a participating school or library may submit the Vote Submittal Form directly from the web site or they may mail or fax the ballot.
• Blind and physically handicapped students may submit their votes directly to the Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Call 1-800-543-4702.
• The Vote Submittal Forms must be filled out completely with name and complete address. Incomplete forms will not be counted.

Any student who reads every title on their Louisiana Readers’ Choice Nominated list can receive a certificate of achievement signed by the State Librarian. 

** If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Youth Services Consultant, Megan Thomas at mthomas@slol.lib.la.us or 225-342-9716.