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The Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards program was founded in 1999 with the first award given in 2000. Louisiana’s young people have read nearly 1.5 million books and cast over 460,000 votes in the 25 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 26th year, the program continues to encourage Louisiana’s youth to read for pleasure. The Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards is a reading enrichment program of the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library with additional support from the following sponsors:

2023-2024 Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards Winners and Honors

K-2nd Grade

Winner: Are You a Cheeseburger (Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins) written and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo

Honor: Chez Bob (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Hachette Book Group) written and illustrated by Bob Shea

3-5th Grade

Winner: Allergic (Graphix, Scholastic) written by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter

Honor: The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field (Millbrook Press, Lerner Publishing Group) written by Scott Riley, illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien

6-8th Grade

Winner: Starfish (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House) written by Lisa Fipps

Honor: Deadman's Castle (Margaret Ferguson Books, Holiday House) written by Iain Lawrence

9-12th Grade

Winner: Firekeeper's Daughter (Henry Holt & Co. Books for Young Readers, Macmillan) written by Angeline Boulley

Honor: Any Sign of Life (Greenwillow Books, HarperCollins) written by Rae Carson

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 Jamie Hebert, 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 Jamie Hebert at jhebert@slol.lib.la.us or 225-342-4996.