Book Award Guidelines

South Carolina Book Awards

Criteria for Book Selections

Titles to be considered are nominated primarily by members of the Book Award Committees, but nominations are sought from anyone interested in encouraging students to read. Students, teachers, media specialists, and parents are encouraged to submit titles for consideration to the Book Awards Board Representative.  Authors and publishers may not submit titles for consideration.

  1. Books may be fiction or nonfiction and must be original works. In order to include the genre of folk and fairy tales, the committees may use their discretion in determining if a retelling is appropriate.
  2. No Newbery or Caldecott Award winners will be considered. Honor books may be considered.
  3. The books should have good literary qualities (plot, characterization, narration, style, etc.).  Titles should reflect a balance in terms of genre.
  4. Only books by authors residing in the United States at the time of nomination are eligible.
  5. Books included on each list should have appropriate reviews for the specified grades and interest level. It is recommended that age of characters be a consideration, especially in regard to the teen years. This age appropriate level generally begins at the high end of the Junior Book category.
  6. Books under consideration must be listed in the most current edition of Books in Print and have a copyright date of the present year or the preceding year.
  7. Each title on the consideration list must have at least two positive reviews and NO NEGATIVE REVIEWS from reputable reviewing sources.
  8. Only one title by an author will be included each year on each book award final list. There will be a three-year wait for an author’s book to appear on any nominee list after that author has won any two South Carolina Book Awards.
  9. Every book need not be judged appropriate for each grade level, but books will be included for grades 4K-3 (Picture), 3-6 (Children’s), 6-9 (Junior), and 9-12 (Young Adult).

    Members should remember that these lists are being endorsed by SCASL as quality reading for that year, keeping in mind the appropriateness for all students in South Carolina.

Guidelines for Participation

A.  Students

Participation in the South Carolina Book Award program is open to all students who are attending public or private schools in grades 4k-12.

Older students may read from early in the school year until the voting date which will be published on the SCASL website and in the Media Center Messenger; younger students do best if reading is done the last few months before voting.

B.  Sponsor

It is suggested that the school media specialist be the sponsor of the book award program in a school; however, any teacher or administrator may act as sponsor.

To ensure students may participate, the sponsor should do several things.

a. The sponsor should secure the support and authorization of the principal.

b. The sponsor should provide information about participating in the award program to teachers and students.

c. The sponsor should read the books to determine if each is acceptable by th the school’s book selection policy.

d. The sponsor should encourage reading by selecting the best list or combination of lists to serve his/her school. Schools must purchase at least 50% of the titles on each list in order to participate. Students should read a minimum of five books from the Picture Book or Children’s Book list in order to vote for that award. Students in the Picture Book category are encouraged to read at least eight of the titles. Students should read a minimum of three books from the Junior Book list or Young Adult Book list in order to vote.

e. Each child has one vote in each of the categories.

f. Every vote (not just the school winner) should be sent to the corresponding book award vice chair by the specified date. The SCASL website includes a voting form and tally sheets for use by schools.

g. Participating schools will be given a Certificate of Participation.

Updated: 26 March 2012


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