About the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Award

Third, fourth and fifth grade students across Minnesota participate in the Maud Hart Lovelace Award reading program. We’re gearing up for this school year’s Maud Hart Lovelace Award. At the end of March, those students who have read at least three of the twelve nominated books get to vote for their favorite one. They join students across Minnesota who are involved in this excellent reading promotion. Every year the number of students who participate at my school has increased. Even though they only have to read three, many of the fourth and fifth grade students read more and some finish all twelve each year! Right away in the fall I try to have at least four or five copies of each title, one hardcover and the rest paperbacks. I then create a PowerPoint or web-based booktalk to present  to the students.  After the presentation, they get to sign up on a sheet for three or more titles they are interested in reading. We then have a drawing to determine a fair order for everyone to receive the books over six months. Students track their progress on class lists that are posted in the media center. We finally decided on simple stickers under the titles they read. It looks tidier than having them check it off themselves and it’s sweet how they enjoy the simple act of adding a star or smiley face sticker. I sometimes invite the staff of the school to participate as well. They have their own star chart and the students will often check it to see which books their teacher or a para in their room have read. Depending on resources, we usually reward students who read all twelve books with a book or poster.
Here’s the list of Division I books nominated for this school year: