The Rebecca Caudill Book Award
Introduction

Comments by Kevin Killion (info@illinoisloop.org)



I was visiting the library at my son's former school and came across a special display of featured books. This was my introduction to the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award. Sounds good, right? Here's a portion of the official description:

"Illinois is one of 39 states offering a book award program which is determined by student vote. The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award is given to the author whose book receives the most votes from young readers in Illinois participating in the program. The purposes of this award are to encourage students in grades 4-8 to read for personal satisfaction, to develop a statewide awareness of outstanding literature for children and young people, to promote a desire for literacy, and to encourage cooperation among Illinois agencies..."

Right now, in many or most schools throughout Illinois, our children are now being encouraged to read a number of the Caudill candidates and to cast their votes.

So what's actually in the 20 nominated books each year? Click on the links at the top of this window for a list oif each year's "award-winning" books.

Spoiler alert:
In the interest of helping parents and teachers evaluate these books, some of these descriptions may reveal story plots or twists.


I don't have a problem with my son learning about all facets of the world -- that's all part of life. But why is the category I called "The World Is A Cold, Cruel Place" so huge?

And why is the list totally dominated by fictional works, with only a rare entry from the entire factual, real world -- and that's typically about extraordinarily bleak events (child labor, orphan trains)?

While it is important for a child to learn about the realities of the world, shouldn't there also be a place for positive, uplifting themes?

Why not?

Read about the award nominees for each year by clicking on the years at the top of this window.

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Your comments are warmly invited! Please write to me at info@illinoisloop.org.
-- Kevin Killion