The Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Readers' Choice Award was established in 2003 by the Illinois school library media association (ISLMA) to help Kindergarten through 3rd grade readers become familiar with books, illustrators and authors; encourage children to read critically; and to develop a statewide awareness of outstanding literature for children.

The award name and image was chosen as a symbol of growth, change and freedom and to help familiarize students with the state's insect.

Award Process

The award is given annually (beginning in 2005) to a single author and/or illustrator by a collective vote of Kindergarten through 3rd grade students in Illinois. The award is administered by a steering committee that seeks nominations from public librarians, school library media specialist, teachers, and students. A volunteer reading committee then forms a master list of 20 of the nominated titles which include a range of interests and reading levels as well as 3 of each of the following types of children's books:

• Picture books
• Easy readers
• Chapter books

Students vote in February of each year for their favorite from the master list and the results are announced the following month.

Criteria for nomination

• Nominator must have read the book
• Book copyrighted within the past 5 years
• Be in print at the time of selection
• Author and/or illustrator must be living at the time of selection of mater list
• Book must be of interest and appeal to children in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade
• Must have literary merit
• May be fiction or nonfiction
• No title or series may be on two consecutive master lists
• If a title in a series has been awarded, other books in that series are ineligible for 5 years
• Book must not be a textbook, anthology
  Anthology
  An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
  
  , translation, toy, puzzle, pop-up or formula fiction
  Formula fiction
  In popular culture, formula fiction is literature in which the storylines and plots have been reused to the extent that the narratives are predictable. It is similar to genre fiction, which identifies a number of specific settings that are frequently reused...
  
  

Recipients

Note: Winners are highlighted in yellow.

Year	Author	Illustrator	Book	Citation
2005				Winner
2005				2nd Place
2005				3rd Place
2006				Winner
2007				Winner
2008				Winner
2009				Winner
2010				Winner

External links

• Chicago Public Library Kid's Catalog
• MacMillan Monarch Award Winners