California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) Nominees
Don’t let your students miss out…GET STARTED Reading and Sharing!
We have TIME! Vote by April 1st 2021!
Since the inception of CYRM in 1974 by then President, Becca Wachman, millions of California children in grades k-12, have nominated, read, and voted for the winners of the California Young Reader Medal.
Students throughout California vote for their favorite book in five different categories. The categories are: primary (grades K-3), intermediate (grades 3-6), middle school/junior high (grades 6-8), young adult (grades 9-12), and picture books for older readers (grades 4 and up).
Students must read or have read to them each of the 3 or 5 books in the category in order to vote. Schools may participate in one or more of the categories. Many school use the CYRM books as an opportunity to teach students about the right to vote.
Every Vote counts…and must be submitted for the class by a teacher or librarian and received by April 1. Winners are announced May 1st on our website. Winning authors are invited to our state conferences, where in non-Covid years, students present the winning author (and illustrators) with the beautiful bronze medal. Books are available in public libraries, online vendors, and through local independent vendors, like Russo’s, www.russosbooks.com in Bakersfield. Smile Amazon donates to CRA for its literacy projects.
Additional Details about our committee, including how to recommend books and when to vote, additional resources and the official ballot can be found on our website, www.californiayoungreadermedal.org.
Students throughout California vote for their favorite book in five different categories. The categories are: primary (grades K-3), intermediate (grades 3-6), middle school/junior high (grades 6-8), young adult (grades 9-12), and picture books for older readers (grades 4 and up).
Students must read or have read to them each of the 3 or 5 books in the category in order to vote. Schools may participate in one or more of the categories. Many school use the CYRM books as an opportunity to teach students about the right to vote.
Every Vote counts…and must be submitted for the class by a teacher or librarian and received by April 1. Winners are announced May 1st on our website. Winning authors are invited to our state conferences, where in non-Covid years, students present the winning author (and illustrators) with the beautiful bronze medal. Books are available in public libraries, online vendors, and through local independent vendors, like Russo’s, www.russosbooks.com in Bakersfield. Smile Amazon donates to CRA for its literacy projects.
Additional Details about our committee, including how to recommend books and when to vote, additional resources and the official ballot can be found on our website, www.californiayoungreadermedal.org.
2021-2022 Nominees
Vote HERE!
2021 Winners!
Sergeant Reckless
Written by Patricia McCormick Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno Published by Balzer and Bray, 2017 |
All We Have Left
Written by Wendy Mills Published by Bloomsbury, 2017 |
Lily and Dunkin
Written by Donna Gephart Published by Delacorte Press, 2016 |
Restart
Written by Gordon Korman Published by Scholastic |
Poor Louie
Written by Tony Fucile Published by Candlewock Press, 2017 |
2020 Winners!
2019 Winners!
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
Written by Laura Ann Thompson Illustrated by Sean Qualls Published by Schwartz & Wade |
2018 Winners!
Barbed Wire Baseball
Written by Marissa Moss Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2016 |
2017 Winners!
SAM & DAVE DIG A HOLE
Written by Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen Published by Candlewick Press, 2014 |
ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY
Written by Chris Grabenstein Published by Random House Books for Young Readers, 2013 |
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES
Written by Shannon Messenger Published by Aladdin Books, 2012 |
RED QUEEN
Written by Victoria Aveyard Published by HarperCollins, 2015 |
EACH KINDNESS
Written by Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by E. B. Lewis Published by Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012 |
California Young Reader Medal
The California Young Reader Medal program was founded by CRA in 1974. A committee of members from CRA, CSLA, CATE and CLA select the books for each year based on nominations from the field. The CYRM committee is proud to announce the NOMINEES for the 2016-2017 California Young Reader Medals. View the full list at on the California Young Reader Medal website.
Each year, current books are recognized for their meritorious contribution to literature for young people.
The California Young Reader Medal is proud to announce the NOMINEES for the 2016-2017 California Young Reader Medals:
Children, young adults, educators, librarians, parents, or anyone who works with young people and books may recommend titles. This recommendation process may take place in the classroom or may reflect work with children and young adults in a library. California Young Reader Medal recommended titles must reflect what young people like to read.
Each book must be nominated for a particular age category.
Criteria for Nomination:
After the nominees are selected, teachers and students can read all the books in each category and vote on their favorite title. The ballots are sent to the committee and then counted by the committee. The winners are announced in May. Check out the CYRM website for ballot and voting information. The CYRM website also has many resources such as reader’s theater scripts and lesson ideas for each CYRM winner.
Each year, current books are recognized for their meritorious contribution to literature for young people.
The California Young Reader Medal is proud to announce the NOMINEES for the 2016-2017 California Young Reader Medals:
Children, young adults, educators, librarians, parents, or anyone who works with young people and books may recommend titles. This recommendation process may take place in the classroom or may reflect work with children and young adults in a library. California Young Reader Medal recommended titles must reflect what young people like to read.
Each book must be nominated for a particular age category.
Criteria for Nomination:
- Must have strong appeal for the age group for which the recommendation is made.
- Often read or requested by children and young adults.
- Published within the previous four years and still in print.
- Written by an author who is still living.
After the nominees are selected, teachers and students can read all the books in each category and vote on their favorite title. The ballots are sent to the committee and then counted by the committee. The winners are announced in May. Check out the CYRM website for ballot and voting information. The CYRM website also has many resources such as reader’s theater scripts and lesson ideas for each CYRM winner.