Rhode Island Book Awards

Here in the "Great State of Rhode Island" (we may be small but we fancy ourselves mighty) yearly lists of recommended books for school-aged readers get released.  These awards, sponsored by School Librarians of Rhode Island (SLRI), Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) and Rhode Island Center for the Book, pull together books that aim to engage young readers while also introducing history, offering a survey of book genres, increasing social issue awareness and an creating an understanding of world issues.  

This was always the most exciting time of the year when I worked at the library.  These lists are always full of book for kids, teens and tweens that I might not have discovered on my own.  I can honestly say that each year I had multiple books from each list that I was excited to read and we never had a kid not find something on the list that appealed to them. 

The lists are generally released just in time for local library Summer Reading Programs and School Summer Reading Assignments.  Teachers often pull from the list when formulating their reading recommendations and/or yearly curriculum.  Additionally many schools run events where students are encouraged to read books from the list and then have fun themed days based on the books.  Events such as Rooster Games and Teen Book Battles offer a fun reward for reading which is very helpful for reluctant readers.  Imagine a school environment where reading is cool?  Certainly not a thing when I was trudging through school in the 1990s!

If these lists seem interesting or useful to you, here are some links for each level:

The Rhode Island Children's Book Award 2022 Nominees

The Rhode Island Middle School Book Awards 2022 Nominees

The Rhode Island Teen Book Award 2022 Nominees