Nutmeg Book Award Foundation Inc

The Nutmeg Book Award Foundation Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting quality literature for children in Connecticut. It sponsors the Nutmeg Book Award, a program aimed at encouraging children from grades 2 to 12 to read and appreciate quality literature.

Purpose and Scope

The Nutmeg Book Award is designed to engage children with diverse and well-written fiction, or narrative nonfiction for younger grades, and have them vote for their favorite titles. The program is divided into four divisions:

• Elementary (grades 2-3)
• Intermediate (grades 4-6)
• Middle School (grades 7-8)
• High School (grades 9-12)

Criteria for Selection

Books selected for the Nutmeg Awards must meet specific criteria:

• For Elementary, books can be fiction or narrative nonfiction appealing to readers in grades 2-3.
• For Intermediate and higher, books are fiction with appeal for their respective age groups.
• All books must be copyrighted in the United States within five years preceding the award year, currently in print, and available in paperback.
• They should exhibit strong characterization, vivid settings, striking language, a well-constructed plot, and a plausible conclusion.

Governance and Sponsors

The Nutmeg Book Award is jointly sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association (CLA) and the Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL). The selection process involves committees comprised of children's librarians, school library media specialists, and student representatives.

Voting Process

Students from grades 2 to 12 vote for their favorite titles in April. Voting is conducted through official ballots at participating schools and public libraries, with each institution managing its voting process. The votes are tallied and submitted electronically by the end of April.

Involvement Opportunities

Community members can get involved by serving on committees, including book selection committees, though these require a significant time commitment due to the extensive number of titles reviewed annually[1].