The Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award was established by the Arkansas Elementary School Council in 1998 to encourage reading for students in Grades K-3. The name of the award was chosen because Arkansas is the only diamond producing state. Children in Grades K-3 must have read at least three of the titles from the annual reading list and may vote for one title. Student voting is done in April each year.
The Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award for children's literature has been presented annually since 1971 to an author whose book has been selected through a vote taken by Arkansas school children in grades four, five and six. The purpose of the award is to promote better reading for children and to recognize Mrs. John Gould Fletcher, an outstanding Arkansas author who wrote under the pen name Charlie May Simon.
Every year the American Library Association awards the Newbery Medal for the most distinguished American children’s book published the previous year. The purpose of the award is to encourage original creative work in the field of books for children. To emphasize literature for children deserves similar recognition to poetry, plays, or novels. It is named for the eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newbery.
Many people believed that the artists creating picture books for children were as deserving of honor and encouragement as were the authors, Frederic G. Melcher suggested in 1937 the establishment of a second annual medal.. The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year. It is named in honor of the nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott.
Traveler offers remote log-in access to any Arkansas citizen. When choosing a search feature, it will ask for your city, zip code, and telephone number to verify resident status.
Traveler databases offer magazines, books, encyclopedias, and other resources to all Arkansas residents. Research current events, science, business, health, notable people, hobbies, and much more from your library, school, home or office. A handout with more info can be found here.