THE GARDEN STATE BOOK AWARDS
Children's Book Awards
 Past Recipents
The Garden State Children's Book Awards were established in 1977 to
honor books for younger readers. The Children's Services Section (CSS)
of the New Jersey Library Association felt that books for the early and
middle grades seldom received proper recognition. Yet it is at this age,
more than any other, that the potential reader needs to be encouraged,
stimulated and captivated by the printed work and good illustration.
The
winners are chosen by a committee of the Children's Services Section
of the New Jersey Library Association on the basis of literary merit
and
popularity
with readers. The awards are given to both author and illustrator in four
categories: "Easy to Read" as specifically designated by the publisher, "Easy
to Read Series", Fiction and Non-fiction for younger children in grades
2-5. Because children vote for their favorite books, the committee works
with titles published three years before the award.
A volunteer committee of CSS members meets three times a year to draw up
a ballot. Eligible books are American hardcover titles. Reprints, re-issues
and
newly illustrated versions of older titles are not considered. The ballot is
examined for literary merit and appeal to readers. A list of 20 books in each
category is selected and distributed to New Jersey school and public libraries
for voting by children.
The committee then meets to tabulate results and to write original citations
for all winning authors and illustrators. Presentation of the awards is made
at the Spring Conference of NJLA.
The Garden State Children's Book Award Committee wishes to thank the children
of New Jersey for their participation and to thank all those schools and public
libraries across the state who with their support have made this award happen.
Teen Book Awards
Past Recipents
- The GSTBA nominees will be chosen from books that have appeared
on at least one Best Books list (these may include, but are not
limited to, lists compiled by the American Library Association, School
Library
Journal, and VOYA) three years prior to its appearance on the GSTBA
ballot.
- The GSTBA nominees will also reflect books nominated by committee
members throughout the state of New Jersey.
- The GSTBA ballot will
include a maximum of twenty nonfiction books for grades 6-12, a maximum
of twenty fiction books for grades 6-8, and
a maximum of twenty fiction books for grades 9-12.
- The GSTBA committee
seeks to expose teens to books that are both appealing and well written.
The committee may choose to exclude by majority
vote certain titles of overwhelming exposure. The GSTBA ballot should
be representative of the diversity found in the state of New Jersey.
Process for Selecting GSTBA Ballot:
- Members of the NJLA Young Adult Section
who have elected to read for the ballot will read the titles they
have been assigned.
- Readers will convene to determine the ballot at
three meetings,
each dedicated to one ballot category (Middle School Fiction, High
School Fiction, and Nonfiction Grades 6 – 12).
- At each meeting,
a listing of all titles under consideration for the category to be
discussed will be distributed.
- Readers will begin the process by
nominating titles for removal from consideration. Titles will be
removed if a clear consensus is reached,
otherwise titles will remain on the ballot for further consideration.
- Readers will then nominate titles to the final ballot based on the
GSTBA criteria.
- If more than 20 titles are nominated for a category,
readers will eliminate titles by vote.
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