The Arkansas State Library facilitates three book awards across the state. Each award winner is selected by eligible students on an annual basis:
- Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award, established in 1998 to encourage reading for students in Grades K-3;
- Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award, presented annually since 1971through a vote taken by Arkansas school children in grades four, five and six.
- Arkansas Teen Book Award, founded in 2009 to encourage reading among Arkansas youth; andÂ
Any resident of Arkansas can submit a title for the award committee to consider for nomination.
Arkansas Diamond Primary and Charlie May Simon Award Cycles
The award committees work on an annual basis from April-March. The committees evaluate titles published two years before the school year that voting will take place.
For example, from April 2024-March 2025, the committee considers titles originally published in 2023. The list of titles selected for nomination will then be voted on by students during the 2025-2026 school year.
Arkansas Diamond Primary and Charlie May Simon Qualifications and Restrictions
- Original publication date for the consideration cycle
- Fiction and non-fiction are accepted
- Graphic novels are accepted
- Only the first book in a series will be considered– in “universe” titles could qualify
- No wordless books
- No translations
- Author or Illustrator must be living in the United States at the time of consideration
Arkansas Teen Book Award Qualifications and Restrictions
- Original publication date
- Fiction and non-fiction accepted
- Graphic novels accepted
Publisher Submissions
All three Arkansas Choice Book Awards welcome submissions from publishers and authors. The awards run on different timelines, but submitted titles can be placed on the correct consideration list any time prior to the final month of the consideration cycle.
For more information about the awards, contact:
- Ruth Hyatt
- Library Coordinator, Youth Services
- ruth.hyatt@ade.arkansas.gov or (501) 682-2860.
