Afterschool Monarch Award Storytime

The Monarch Award is given annually to an author and/or illustrator of a book voted as their favorite by participating K – 3^rd grade children in Illinois. The award is sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) and is designed to encourage Illinois student’s to read critically and to become familiar with children’s books, authors and illustrators.

The award is named in honor of the Monarch Butterfly, Illinois’ state insect. The butterfly symbolizes growth, change and freedom, qualities that also characterize the emergent reader.

Afterschool Monarch Award Storytime Wednesdays, 3:30pm Sept. 16 – Feb. 10 (except Nov.25, Dec.23, 30, and Jan.6)

This 45 minute program is designed for children K – 3^rd grade. Children will review, in a fun and crafty way, books nominated for the Monarch Award and vote for their favorites in February. Caregivers are asked to stay on the Library’s premises, not necessarily in the downstairs meeting room, during this program time.

Letter to Parent/Guardian

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Here is a little information about “Afterschool Monarch Award Storytime”.

The Monarch Award is given annually (beginning in 2005) to an author and/or illustrator of a book voted as their favorite by participating K – 3^rd grade children in Illinois. The award is sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) and is designed to encourage Illinois students to read critically and to become familiar with children’s books, authors and illustrators.

The award is named in honor of the Monarch Butterfly, the Illinois’ state insect. The butterfly symbolizes growth, change and freedom, all qualities that also characterize the emergent reader.

This storytime is designed for grades K – 3^rd but is open to everyone (please note that only K-3^rd graders will be eligible to “officially” vote).

We will meet every Wednesday from 3:30- approx. 4:15pm, from September 16 through February 10 (except Nov. 25, Dec. 23, 30, and Jan. 6) in the library’s downstairs meeting room.

Voting on the Monarch Award will be in February with a party to celebrate the winning book/author in March or April.

Parents and/or guardians are not required to stay with the children during this time but we do ask that you stay on the Library’s premises.

Each week I will read or begin a Monarch Award nominated book and then do activities related to that book. Each child will also get a bookmark with all the nominees and scoring for each book that they can take home. Nominated books may be read at home, which is encouraged, in any order you choose, as many times as you choose. Bookmarks do not need to be returned. They are just to help children remember the books when the time comes to vote.

We will read all 20 nominated books during the program. For the K-3^rd child to be eligible to vote, at least 12 of the 20 books must have been read.

Thanks for all your support,

Robin Lovinggood

Check out previous year’s winners at:

http://www.islma.org/pdf/2009MonarchWinner.pdf

http://www.islma.org/pdf/2008MonarchWinner.pdf

http://www.islma.org/pdf/07MonarchWinner.pdf