Text Box: Monarch Award This award is sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association. Students in grades K—3 throughout Illinois read (or are read to) at least five books on the nominated book list. In February the students vote for their favorite book. The tallies are sent to ISLMA for tabulation. The winner is announced at the Illinois Reading Council conference in March. The 2010 Monarch Award winner is Scaredy Squirrel written and illustrated by Melanie Watt . Our Farmingdale Elementary winner is also Scaredy Squirrel. For more information about this award including past winners and this year’s nominated books visit the ISMLA website: www.islma.org/monarch.htm NEW!!!! BLUESTEM AWARD Starting with the 2010 –2011 school year a new award for third, fourth and fifth grades will be offered by ISMLA. Farmingdale Library was awarded a full set of books on the list (20 books) by ISLMA/ Endowment Fund. This award is for children who are reading at a more independent level than the Monarch Award, but aren’t quite ready for the Rebecca Caudill Award ( fourth—eight grade) book list .

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Kathleen Trapp

Farmingdale Elementary Library/Media Center