Most Indiana schools participate in the Young Hoosier Book Award Program sponsored by the Association for Indiana Media Educators.  The program stimulates recreational reading and encourages cooperation between schools and their communities to promote reading.

All Indiana schools are eligible to participate.  A list of participating schools can be found at

 <http://www.ilfonline.org/Programs/YHBA/program.htm>. 

        To sign up your school, fill out and send in the registration form at the bottom of this page.

      In April of each year, students who have read at least five of the middle grades books are eligible to vote for their favorite book.  The winning author for the middle grades category is presented with a commemorative symbol of the award at the annual fall meeting of the Association for Indiana Media Educators.

      Materials for the program available for librarians and teachers include classroom charts, spine labels, bookmarks, a rubber stamp, pencils, a teacher resource booklet, and logo polo and denim shirts.  These can be ordered online at

<http://www.ilfonline.org/Programs/YHBA/promotional.htm>.

     Encourage your students to get a head start on next year’s Young Hoosier Book Award books by reading some of them during the summer.  Prior to summer, provide a list of the books to students, provide booktalks for some of the books, and encourage students to find them at their public library.  In the fall, put information about the books that students read during the summer on the Young Hoosier Book Award wall charts.  This gives recognition to the students and encourages others to begin reading the books.

2003-2004 Middle Grades Young Hoosier  Book Award Nominees