Oakview Elementary

Oakview Elementary • 515 Godfrey Rd. • Simpsonville, SC 29681 • (864)355-7100 • fax (864) 355-7115

Friday, May 25, 2012

SC Picture Book Award South Carolina Book Award Program at Oakview SC Children's Book Award

The South Carolina Book Program began in 1976 with the participation of sixteen schools. At the present time, there are approximately three hundred schools and more than 30,000 students participating in this program. The original book award program was a children's division for students in grades 3-6. Additional levels were gradually added, and with the inclusion of the Picture Book category in 2003, all students in grades k-12 can now participate.

The Book Award Committees are made up of a cross section of media specialists, teachers, students, parents, administrators, public librarians, and college or university representatives. These individuals commit themselves for three years during which time they annually formulate the SCASL Book Award Program book lists. In order to accomplish this they must each read 100-250 titles each year which are then discussed and evaluated at regular meetings. It is their efforts which afford you each year's carefully selected reading list in each category: picture books, children, junior, and young adult. Media specialists, teachers, and students owe them a big vote of thanks!

Here at Oakview, we celebrate the book award program by reading many of the picture book titles to our kindergarten through second grade classes. Students then vote for their favorite book in January/February during their scheduled class time. Younger students vote by placing a ticket in a can with a picture of the book cover on it. Students receive a sticker and a bookmark when they vote.

Upper grade students must read a minimum of five titles from the list on their own. They must take and pass the Reading Counts test for each title they read. Once they present their Reading Counts Success Report to the media center, they are eligible to vote. Voting takes place right before the state deadline in February. Students are invited back for a celebration (usually in March) to find out the State winner.