Minnesota Youth Reading Awards

About the Maud Hart Lovelace Award

The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award is a prestigious children's choice book award given annually by Minnesota Youth Reading Awards and the youth of Minnesota. 


Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award strives to provide the youth of Minnesota with nominee titles that offer opportunities to see themselves and others in literary works, and to encourage recreational reading among school-aged children. Established in 1980 and named after beloved Minnesota author Maud Hart Lovelace, the award is divided into two categories: Division I for grades 3-5 and Division II for grades 6-8. Each year, books are nominated by students, teachers, and librarians across the state, creating a diverse list of titles. Students who have read or listened to at least three nominated books in their division are eligible to vote for their favorite.


The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award not only celebrates quality literature for young readers but also empowers children by giving them a voice in selecting the winners. Fostering in them a love of reading and critical thinking skills.Since its inception, the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award has seen impressive participation from young readers across Minnesota. Hundreds of thousands of youth have cast their ballots over the years, demonstrating the award's significant reach and impact on promoting literacy and a love for reading among the state's youth. 

How the award works:

  • Each April ten nominees are announced in each division.

  • Students or library participants who read or have read to them at least three of the ten nominees are eligible to vote.

  • Votes will be collected from MYRA members in March of each year, and the award winner will be announced in April along with the new nominees for the following year.

  • The award is divided into two categories - Division I for grades 3-5 and Division II for grades 6-8.

Questions about the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award can be directed to our MHL Award Chair at mhl@myrahome.org.


Learn more about Maud Hart Lovelace

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