By Francesca P., Sixth Grade, Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation
Founded in 1992 by the Maryland Association of School Librarians, the annual Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Awards aim to select the year’s top books that encourage students to read and enjoy literature and broaden their minds.
Each year, the committees select approximately 65 books as potential candidates for the Black-Eyed Susan Award. The prize includes the Black-Eyed Susan insignia on the winning books, a certificate and accolades from a publisher. Maryland students read and vote for their favorite titles. The program now includes many categories, such as picture books, as well as novels for grades 4-6, grades 6-9 and high school. Recently, the Maryland Association of School Librarians also added grades 4-6 and 6-9 graphic novel classifications.
Some of the nominees for the picture book category this year include: “They all Saw a Cat” by Brendan Wenzel and “The Bear and the Piano” by David Litchfield. Others include “Moo” by Sharon Creech, “Wolf Hollow” by Lauren Wolk, and “Ghosts” by Raina Telgemeier. Some student favorites from over the years have been “The Girl Who Could Fly” by Victoria Forester and “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park.
A committee of about 10 to 15 people (mostly librarians) is created for each category to select the books that will be the nominees within the category. “They are figuring out what books they like the best and what books they think will be just right for all the students in Maryland,” said Rona London, a member of the Black-Eyed Susan Award picture book committee. Students vote for their favorite titles through schools and libraries.
“I love that there are so many ways kids can get engaged in the reading of these books,” said Sonia Kozlovsky, a librarian at Krieger Schechter Day School. The students at KSDS have participated in these awards since 2001. They read all of the nominated books in their library classes and discuss and vote for their favorites.
The Black-Eyed Susan Awards differ from other awards. “[The students] are reading and voting on them so it’s really kid-driven,” said London. Most national awards are chosen by an all-adult committee, but the Black-Eyed Susan Awards are selected mainly by kids.
“What we think is a great book might not be your favorite because it’s not funny or it’s not relatable, so what makes it wonderful is that kids vote on it,” London said. Because the books chosen for the award are for children, it is important that kids’ opinions are taken into account.
The awards definitely excite young readers all over the state to take part in choosing the best book in Maryland.
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