Massachusetts Children's Book Award

Massachusetts Children's Book Award

2022-2023 MCBA Winner

Congratulations to Megan E. Freeman's book Alone winner of the 2022-2023 Massachusetts Children's Book Award!

 

 

2022-2023 Master List

Isla to Island Castellanos N/A
Twins Johnson & Wright GN360L
Black Brother Black Brother Parker-Rhodes HL400L
I Survived The Nazi Invasion, 1944: A Graphic Novel Tarshis & Sarraseca GN520L
Blackbird Girls Blankman 560L
Lemons Savage 630L
P.S. I Miss You Petro-Roy 660L
Arlo Finch and the Valley of Fire August 670L
A Wolf Called Wonder Parry 670L
The List of Things That Will Not Change Stead 680L
Yummy: A History of Desserts Elliot GN690L
Alone Freeman 690L
Amari and the Night Brothers Alston 700L
Isaiah Dunn is My Hero Baptist 700L
Prairie Lotus Park 730L
Roll with It Sumner 740L
Too Bright To See Lukoff 790L
Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez Cuevas 740L
CeCe Rios and the Desert of Souls Rivera 810L
Ancestor Approved Smith, 810L
Simon B Rhymin Reed 820L
Float Martin 850L
Marley Dias Gets it Done Dias 940L
Dragon Egg Princess Oh 1010L
History Smashers: Plagues and Pandemics Messner & Koch 1110L

2020-2021 Master List

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award

Sponsored by Salem State University

Master List 2020-2021 Award

 

Burg, A. (2016). Unbound.

Cline-Ransome, L. (2018). Finding Langston. 

Connor, L. (2018). The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle. 

Curtis, C. (2018). The Journey of Little Charlie. 

Elliot, Z. (2018). Dragons in a Bag. 

Gino, A. (2018). You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!

Hashimi, N. (2018). The Sky at Our Feet.

Helget, N. (2017). The End of the Wild. 

Hiranandani, V. (2018). The Night Diary. 

Hernandez, C. (2019). Sal and Gabi Break the Universe.

Hood, S. (2018). Lifeboat 12. 

Kadohata, C. (2018). Checked. 

Kelly, L. (2019). Song for a Whale. 

Lai, R. (2019). Pie in the Sky. 

Murdock, C. (2018). The Book of Boy. 

Sheinkin, S. (2018). Abigail Adams, Pirate of the Caribbean. 

Stokes, J. (2018). The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution: A Handbook for Time Travelers.

Tarshis, L. (2019). I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919. 

Telgemeier, R. (2019). Guts. 

Trueit, T. (2018). Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret. 

Walsh, J. (2019). She Dared: Bethany Hamilton. 

Wang, J. (2019). Stargazing. 

Woods, B. (2019). The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA. 

Woods, M. (2017). The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker. 

Yang, K. (2018). Front Desk. 

 

2019-2020 Master List

Massachusetts Children's Book Award

Sponsored by Salem State University

Master List 2021 Award

Burg, A. (2016). Unbound. 

Cline-Ransome, L. (2018). Finding Langston.

Connor, L. (2018). The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle.

Curtis, C. (2018). The Journey of Little Charlie.

Elliot, Z. (2018). Dragons in a Bag.

Gino, A. (2018). You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!

Hashimi, N. (2018). The Sky at Our Feet.

Helget, N. (2017). The End of the Wild. 

Hiranandani, V. (2018). The Night Diary.

Hernandez, C. (2019). Sal and Gabi Break the Universe.

Hood, S. (2018). Lifeboat 12.

Kadohata, C. (2018). Checked.

Kelly, L. (2019). Song for a Whale.

Lai, R. (2019). Pie in the Sky.

Murdock, C. (2018). The Book of Boy.

Sheinkin, S. (2019). Abigail Adams, Pirate of the Caribbean.

Stokes, J. (2018). The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution: A Handbook for Time Travelers.

Tarshis, L. (2019). I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919.

Telgemeier, R. (2019). Guts.

Walsh, J. (2019). She Dared: Bethany Hamilton.

Wang, J. (2019). Stargazing.

Woods, B. (2019). The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA.

Woods, M. (2017). The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker.

Yang, K. (2018). Front Desk.

 

MCBA 2021 Booklist by Grade Level
Grade Title Author F & P Lexile
Early Grade 4 Dragons in a Bag Elliot, Zetta R 740
Early Grade 4 Abigail Adams, Pirate of the Caribbean Sheinkin, Steve n/a 500
Early Grade 4 I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 Tarshis, Lauren Q 610
Early Grade 4 Guts Telgemeier, Raina M 480
Early Grade 4 Stargazing Wang, Jen N 590
Grade 4 Finding Langston Cline-Ransome, Lesa R 760
Grade 4 Lifeboat 12 Hood, Susan O 610
Grade 4 Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret Trueit, Trudi T 660
Grade 4 She Dared: Bethany Hamilton Walsh, Jenni T 810
Grade 4 Front Desk Yang, Kelly O 640
Grade 5 Unbound Burg, Ann Y 700
Grade 5 The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle Connor, Leslie K 310
Grade 5 Pie in the Sky Lai, Remy Q 720
Grade 5 The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA Woods, Brenda S 780
Grade 5 The Boy, The Bird, and the Coffin Maker Woods, Matilda R 740
Grade 6 The Sky at Our Feet Hashimi, Nadia Q 710
Grade 6 The End of the Wild Helget, Nicole O 610
Grade 6 Sal and Gabi Break the Universe Hernandez, Carlos n/a 700
Grade 6 Song for a Whale Kelly, Lynne T 800
Grade 6 The Book of Boy Murdock, Catherine Gilbert n/a 600
Grade 6+ The Journey of Little Charlie Curtis, Christopher Paul W 960
Grade 6+ You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P Gino, Alex Z 810
Grade 6+ The Night Diary Hiranandani, Veera Q 700
Grade 6+ Checked Kadohata, Cynthia W 760
Grade 6+ The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution Stokes, Jonathan Y 990

 

2018-2019 Master List

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award

Sponsored by Salem State University

Master List 2018

  • Abbott, T. (2014). The Forbidden Stone. (Katherine Tegen Books)
  • Angelberger, T. (2016). Inspector Flytrap. (Amulet Books)
  • Baptiste, T. (2015). The Jumbies. (Algonquin Young Readers)
  • Bradley, K. B. (2015). The War that Saved My Life. (Puffin Books)
  • Camper, C. (2014). Lowriders in Space. (Chronicle Books)
  • Draper, S. (2015). Stella by Starlight. (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)
  • Gibbs, S. (2014). Space Case: A Moon Base Alpha Novel. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
  • Hilton, M. (2015). Full Cicada Moon. (Puffin Books)
  • Hunt, L. M. (2015). Fish in a Tree. (Puffin Books)
  • Jamieson, V. (2015). Roller Girl. (Dial Books)
  • Jennings, K. (2014). Maps & Geography. (Little Simon)
  • Levy, D. A. (2014). Misadventures of the Family Fletcher. (Yearling Books)
  • MacLachan, P. (2013). The Truth of Me: About a Boy, His Grandmother, and a Very Good Dog. (Harper Collins)
  • Milford, K. (2014). Greenglass House. (HMH Books for Young Readers)
  • Nye, N. S. (2014). The Turtle of Oman. (Greenwillow Books)
  • Oppel, K. (2015). Nest. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
  • Pearsall, S. (2015). The Seventh Most Important Thing. (Yearling Books)
  • Perkins, L. R. (2014). Nuts to You. (Harper Collins)
  • Sands, K. (2015). The Blackthorn Key. (Aladdin)
  • Shurtliff, L. (2015). Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk. (Yearling Books)
  • Spinelli, E. (2014). Another Day as Emily. (Random House Children's Books)
  • Stroud, J. (2013). Screaming Staircase. (Disney-Hyperion)
  • Wicks, M. (2016). Coral Reefs: Cities of the Ocean. (First Second Books)
  • Woods, B. (2014). The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond. (Puffin Books)
  • Woodson, J. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. (Puffin Books)

2017-2018 Master List

Massachusetts Children's Book Award 2017

Master List for 2017-2017

Avi. (2012). Sophia’s War: A Tale of the Revolution. (Beach Lane Books)

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. (Harry N. Abrams)

Barnhill, K. (2014). The Witch’s Boy. (Algonquin Young Readers)

Blakemore, M. F. (2013). The Water Castle. (Walker)

Bowen, F. (2015). Out of Bounds. (Peachtree)

Butler, D. H. (2012). The Buddy Files: The Case of the School Ghost. (Albert Whitman & Company)

Chambliss Bertman, J. (2015). Book Scavenger. (Holt)

Ellis, D. (2011). No Ordinary Day. (Groundwood Books)

Farber, E.S. (2013). Fish Finelli Book 1: Seagulls Don’t Eat Pickles. (Chronicle)

Gibbs, S. (2014). Poached. (Simon & Schuster)

Graff, L. (2014). Absolutely Almost. (Philomel)

Herrick, A. (2013). The Time Fetch. (Algonquin Young Readers)

Holm, J. L. (2014). The Fourteenth Goldfish. (Random House)

Holub, J. (2012). Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Heroes in Training). (Aladdin).

Jones, K. (2015). Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer. (Knopf)

Kurtz. C. (2013). The Adventures of a South Pole Pig: A novel of snow and courage. (Harcourt)

Lendle, I. (2015). The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Romeo and Juliet. (First Second)

Lerangis, P. (2013). Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises. (Harper Collins)

Littlewood, K. (2012). Bliss. (Katherine Tegen Books)

Lloyd, N. (2014). A Snicker of Magic. (Scholastic)

Martin, L, & Martin, V. (2013). Anton and Cecil, Book 1: Cats at Sea. (Algonquin Young Readers)

Schanen, A. B. (2014). Quinny and Hopper. (Disney-Hyperion)

Tarshis, L. (2015). I Survived: The Great Chicago Fire, 1871. (Scholastic)

Watson, J. (2014). Loot: How to Steal a Fortune. (Scholastic)

Wright, T. (2013). Mystery on Pine Lake: Cooper and Packrat. (Islandport Press)

Grade Level Guide For Teachers and Librarians

Grade Level Title

Suggested Grade Level

(SLJ and Lexile)
Low Fourth El Deafo 2-6
  The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Romeo and Juliet (330L)
  The Buddy Files: The Case of the School Ghost 1-3 (490L)
  Fish Finelli Book 1: Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles 3-5 (680L)
  Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Heroes in Training) 2-4 (570L)
Fourth The Witch's Boy 4-6 (630L)
  Out of Bounds (630L)
  Quinny and Hopper 3-5 (660L)
  Loot: How to Steam a Fortune 4-7 (560L)
  The Adventures of a South Pole Pig K-4 (660L)
Fifth The Water Castle 4-7 (690L)
  No Ordinary Day 3-7 (580L)
  A Snicker of Magic 4-7 (680L)
  I Survived: The Great Chicago File, 1871 (730L)
  Mystery on Pine Lake: Cooper and Packrat (700L)
Sixth Absolutely Almost 4-6 (750L)
  The Fourteenth Goldfish 5-7 (550L)
  Bliss 3-7 (870L)
  Anton and Cecil, Book 1: Cats at Sea 4-6 (950L)
  Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer 4-6 (880L)
Advanced Sixth Sophia's War: A Tale of the Revolution 5-8 (730L)
  Book Scavenger (810L)
  Poached (750L)
  The Time Fetch 5-8 (700L)
  Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises 5-9 (580L)

 

History of the Massachusetts Children's Book Award

After finding that many children lose interest in books after reaching the intermediate grades, Dr. Helen Constant founded the Massachusetts Children's Book Award Program in 1975. Designed for Massachusetts schoolchildren in grades 4-6, the program briefly included grades 7-9 from 1978 through 1983.

Today, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders are given a master list of book titles. After reading five of the books, students may vote for their favorite. The list is compiled from nominations of participating teachers, librarians, and interested publishers. A selection committee works with the nominations and chooses 25 titles to appear on the master list.

School registration information will be collected at the same time votes are cast in March; there is no longer a need to register in advance.

Criteria for the master list include literary quality, genres variety, representation of diverse cultural groups, and reader appeal. Originally, only books published in the years immediately before the award were eligible. Between 1983 and 1995, however, older titles became eligible. Now, only books published within five years of the award year are eligible. Titles on the master list are all available in paperback. The author of the winning book receives a plaque to commemorate the award.

The award is sponsored by Salem State University.

MCBA Logo

MCBA text with the M holding an open book
  • Cover image is a white background with a photograph of a boy in basketball shorts, a jersey, and sneakers twirling a graphic image of a basketball on one finger. The boy is in shadow and the word CROSSOVER is written in orange down the center of his torso. At the top of the page is says Bold! Explosive! I love The Crossover. Everyone will. Nikki Giovanni. The graphic image of the basketball is made up of words: is sizzling, my sweats, that cuz. The author is Kwame Alexander

    2020 MCBA Winner

    Congratulations to Kwame Alexander, author of Crossover, for winning the 2020 Massachusetts Children's Book Award.

  • A cartoon image of a large tree with a huge, round, wooden treehouse with windows and a porch. There is a girl in a read dress with a dog waving from the porch. There are children looking out of each of the other five windows. A shelf on a pully suspends a few packages. Nailed planks up the trunk of the tree make a ladder. Lisa Graff is in large yellow letters at the top. The Great Treehouse War is in large blue letters in the lower third. Below Lisa Graff it says: Author of the National Book Award Nominee

    2020 Honor Books (in random order)

    The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff

  • An orange cover with yellow images of math calculations and drawn lightening bolts. Stacy McAnulty across the top. Separate white boxes are stacked across the center with one word in each box: The Miscalculations Of Lightning Girl. The Of is in a yellow star. At the bottom it says: If you can survive a bolt of lightning, you can survive middle school...right?

    2020 Honor Books (in random order)

    The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

  • The left third of the cover is a white background and the right two thirds is black. There is a cartoon drawing of a boy wearing a grey hoodie over a blue collared shirt, carrying a backpack, and writing in a journal. He is wearing black track pants. On the black side of the cover are the words: Middle School is hard enough without being the... Then in larger, yellow letters it says New Kid. Below that is Jerry Craft.

    2020 Honor Books (in random order)

    New Kid by Jerry Craft

  • This is an ombre orange cover shading from light orange at the top to darker orange below. The word Restart is written in large white letters at the top. In small dark letters below the ART letters of the title it says Lose your memory. Find your life. Centered below that is a pair of black rimmed classes with tape across the bridge and the left lens cracked. Below that is the author's name: Gordon Korman. Below the author it says #1 Bestselling Author of Swindle and Slacker.

    2020 Honor Books (in random order)

    Restart by Gordon Korman

Recent MCBA Winners and Master Lists

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