The Texas Bluebonnet Awards have been around for 40 years. The TLA organizes a committee of 12 librarians from across the state of Texas that are tasked with reading more than 150-300 books that cater to grades 3-6. Together, the librarians narrow down that list to 20. The final 20 books form that year's Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List.

 

The master list of vetted books is then distributed to schools across Texas, who are able to purchase the books for their library and participate in that year's voting process

 

Willow Bend Elementary Media Specialist Darby Pilgrim and Heritage Middle School Media Specialist Christi Hinson are both members of the selection committee. Along with the other nine elementary and middle school media specialists in the District, they encourage students to get involved with the program on their campuses.

 

"Our motto is 'Read Five then Decide,'" Pilgrim said. "They have to read at least five books off the list and then they are able to vote through an online platform on which is their favorite."

 

Pilgrim explained that once voting is complete, the author of the book is awarded the Texas Bluebonnet Award by TLA. She said TLA hosts a luncheon where the author and illustrator attend and are recognized. 

 

"Students are brought in to present the awards and do the presentation of the new list," Pilgrim said. "It is a very, very kid focused program."

 

Hinson said before voting starts, the committee has gone through and hand-picked the books that are on the list. She said the books could be a mixture of picture books for the younger kids, to chapter books for the older kids.

 

"As a committee we try to get five books for third grade, five books for fourth grade, five books for fifth grade, and five books for sixth grade on the list," Hinson said. "The premise is for kids to self select and to have a voice in what book is their favorite."

 

Hinson explained that there is not a test or assignment once the student reads the book, which she believes encourages students to just enjoy the books they select.

 

"We make sure the reading list is diversified, and not just by the color of the skin of the person on the cover," Hinson said. "We have non-fiction, we have fantasy, we have mystery, we have realistic fiction. It's a wide variety of books, so kids are exposed to a wide variety of text."

 

Like Hinson, Pilgrim enjoys the fact that the book options are always diverse and provide different kinds of worlds for the readers to dive into.

 

"We look for what we can window books and mirror books," Pilgrim said. "We look for books that kids can see themselves reflected in and books that they can look through a window into a different world, because it is important for them to read about kids from different backgrounds, that have different lifestyles, and different family types."

 

Pilgrim said the best part of the Bluebonnet list is that professionals have put the list together, and she knows the list is always a perfect addition to her library.

 

"It is not something where I need to look at each book and see it has already been reviewed or see if it will be something that my kids will like," Pilgrim said. "I can order those 20 books and put them on my shelves and not worry about it."

 

Pilgrim and Hinson will both have the 2021-2022 Texas Bluebonnet  Award books available in their libraries for students to read and participate in the program. Voting is ongoing and will end on February 11 at the end of the school day.

 

For more information about TLA and Texas Bluebonnet Awards click HERE.