Committee
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| 2026-2027 Awards
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Winners & Nominees (2020-current)2025-2026 Nominees The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell Many Points of Me by Caroline Gerter The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhart A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus Two Degrees by Alan GratzWild River by Rodman Philbrick The Wishkeeper's Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo 2024-2025
Nominees The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day Roll with It by Jamie Sumner 2023-2024
Nominees The Aquanaut by Dan Santat Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship” by Deborah Heiligman The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia Wreck at Ada's Reef by Michael D. Biel
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros History Smashers: The Mayflower by Kate Messner Linked by Gordon Korman Starfish by Lisa Fipps Switched by Bruce Hale When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed 2021-2022
Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson Out of Hiding by Ruth Gruener The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart Us, in Progress by Lulu Delacre 2020-2021
Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead Dear Sister by Alison McGhee Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt Forest of Wonders by Linda Sue Park Framed! by James Ponti Front Desk by Kelly Yang Rising Water by Marc Aronson 2019-2020
Nominees Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn Sunny by Jason Reynolds Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor Return to top |
Co-Chairs |
Committee Composition & ResponsibilitiesThe committee of eight is composed of four members of the Wyoming Library Association (two school or academic, two public) and four members of the Wyoming State Literacy Association. Each member will serve a three-year term, with the option to serve a second or third term. If a member leaves the committee, they are allowed to serve another term if an opening becomes available and they’re willing to do so. Committee members are responsible for reading as many books from the nominations list as possible and contributing insight and writing a brief review when building the next year’s list during the annual meeting. The meeting will take place either as a conference call, Zoom, or another online meeting format. Members may be required to participate in committee discussions throughout the year. Members may choose to serve as co-chair at any time during their term should a position become available. Co-Chairs Co-chairs will serve a two-year term, with the option to serve a second or third term; working in partnership with each other making sure all committee duties are met. Responsibilities include: ● Help to recruit and inform new committee members of responsibilities.If possible, members should represent the diversity and geographic locations of Wyoming libraries. ● Ensure books on the nomination list are available to purchase from various vendors. ● Ensure committee members are current paying members of their respective organizations. ● Work with the Wyoming Book Award Advisor to tally student votes and announce winners. ● Work with the Wyoming Book Award Advisor to promote with posters and bookmarks. ● Work with the Wyoming Book Award Advisor to update website information. ● Contact the winning author via mail or e-mail to inform them of their State Book Award. ● Create, manage, and update nominations spreadsheet. ● Remove titles that don’t meet criteria. ● Organize titles alphabetically and fill in additional information, including age range or intended audience level. ● Communicate with committee members about reading nominees and additional meetings. ● Before the Committee meeting, check with the Soaring Eagle Committee to ensure books don’t overlap on final nomination lists. ● Update Committee Guidelines and By-Laws as needed, but at least every five years. Last updated in 2024 by Rebecca Jones and Whitney Luciano. ● WSLA and WLA will both contribute $50 for a total of $100. WSLA will send a check with “Indian Paintbrush Book Award” in the memo line and send to the following: Wyoming Library Association WLA will send $100 to be sent in the winning author’s name to: Pilcrow Foundation |