RI Latino Books Award • Selection Criteria

Rhode Island Latino Books Selection Criteria

Below are the book selection procedure, selection criteria and websites & print suggestions for nominees selection:

Book Selection Procedures

Books for the following year will be evaluated September through May of the current year to select at least 5 books (no more than seven (7) books ) for each grade level
Committee will be working together in the selection of books for each grade level and present a brief discussion of the books for consideration
New titles can be added to the booklist through May
Books will be evaluated based on grade level appropriateness, general appeal, genre, representation of diverse Latino culture

Submissions

The Rhode Island Latino Books Award committee accepts children and teen books for submission that meet the selection criteria from authors and publishers. Titles must be appropriate according to each grade level (kindergarten through 12th). The suggested books will be reviewed by the committee and then distributed to teachers, librarians and students as free giveaways at events or through social media. The books are reviewed by the committee from September through March.

Books to be reviewed can be mailed to 2024-2025 Committee Chair:

Jennifer McGrath
Teen/Reference Librarian
Pawtucket, RI 02860Pawtucket Public Library
13 Summer St.
Pawtucket, RI 02860

Book Nomination Criteria

Fiction and non-fiction including bilingual titles published during the last two years are eligible. May 2022 - May 2024 are eligible for 2025 nominations
Books in English and bilingual books (in English and Spanish) may be nominated. Books available only in Spanish are not eligible.
Only one title per author.
Any winning author will be excluded from nomination the following year.
Books by Latino authors will be considered for nomination.
Books that highlight Latino and Latino-American cultures, identities and experiences will be given preference.
An author nominated in the previous year can be nominated again as long as they are not the winning author from the previous year.
Titles should be appropriate according to each grade level.
Author must currently be living in the United States or be a resident of the U.S.
Title should be engaging and demonstrate excellence in use of language and visual presentation.
Titles should be appropriate according to each grade level (kindergarten through 12th).

Free Latino Books Award Sets for Schools and Local Libraries

Sign up to participate and receive a complete set of books. Limited supplies available, so sign up early — first come, first serve. DEADLINE to receive a set of free books is December 1, however you can still sign up your class to participate until April 1.

Classroom teachers, please work with your school librarian when you sign up for free books. If your school does not have a school librarian, please make a note when you sign up. Once we run out of books, we will direct you to where you can get copies.

Guidelines

To receive free books, you must agree to participate in full.

Sign up to participate.
Send us photos of students reading books or a copy of your book display to post on RILBA social media.
Encourage students to vote as soon as they complete a set.
Encourage your kids to write thoughtful comments about each book when they vote. We do not want this to be a "contest" but an enriching learning experience for all participants.