Libraries and schools partner to celebrate and promote reading 

The Children’s Choice Awards (CCA) hosted annually by the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) celebrates reading and encourages school and public library collaboration. This year’s culminating event was hosted again at Commonwealth Charter Academy in Homestead. 

The keynote author was Ann E. Burg, author of Serafina’s Promise, Flooded and Forces of Nature, among other titles. Two of the titles have ties to Western Pennsylvania – Flooded is about the flood that nearly destroyed Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1889 and Forces of Nature is a novel in verse, written about environmentalist Rachel Carson. Burg also did Q & A sessions with the students, receiving questions about writing and reading. 

In addition, musicians Josh & Gab returned to offer a crowd-pleasing musical performance. The event also included the ever-popular Battle of the Books. Spark Books was also on hand to provide books for students to purchase and Burg to sign. 

The committee, which is made up of a representative from ACLA, AIU, Spark Books, Bethel Park Public Library and Northland Public Library, with the input of school and public librarians chose the following eight titles: 

• Control Freaks, J.E. Thomas 
• Don’t Trust the Cat by Kristen Tracy  
• Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O’Shaughnessy 
• Lo and Behold by Wendy Mass 
• Nothing Else but Miracles by Kate Albus 
• The Book No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade 
• The Museum of Lost and Found by Leila Sales 
• You Are Here, Connecting Flights by Ellen Oh 

Students in grades 3-6 are encouraged to read three of the titles to attend the culminating event. Some read on their own, others participate in a library program, and many attend a school that includes the program as part of the curriculum. Throughout the months of March and April, students voted online for their favorite book. This year’s CCA winning title is Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O’Shaughnessy. 

More than 500 students from across the county and region attended this year’s Children’s Choice Awards. There were participants from one charter school and six school districts from outside of Allegheny County, as well as 17 school districts in Allegheny County, including those listed here with their public library: 

• Brentwood School District (Brentwood Library) 
• Carlynton School District (Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Crafton Public Library) 
• Elizabeth Forward School District (Carnegie Library of McKeesport) 
• Fox Chapel School District (Cooper-Siegel Community Library) 
• Gateway School District (Monroeville Public Library) 
• Hampton School District (Hampton Community Library) 
• Highlands School District (Community Library of Allegheny Valley) 
• Montour School District (Robinson Township Library) 
• Moon Area School District (Moon Township Public Library) 
• Northgate School District (Andrew Bayne Memorial Library and Avalon Public Library) 
• Penn Hills School District (Penn Hills Library) 
• Pine Richland School District (Northern Tier Regional Library) 
• Plum Borough School District (Plum Borough Community Library) 
• Riverview School District (Oakmont Carnegie Library) 
• South Fayette School District (South Fayette Township Library) 
• Upper St. Clair School District (Upper St. Clair Township Library) 
• West Jefferson Hills School District (Jefferson Hills Public Library and Pleasant Hills Public Library) 

In addition to the CCA, ACLA also hosts the Picture Book Children’s Choice Awards for students in grades K-2. This program provides libraries with an opportunity for outreach to elementary schools. As with the CCA, the students vote on their favorite title and this year’s title was Bad Drawer by Seth Fishman and friends.  

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries also provides materials for the Pennsylvania One Book Initiative, which is geared towards preschool students. This year’s book is Slug in Love by Rachel Bright. The Pennsylvania One Book initiative highlights the importance of early literacy development in young children and the significance of reading early and often to children, as well as engaging them in conversation and other activities around books.  

You can check out the nominated books for these programs at your local library. Visit acl.bibliocommons.com to place a hold today!