Kids “Elect” their Favorite Books
November 12, 2020
Celeste Bruno
Communications Director
1-800-952-7403 x208
celeste.bruno@mass.gov
While adults turned out in record numbers for the recent election, kids of all ages were invited to go online and cast their vote for their favorite book. Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) tallied up the votes and winning the top position of #1 is Percy Jackson and the Olympians books.
The MBLC held the election as a fun way to connect kids to the national and statewide elections and to give kids a voice in an election of their own. The kids’ top 25 list is below. All books are available free through the statewide LEA program (Library eBooks and audiobooks) which is e accessed through local libraries, networks and through libraries.state.ma.us
|
Rank |
Book |
|
1 |
Percy Jackson and the Olympians books |
|
2 |
Dog Man books |
|
3 |
Hunger Games books |
|
4 |
Diary of a Wimpy Kid books |
|
5 |
Wonder |
|
6 |
Harry Potter books |
|
7 |
The Day the Crayons Quit |
|
8 |
Sisters |
|
9 |
Because of Winn-Dixie |
|
10 |
The Book with No Pictures |
|
TIE for 11th |
Elephant & Piggie books |
|
12 |
Pigeon books |
|
TIE for 13th |
Charlotte's Web |
|
TIE for 14th |
Holes |
|
15 |
The One and Only Ivan |
|
TIE for 16th |
Matilda |
|
TIE for 17th |
Counting by 7s |
|
TIE for 18th |
El Deafo |
|
19 |
Uni the Unicorn |
|
TIE for 20th |
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie |
|
TIE for 21st |
Brown Girl Dreaming |
|
TIE for 22nd |
Clementine books |
|
TIE for 23rd |
A Handful of Stars |
|
TIE for 24th |
A Crooked Kind of Perfect |
|
TIE for 25th |
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast |
The list of “candidate” books for Kids Cast Your Vote came directly from Massachusetts kids. During the statewide summer library program in 2019, kids shared their favorite books with the MBLC which resulted in 500 books, too many for an election. The MBLC narrowed the list down to 52 “candidate” books. Kids can voted for their favorite “candidate” from the 52 or could write in a “candidate.”
The books are available for checkout through the libraries eBook program and through curbside pickup or in-person check-out, when possible.
“It’s exciting that this all came from Massachusetts kids. It’s about what they like and what they’re reading,” said Patrick Marshall, Director, Jonathan Bourne Public Library, Bourne. "As librarians, we know that one of the best ways to help kids fall in love with reading is to let them choose. The winners and all the candidate books give them some wonderful choices and the great thing about libraries is that we can always help them find more options.”
While libraries have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to find creative ways to serve residents. Over 435,000 children, teens, and adults recently participated in statewide summer library programming and many libraries are experiencing double digit increases in eBook checkouts.
The MBLC has developed a statewide calendar of virtual library events which allows residents to see what events are happening around the state and attend them no matter which library is hosting. First Lady of the Commonwealth joined the MBLC to create a video library with fun and educational videos that parents can use anytime. These are available through mass.gov/libraries
About MBLC
The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.