The California Young Reader Medal is a set of five annual literary awards conferred upon picture books and fiction books selected by vote of California schoolchildren from a ballot prepared by committee. The program was established in 1974 with Intermediate, Primary, and Young Adult Medals that were inaugurated in 1975, 1976, and 1977 and were conferred biennially, and annually beginning in 1983.

The program is intended to encourage recreational reading and is sponsored by four organizations that promote reading and literacy: the California Association of Teachers of English, the California Library Association, the California Reading Association, and the California School Library Association.

There are five medals, last modified for 2002: Primary (grades K-3), Intermediate (grades 3–6), Middle School/Junior High (grades 6–9), Young Adult (grades 9–12), and Picture Books for Older Readers (grades 4 and up)—that is, roughly age 10 and up. Both writer and illustrator receive the Primary and Picture Book Medals, where applicable.

The ballot for each medal comprises 3–5 books published during the preceding four years—two to five years ago when the process concludes. For example, 17 books published from 2010 to 2013 were nominated for 2014–2015.

Rules and process

Young readers, their parents, educators, librarians, and "anyone who works with young people" may recommend books. Candidates must be original works of fiction by living authors, available in English, published during the four preceding years and still in print.

Nominations are made by award category and the books should be "often read or requested" and have "strong appeal for the age group". A committee of the sponsoring organizations selects "a well-balanced list of nominees" (finalists), considering merit and appeal.

Children may vote in all categories where they know all of the candidates by reading or hearing read aloud. They cast a combined paper ballot at once, in a classroom or library monitored by an adult.

Winners

The medals in four categories inaugurated in 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1980 were biennial until 1983, and thereafter annual. For each category (now five) CYRM maintains a "Booklist" of finalists (3–5 annually) that provides basic bibliographic data for all, and cover images beginning in 2005 or so.

1970s +California Young Reader Medal winners, 1975–1979YearCategoryAuthorTitle1975Intermediate How to Eat Fried Worms1976Primary How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head1977Intermediate Freaky FridayYoung Adult Watership Down1978Primary, illus. by Diane de Groat Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth1979Intermediate Danny, the Champion of the WorldYoung Adult 1980s +California Young Reader Medal winners, 1980–1989YearCategoryAuthorTitle1980Middle School/Junior HighPrimaryBig Bad Bruce1981IntermediateSummer of the MonkeysYoung Adult1982Primary, illus. by James MarshallMiss Nelson is MissingMiddle School/Junior HighHail, Hail Camp Timberwood1983PrimaryLiza Lou and the Yeller Belly SwampIntermediateSuperfudgeMiddle School/Junior HighTiger EyesYoung AdultSummer of Fear1984Primary, illus. by Joel SchickBagdad Ate ItIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighThere's a Bat in Bunk FiveYoung AdultStranger with My Face1985Primary, illus. by Kelly OechsliHerbie's TroublesIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighTaking Terri MuellerYoung Adult1986Primary, illus. by James MarshallSpace CaseIntermediateNothing's Fair in Fifth GradeMiddle School/Junior HighGirl with the Silver EyesYoung Adult1987Primary, illus. by Don WoodIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighYou Shouldn't Have to Say GoodbyeYoung AdultPursuit1988Primary, illus. by Felicia BondIf You Give a Mouse a CookieIntermediateBe a Perfect Person in Just Three DaysMiddle School/Junior HighYoung AdultInterstellar Pig1989Primary, illus. by Donald CarrickWhat Happened to Patrick's Dinosaurs?IntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighYoung Adult 1990s +California Young Reader Medal winners, 1990–1999YearCategoryAuthorTitle1990Primary, illus. by Ed YoungEyes of the DragonIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighYoung AdultIzzy, Willy Nilly1991Primary, illus. by Lynn M. MunsingerTacky the PenguinIntermediateHarry's MadMiddle School/Junior HighDecember StillnessYoung AdultNight Kites1992PrimaryNever Spit on Your ShoesIntermediateAll About SamMiddle School/Junior HighSniperYoung Adult1993PrimaryJulius, the Baby of the WorldIntermediateFudge-a-ManiaMiddle School/Junior HighAviSomething UpstairsYoung Adult1994Primary, illus. by Erick IngrahamHigh-Wire HenryIntermediateScared StiffMiddle School/Junior HighThere's a Girl in My HammerlockYoung AdultWe All Fall Down1995PrimaryMartha SpeaksIntermediateStonewordsMiddle School/Junior HighRescue Josh McGuireYoung AdultDownriver1996PrimaryStellalunaIntermediateTime for AndrewMiddle School/Junior HighFreak the MightyYoung AdultShadow of the Dragon1997Primary, illus. by S. D. SchindlerDon't Fidget a Feather!IntermediateJennifer Murdley's ToadMiddle School/Junior HighSparrow Hawk RedYoung AdultStaying Fat for Sarah Byrnes1998PrimaryDog BreathIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighYoung AdultIronman1999Primary, illus. by Henry ColeLivingstone MouseIntermediate, illus. by Peter SisMiddle School/Junior HighUnder the Blood Red SunYoung Adult 2000s +California Young Reader Medal winners, 2000–2009YearCategoryAuthorTitle2000Primary and Celeste Lewis, illus. by Johnson LostIntermediateRiding FreedomMiddle School/Junior HighElla EnchantedYoung AdultBreaking Bones2001PrimaryGrandpa's TeethIntermediateHonus & MeMiddle School/Junior HighAmong the HiddenYoung Adult and Bruce CovilleArmageddon Summer2002Primary, illus. by Lynn M. MunsingerHooway for Wodney WatIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighJoey Pigza Swallowed the KeyPicture Books for Older ReadersWeslandiaYoung AdultBad2003PrimaryI Will Never, Not Ever, Eat a TomatoIntermediateBecause of Winn-DixieMiddle School/Junior HighTouching Spirit BearPicture Books for Older ReadersYoung AdultDefine Normal2004Primary, illus. by Harry BlissIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighFlippedPicture Books for Older ReadersAnd the Dish Ran Away with the SpoonYoung AdultTies that Bind, Ties that Break2005Primary, illus. by G. Brian KarasMuncha! Muncha! Muncha!IntermediateRuby HollerMiddle School/Junior HighThings Not SeenPicture Books for Older ReadersMr. Lincoln's WayYoung AdultStormbreaker2006PrimaryMiss Smith's Incredible StorybookIntermediateAviMiddle School/Junior High12 AgainPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Stacey Dressen-McQueenBoxes for KatjeYoung AdultAfter2007PrimaryMy Lucky DayIntermediateChristopher MouseMiddle School/Junior HighAl Capone Does My ShirtsPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Wendy WatsonYoung AdultShattering Glass2008Primary, illus. by Mark BuehnerSuperdog: The Heart of a HeroIntermediateEach Little Bird That SingsMiddle School/Junior HighPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Devin AschMr. Maxwell's MouseYoung AdultPrivate Peaceful2009Primary, illus. by Bill SlavinStanley's Wild RideIntermediateSheepMiddle School/Junior HighHeatPicture Books for Older ReadersMystery at the Club SandwichYoung AdultSold 2010s +California Young Reader Medal winners, 2010–2019YearCategoryAuthorTitle2010PrimaryMillie Waits for the MailIntermediateNo TalkingMiddle School/Junior HighAlabama MoonPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Lynne BaraschOwney: The Mail-Pouch PoochYoung Adult2011Primary, illus. by Michael AustinMartina the Beautiful CockroachIntermediateZorgamazooMiddle School/Junior HighCracker: The Best Dog in VietnamPicture Books for Older ReadersJohn, Paul, George & BenYoung Adult2012Primary, illus. by Howard McWilliamI Need My MonsterIntermediateViolet Raines Almost Got Struck by LightningMiddle School/Junior HighEvery Soul a StarPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Kadir NelsonHenry's Freedom BoxYoung AdultGraceling2013PrimaryWe Are in a Book!IntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighOut of My MindPicture Books for Older Readers, Kirby Larson, and Mary Nethery, illus. and photos from members of the Marines teamNubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a MiracleYoung AdultMatched2014PrimaryPress HereIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighWonderstruckPicture Books for Older ReadersQueen of the FallsYoung AdultDivergent2015Primary, illus. by Tom LichtenheldExclamation MarkIntermediateWonderMiddle School/Junior HighPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Steven SalernoBrothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother TeamYoung Adult2016Primary, illus. by Oliver JeffersIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighDogtag SummerPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Matt TavaresHelen's Big World: The Life of Helen KellerYoung AdultCinder2017Primary, illus. by Jon KlassenSam & Dave Dig a HoleIntermediateEscape from Mr. Lemoncello's LibraryMiddle School/Junior HighKeeper of the Lost CitiesPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by E. B. LewisEach KindnessYoung AdultRed Queen2018PrimaryIntermediate, illus. by Jon KlassenPaxMiddle School/Junior HighPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Yuko ShimizuBarbed Wire BaseballYoung AdultSalt to the Sea2019PrimaryIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighEchoPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Sean QuallsEmmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu YeboahYoung AdultWritten in the Stars 2020s +California Young Reader Medal winners, 2020–presentYearCategoryAuthorTitle2020Primary, illus. by Adam RexIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighRefugeePicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Shawn HarrisHer Right FootYoung AdultScythe2021PrimaryPoor LouieIntermediateRestartMiddle School/Junior HighLily and DunkinPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Iacopo BrunoSergeant RecklessYoung AdultAll We Have Left2022Primary, illus. by Dan SantatDrawn TogetherIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighPicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Gijsbert Van FrankenhuyzenYoung Adult2023PrimaryWe Don't Eat Our ClassmatesIntermediateMiddle School/Junior HighWinterhousePicture Books for Older Readers, illus. by Charles SantosoThis Way, CharlieYoung AdultWith the Fire on High Notes

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