The Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award is a reading enrichment program of the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana. The purpose of the program is to foster a love of reading in the children of Louisiana by motivating them to participate in the recognition of outstanding books.

A committee of Louisiana libraries compiles two lists of books: one for students in grades 3-5 and one for students in grades 6-8. The lists are well-balanced of high-quality fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Students may read or listen to the books and vote for their favorite one. This is a great way to involve students in literature and get them excited about reading for pleasure. The books that receive the most votes from the students are the Award Winners. The books with the second most votes are the Honor Votes. For more information on LYRC, visit the State Library of Louisiana’s website.

Title List 2013: Grades 3–5

All Star! : Honus Wagner and the Most Famous Baseball Card Ever by Jane Yolen.

The Case of the Lost Boy: The Buddy Files Book 1 by Dori Hillestad Butler. Illus. Jeremy Tugeau.

Cloud Tea Monkeys by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham. Illus. Juan Wijngaard.

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill. Illus. Bryan Collier.

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O’Connor.

The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco.

Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer. Illus. Josee Massee.

Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama. Illus. Loren Long.

Ol Bloo’s Boogie-Woogie Band and Blues Ensemble by Jan Huling. Illus. Henri Sorenson.

The PS Brothers by Maribeth Boelts.

The Shadows: The Books of Elsewhere, Volume 1 by Jacqueline West Illus. Poly Bernatene.

Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord.

We the Children: Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School Bk. 1 by Andrew Clements, Illus. Adam Stower.

Wildfire Run by Dee Garretson.

Young Zeus by G. Brian Karas.

Title List 2013: Grades 6–8

The Call (bk. 1 in The Magnificent 12 series) by Michael Grant

The Dead Boys by Royce Buckingham

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Hide and Seek by Katy Grant

How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart

The Limit by Kristen Landon

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell

Max Cassidy: Escape From Shadow Island by Paul Adam

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham