Ideas for promoting the Garden State Children’s Book Awards in your Library

Collecting Votes

• Make copies using the reproducible bookmarks inside the tally sheet and ballot. Put a bookmark ballot in each nominated book. The book and vote can be returned at the same time.
• Set up a ballot box where students can drop in their vote and ‘elect’ their favorite books.
• Build a ‘voting booth’ (large cardboard boxes work well), to allow kids to cast a secret ballot.
• Make a poster with a list of the nominees and have stamps or stickers available so kids can mark their favorites.
• Create a display of the nominated books.
• If you have any other ideas that have worked for your library, please share them with us by contacting the committee chair listed in the Tally Sheet and Ballot.

Publicity

• Write an article for the library newsletter or for your local newspaper.
• Booktalk GSCBA nominees.
• Send copies of the Tally Sheet and Ballot to teachers and school librarians asking them to return it to you with their students’ votes. Tabulate the votes and send in a single ballot to the chairperson listed in the ballot.
• Add nominated titles to summer reading lists.
• Ask teachers to consider nominated titles for school reading assignments.

Activities

• Create a scavenger hunt using nominated titles and authors.
• Have children design book covers for their favorite nominees and display them in the library.
• Start a review center where children can write reviews of the books they have read. Make the reviews available for other childr4en to read.
• Hold a contest to see who can read the most nominated titles.
• Arrange for a nominated author or illustrator to visit your library. Be teaming up with area libraries or schools, you can defray the cost.
• Throw a part in honor of the winners chosen by your school or library.

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