About the Beehive Book Award
Each year the Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU), a volunteer organization of individuals who have a personal or professional interest in children's literature, sponsors the Beehive Book Award to help motivate young people to read. The award winning book in each category is chosen by the children and students of Utah who read ten to twelve books and vote on their favorite. The title with the highest percentage of votes from the children wins the award. In order to prepare the lists of the ten to twelve books members of CLAU create a long list of books which though a committee process is then whittled down to the top twelve.
The Awards Process
Each award category has a nominating committee who is in charge of overseeing the process of creating and evaluating the long lists that are evaluated and whittled down to create the short list which is the list of the 10-12 books that go out to be read and voted on by the children of Utah.
The process follows the subsequent timeline:
1) August and September – Nominations for books to consider for the long list are accepted
2) September – The nominating committee meets to nominate their own books and to consider others. During this meeting the committee agrees upon the books that will be on the long list.
3) September through January – The committee members read and get others to read each of the books on the long list. Committee members and readers submit their evaluations of the books on official CLAU review forms.
4) January – All review forms from committee members and other readers are gathered. The nominating committee meets to compile the information from these reviews. The committee then uses this information to refine and create the short list.
5) January-February—Finalized short lists are approved by the CLAU Board
6) March-April – Short lists are announced to CLAU members and the community
7) August-March – Children and students read and vote on the short lists
8) March-April – Votes are submitted and counted and winners are announced.
CLAU members are welcome to participate both as nominating committee members and readers.
CLAU members who are interested in being on the committee should contact the specific committee chair. Please note that the specific duties of the nominating committee are to:
1) Attend two meetings, one in September and one in January
2) Nominate between 1 and 8 books for the “Long List”
3) Read as many books as possible on the long lists and get others to read them as well.
CLAU members may also serve as readers for long list books, those interested should also contact the specific committee chair.
The process follows the subsequent timeline:
1) August and September – Nominations for books to consider for the long list are accepted
2) September – The nominating committee meets to nominate their own books and to consider others. During this meeting the committee agrees upon the books that will be on the long list.
3) September through January – The committee members read and get others to read each of the books on the long list. Committee members and readers submit their evaluations of the books on official CLAU review forms.
4) January – All review forms from committee members and other readers are gathered. The nominating committee meets to compile the information from these reviews. The committee then uses this information to refine and create the short list.
5) January-February—Finalized short lists are approved by the CLAU Board
6) March-April – Short lists are announced to CLAU members and the community
7) August-March – Children and students read and vote on the short lists
8) March-April – Votes are submitted and counted and winners are announced.
CLAU members are welcome to participate both as nominating committee members and readers.
CLAU members who are interested in being on the committee should contact the specific committee chair. Please note that the specific duties of the nominating committee are to:
1) Attend two meetings, one in September and one in January
2) Nominate between 1 and 8 books for the “Long List”
3) Read as many books as possible on the long lists and get others to read them as well.
CLAU members may also serve as readers for long list books, those interested should also contact the specific committee chair.
