Following the recent historic presidential election, youngsters across St. Tammany Parish can cast a vote of their own for the Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award.

The award is sponsored by the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana and is underwritten by Capital One Bank. Students in grades three through eight read from a list of nominated books then vote on their favorite.

The purpose of the program, which began in 1999, is to foster a love of reading in the children of Louisiana by motivating them to participate in the selection and recognition of outstanding books. “We’ve had hundreds of kids participate,” said St. Tammany Parish Library Children’s Services Coordinator Tanya DiMaggio. “They are always very excited, enjoy the books and have strong opinions on their favorites.”

DiMaggio said many parents have told her they like the program because it encourages their children to read a variety of genres while getting a taste of the voting process.

According to the state library’s Web site, each year, a committee of school and public librarians composes two ballots of 15 titles each, one for students in grades three through five and one for students in grades six through eight.

The ballots contain both fiction and nonfiction titles, as well as poetry. 

Students may read or listen to at least three of the books then can cast a vote for their favorite.

If a student’s school is not participating, they can vote at their local public library.

Titles are also available for the blind and physically handicapped in large print and audio formats. Students in need of these formats can contact the state library’s Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for more information by calling 1-800-543-4702 or emailing sbphkids@pelican.state.lib.la.us.

The titles that receive the most votes are named the winners, while the books with the second most votes are selected as honor books. Winning authors or illustrators are then invited to the Louisiana Book Festival in the fall to accept the awards.

The 2008 award winners, announced in March, were “Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude” by Kevin O’Malley for grades three through five and “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan for grades six through eight.

Students have until Jan. 30, 2009, to cast their votes. For more information, contact any branch of the St. Tammany Parish Library.