Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Readers' Choice Award
Voting takes place in February and the winner are announced in March. The name Monarch was chosen because of its familiarity to K-3 children and to symbolize the growth, change and freedom that becoming a reader brings. The Monarch is designed to encourage children to read critically and become familiar with children's books, authors and illustrators. The program is open to all K-3 age children in Illinois. Students must read or have read aloud 5 of the books to cast their vote.