KIDS CHOOSE THEIR FAVORITES!
The Cartwheel Book Awards was started locally in 2013 at the Bellingham, MA Public Library, but welcomes readers from all around the country. The awards are named after the cartwheel statue that resides outside the library's entrance. The initial purpose of the Cartwheel Book Awards was to connect middle grade readers to good books they might not otherwise have found.
We select books in a variety of genres each year for consideration - aspiring to find the right mixture between kid appeal and writing quality. Each chosen book is published during the previous year. For example, books published in the U.S. in 2024 will be considered by the Cartwheel readers of 2025 as they read throughout the year. Readers will submit their votes for the different awards, and then the books/authors will then be awarded as 2026 Cartwheel Book Award winners during a ceremony.
Rather than just the typical voting for Favorite Book only, the Cartwheel Book Awards have different categories for readers to consider: Favorite Main Character, Favorite Side Character, Favorite Setting, Best Dialogue, Best Plot, and Best Ending.
After voting is completed, we contact the winning authors and ask them to send in acceptance speeches - either in writing or through video. The overwhelmingly grateful responses we have received from authors has led to an unexpected second purpose of the Cartwheel Book Awards: connecting readers and authors, and particularly reminding the kids that their opinions matter to the authors. We are always looking for new readers from all over. Join today!
The Cartwheel Book Awards was started locally in 2013 at the Bellingham, MA Public Library, but welcomes readers from all around the country. The awards are named after the cartwheel statue that resides outside the library's entrance. The initial purpose of the Cartwheel Book Awards was to connect middle grade readers to good books they might not otherwise have found.
We select books in a variety of genres each year for consideration - aspiring to find the right mixture between kid appeal and writing quality. Each chosen book is published during the previous year. For example, books published in the U.S. in 2024 will be considered by the Cartwheel readers of 2025 as they read throughout the year. Readers will submit their votes for the different awards, and then the books/authors will then be awarded as 2026 Cartwheel Book Award winners during a ceremony.
Rather than just the typical voting for Favorite Book only, the Cartwheel Book Awards have different categories for readers to consider: Favorite Main Character, Favorite Side Character, Favorite Setting, Best Dialogue, Best Plot, and Best Ending.
After voting is completed, we contact the winning authors and ask them to send in acceptance speeches - either in writing or through video. The overwhelmingly grateful responses we have received from authors has led to an unexpected second purpose of the Cartwheel Book Awards: connecting readers and authors, and particularly reminding the kids that their opinions matter to the authors. We are always looking for new readers from all over. Join today!
