The Red Clover Book Award is designed for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Each year thousands of Vermont school children read the 10 nominated picture books and vote for their favorite in the spring. The award has been handed out annually since 1997.
Find this year's nominees with links to book details, teaching resources, and related STEAM activities.
2024-2025 Award Year Information and Materials
Red Clover Book Nominee List
- A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
- Ancestory by Hannah Salyer
- Elephant of Sadness, Butterfly of Joy by Patricia Austin, illustrated by Megan Baratte
- I am a Tornado by Drew Beckmeyer
- Jumper by Jessica Lanan
- Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Daniel Miyares
- Stranded: A Mostly True Story from Iceland by Ævar Þór Benediktsson, illustrated by Anne Wilson
- Swimming Toward a Dream by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Asma Enayeh
- The Young Teacher and the Great Serpent by Irene Vasco, illustrated by Juan Palomino, translated by Lawrence Schimel
- Who’s Afraid of the Light? by Anna McGregor
2024-2025 Red Clover Nominee List
2023-2024 Award Year Information and Materials
- 2023-2024 Red Clover Nominee List
- 2023-2024 Red Clover Annotated Nominee List
- 2023-2024 Vermont Youth Book Award Nominee Slideshow
- 2023-2024 Red Clover Committee Membership
- Niche Academy 2023 Youth Book Awards Conference page (featuring videos for all 2023 Vermont Youth Book Awards Conference sessions. Please note: new viewers will be asked to create a free account for Niche Academy, and then will have access to the conference videos, recorded VTLIB trainings, and training from other providers)
2022-2023 Award Year Information and Materials
Past Nominees and Winners
Publisher Submission Guidelines
Books to be considered by the Red Clover Book Award Committee are submitted by publishers. At least one copy of each title, which will be circulated to committee members, should be sent to:
Red Clover Book Award Committee
c/o Vermont Department of Libraries
60 Washington St., Suite 2
Barre, VT 05641
Books published in the current calendar year may be sent at any time during the year. However, sending books as soon as feasible makes it possible to give all books more careful consideration.
Publishers are invited to submit books that meet the following criteria:
- The book must have been published in the current calendar year. Reprints and compilations previously copyrighted are not eligible.
- The book must have been written by a living author.
- The book must be original or, if traditional in origin, the result of individual research. The retelling and reinterpretation must be the writer's own.
- Books written by a previous recipient of The Red Clover Book Award may be considered at the discretion of the committee.
- Books should have children as their intended audience and be appropriate for children in Kindergarten through 4th grade.