The Vermont Golden Dome Book Award was created to honor excellence in children's literature. Since 1957, Vermont students in grades 4 - 8 have selected their favorite book from a list of nominees. It is recommended that students read at least five of the year's nominated titles before voting in the spring each year.
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Committee Website
Order Vermont Youth Book Award Labels
2024-2025 Award Year Information and Materials
- 2024-2025 Golden Dome Book Award Nominee List
- 2024-2025 Golden Dome Punch Cards (Created by Jill Abair, U-32 Middle/High School, East Montpelier)
- 2024-2025 Vermont Golden Dome Committee Membership
- 2024-2025 Vermont Golden Dome Pamphlet - Page 1, Page 2, (Created by Melissa Beaulieu, Baldwin Memorial Library)
Conference Videos Now Available
434 students and adults joined us for the Vermont Youth Book Awards virtual conference on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The conference was a celebration of readers and creators of children’s and young adult literature. Each session featured an author keynote and a presentation from a book award committee. NEW this year: an active and enthusiastic question flow from our audience which included many students.
Watch on our educational platform, Niche Academy: 2024 Vermont Golden Dome Conference Videos
- Author Katherine Applegate spoke about her childhood (for a long time, she hated to read!), her early career, and discussed how Odder, the 2023-2024 Vermont Golden Dome winner, evolved from a prose novel into free verse. Viewers should be prepared for adorable otter photos!
- Vermont Golden Dome Book Award committee members led an exploration into the award nomination list, highlighting innovative and fun ways to promote and engage book award participation in schools and libraries.
2023-2024 Award Year Information and Materials
2022-2023 Program Information and Materials
Past Nominees and Winners
Publisher Submission Guidelines
Books to be considered by the Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Committee are submitted by publishers. Four copies of each title, which will be circulated to committee members, should be sent to:
Vermont Golden Dome 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 who is a citizen or resident of the United States or Canada. Co-authors may be included.
- 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.
- All forms of writing are eligible for consideration – fiction, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry. Poetry, anthologies and short stories must be by a single author and not previously copyrighted.
- Books written by a previous recipient of Vermont Golden Dome 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 grades four through eight.
Questions may be addressed to Committee Co-Chair Sarah Adelman
Order Vermont Youth Book Award Labels