Lois Lowry Jenni Oliver

The Massachusetts Children's Book Award (MCBA) is an annual literary prize initiated in 1975 by Dr. Helen Constant of Salem State College. Its primary objective is to foster continued reading engagement among students in the intermediate grades, typically those in the 4th through 6th grades. Children aged approximately 9 to 12 can vote for their favorite book from a curated list, provided they have read at least five selections. The program is managed through schools, often with the assistance of school librarians, though public librarians also support home-schooled students or those in non-participating schools. The winning author receives a plaque, and several honor books are also named.

Books are nominated by educators, librarians, and publishers, with requirements for paperback availability, literary merit, genre diversity, cultural representation, and reader appeal. The list of nominated books is updated regularly, with a focus on recent publications. Historically, the award initially included separate categories for older students (grades 7–9), and a book could win multiple times. The criteria for the Master List have evolved, with a restriction on the publication date of nominated books implemented after 1995 to ensure a focus on contemporary works.

The Massachusetts Children's Book Award program was founded in 1975 with the goal of sustaining children's interest in reading, particularly for those in the intermediate grades. Dr. Helen Constant, an associate professor of education at Salem State College (now Salem State University), was instrumental in its creation. The award process involves students in grades 4 through 6, generally aged 9 to 12, selecting a favorite book from a prepared list. To be eligible to vote, students must have read a minimum of five books from the list. The program is typically administered through school libraries, with public librarians also playing a role in facilitating participation for home-schooled children or those whose schools do not formally engage with the award.

The selection of the winning book is determined by the votes cast by eligible Massachusetts schoolchildren. A Master List, which currently comprises 25 books no more than five years old, is compiled by a committee. Teachers, librarians, and publishers are involved in nominating books for this list. Key criteria for inclusion on the Master List include literary quality, a variety of genres, the representation of diverse cultural groups, and general reader appeal. All nominated books must be available in paperback editions. The book receiving the most votes is declared the winner and receives a commemorative plaque, with typically four other books recognized as honor books.

The MCBA program commenced during the 1975–76 school year. The inaugural winner was Thomas Rockwell's "How to Eat Fried Worms." Initially, the program also featured a separate award for students in grades 7–9, running concurrently with the grades 4–6 award until 1983. This dual-grade system allowed for recognition of books appealing to a broader age range. Over time, the criteria for the Master List have been refined. Notably, after 1995, the list became restricted to books published within a five-year window preceding the award year, ensuring a focus on more recent literature. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume is the only book to have won the award twice, in 1977 and 1983.