William Allen White Children's Book Award

William Allen White Children's Book Award references 97 books assigned across applicable K-12 grade levels in US schools.

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The William Allen White Children's Book Award is Kansas's statewide children's-choice book award, administered by Emporia State University Libraries since 1952 — one of the oldest state reader's-choice programs in the United States. Each year a committee selects nominees (in grades 3-5 and 6-8 divisions); students across Kansas read from the list and vote for their favorite. Its decades-long winner list is read in Kansas classrooms and libraries statewide and features widely loved reading such as Old Yeller, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Hatchet, The Giver, Holes, Because of Winn-Dixie, Frindle, and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library.

Primary source: wawchildrensbookaward.com

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Reading the whole William Allen White Children's Book Award reading list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

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About this curriculum framework

This curriculum is one of dozens of named English Language Arts frameworks tracked across US public-school districts. Frameworks differ in scope (district-level vs state-level vs national), in mandate (required vs recommended vs elective), and in how prescriptive their reading lists are (single fixed text list vs broad reading-pool selection).

The book list below represents titles cited as required, recommended, or commonly assigned within this framework, sourced from the framework's primary documentation (or, where the framework is administered at district level, from public district curriculum pages). Each book's detail page links the specific source document for that citation.

How to use this William Allen White Children's Book Award reading list

The book list above represents titles ReadingList has confirmed as referenced by William Allen White Children's Book Award— either through the framework’s own published documentation, through audited classroom syllabi citing the framework, or through US state and district curriculum guides that map their reading expectations to it. Each book’s detail page links the specific primary source so parents, teachers, and students can verify the citation and locate the official document.

Reading lists evolve. William Allen White Children's Book Award citations on ReadingList are reviewed on a rolling basis as primary sources publish updates. If you teach or learn under this framework and a title on this page is no longer used (or you know of one that should appear), the ReadingList methodology page explains how to submit a correction with a citation.

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Frequently asked questions

What books does William Allen White Children's Book Award include?

97 books are referenced by William Allen White Children's Book Award across applicable K-12 grade levels. Each book page cites the primary source assignment (the official curriculum standard, exemplar list, or syllabus where the title appears).

What grades does William Allen White Children's Book Award cover?

William Allen White Children's Book Award is a reading-program curriculum spanning applicable K-12 grade levels via the standards framework. Browse by grade using the grade-filter links on this page or visit /grade for the full grade index across all curricula.

Where does William Allen White Children's Book Award data come from?

Primary source: wawchildrensbookaward.com/. Cross-referenced with Common Core exemplars at achievethecore.org. Every book page on ReadingList.school cites the standards origin for that assignment.

Is William Allen White Children's Book Award required reading?

William Allen White Children's Book Award provides recommended exemplars + assignments — adoption varies by district and teacher. Always check with your school's English department for the specific required vs recommended list at your grade level.

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Citations to William Allen White Children's Book Award are based on the publicly available course framework, reading list, or prescribed text list. Each book page links to the specific source document. Last reviewed: 2026-09-11.