MARK TWAIN AWARD PROGRAM ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO READ

Missouri's school librarians annually present the Mark Twain Award to the author of the best children's book as judged by students.

But the real reward goes to the students themselves, who are encouraged to read.

"It is a good program," said Sandy Cook, librarian for Washington and Alma Schrader elementary schools in Cape Girardeau.

The statewide program started in 1971 involves students in grades 4 through 8. It is sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Librarians.

Students annually must read or have read to them at least four of 20 books selected by a committee, said Cook.

"You don't have to read all 20 books, although that is encouraged," she said.

Locally, students receive T-shirts for reading all 20 books. The T-shirt design is created by a student at Alma Schrader Elementary School one year and by a student at Scott City the next, said Cook.

Students in the program get to cast a vote in March on the book they liked most.

"Teachers and librarians do not get to vote," said Cook. "It is a student vote."

Cook shows a videotape at the start of each school year that promotes the program. "It gets the kids excited about the books."

Cook said classroom teachers read some of the books to their students. "It really helps," she said.

Mark Twain Award

Master List 1996-1997

A Question of Trust by Marion Dane Bauer

Bigger by Patricia Calvert

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Julie by Jean Craighead George

Uncle Daney's Way by Jessie Haas

Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

The Captive by Joyce Hansen

Phoenix Rising by Karen Hesse

Night of Fear by Peg Kehret

The Fear Place by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

A Dangerous Promise by Joan Lowery Nixon

Shadowmaker by Joan Lowery Nixon

Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulsen

Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury

The Circlemaker by Maxine Rose Schur

Cat Running by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Who's There? by Stephanie Tolan

True Friends by Bill Wallace

Dear Levi: Letters from the Overland Trail by Elvira Woodruff

The Magnificent Mummy Maker by Elvira Woodruff