The California Young Reader Medal (official site link) program encourages recreational reading of popular literature among the young people . Since its inception in 1974, millions of California children have nominated, read, and voted for the winners of the California Young Reader Medal. Young people suggest the names of favorite books for nomination, or teachers and librarians note repeatedly read or requested titles, and these are submitted to the California Young Reader Medal Committee. Members of the committee read the suggested books, discuss their merits and appeal to children, and then decide upon a well-balanced list of nominees. Please visit the official website for details on how to vote if you are in California and would like to get involved this important initiative.
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2008/9 Nominees | 2008 Winners | Past Winners 1975 to 2007
2008/2009 Nominees
| PRIMARY (Grades K-3) | |||||
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| Stanley’s Wild Ride by Linda Bailey. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Kids Can Press, 2006. | |||||
| The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend. Illustrated by John Manders. Candlewick Press, 2007. | |||||
Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies. Illustrated by Brian Lies. Houghton Mifflin, 2006. |
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Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese Wedding by Lenore Look. Illustrated by Yumi Heo. Anne Schwartz/Atheneum, 2006. |
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Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson. Illustrated by Suzanne Watts. Margaret K. McElderry Books/ Simon & Schuster, 2004. Abe books |Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Powells books | Indies | Alibris | Simply Audio usa | amazon.ca | amazon uk |
| INTERMEDIATE (Grades 3-6) | |||
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| Phineas L. MacGuire...Erupts!: The First Experiment by Frances O'Roark Dowell. Simon & Schuster, 2006. | |||
| Sheep by Valerie Hobbs. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. | |||
| Clementine by Sara Pennypacker. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. Hyperion, 2006. |
| MIDDLE SCHOOL/JR. HIGH (Grades 6-9) | |||
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| Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. Delacorte Press, 2006 | |||
| Rules by Cynthia Lord. Scholastic Press, 2006. | |||
| Heat by Mike Lupica. Philomel Books, Penguin, 2006. |
| YOUNG ADULT (Grades 9-12) | |||
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| Daniel Half Human and the Good Nazi by David Chotjewitz. Richard Jackson Book, Antheneum, 2004. | |||
| Sold by Patricia McCormick. Hyperion, 2006. | |||
| Life As We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer. Harcourt, 2006. |
| PICTURE BOOK FOR OLDER READERS (Grades 4 and up) | |||
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| Pop's Bridge by Eve Bunting. Illustrated by C. F. Payne. Harcourt, Inc., 2006. | |||
| Mystery at the Club Sandwich by Doug Cushman. Illustrated by Doug Cushman. Clarion Books, 2005. | |||
Brothers by Yin. Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet. Philomel, 2006. Abe books |Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Powells books | Indies | Alibris | Simply Audio usa | amazon.ca | amazon uk |
| Primary | Dex: The Heart of a Hero (originally published as Superdog: The Heart of a Hero) by Caralyn Buehner. Illustrated by Mark Buehner. (Harper Collins, 2004) |
| Intermediate | Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles. (Harcourt, 2005) |
| Middle School/Junior High | The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman. (Dutton Children's Books, 2004) |
| Young Adult | Private Peaceful by Michael Morpugo. (Scholastic Press, 2003) |
| Picture Books for Older Readers | Mr. Maxwell's Mouse by Frank Asch. Illustrated by Devin Asch. (Kids Can Press, 2004) |
| Primary | My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2003) |
| Intermediate | Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler by William Wise, illustrated by Patrick Benson (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2004) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (Putnam's, 2004) |
| Young Adult | Shattering Glass by Gail Giles (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster, 2002) |
| Picture Books for Older Readers | Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse, illustrated by Wendy Watson (Scholastic Press, 2004) |
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2006 Winners |
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| Primary | Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland (Duttons Children's Books, 2003) |
| Intermediate | The Good Dog by Avi (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001) |
| Middle School/Junior High | 12 Again by Sue Corbett (Dutton's Children's Books, 2002) |
| Young Adult | After by Francine Prose (HarperCollins, 2003) |
| Picture Books for Older Readers | Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming and Stacey Dressen-McQueen (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2003) |
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| 2003 Winners | |
| Primary | I Will Never, Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child (Candlewick, 2000) |
| Intermediate | Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick, 2000) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen (HarperCollins, 2001) |
| Young Adult | Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters (Little Brown, 2000) |
| Picture Books for Older Readers | The Babe and I by David Adler (Harcourt Brace, 1999) |
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| 2002 Winners | |
| Primary | Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger (Houghton Mifflin, 1999) |
| Intermediate | Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman (Hyperion, 1997) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998) |
| Young Adult | Bad by Jean Ferris (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1998) |
| Picture Books for Older Readers | Weslandia by Paul Fleischman (Candlewick, 1999) |
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| 2001 Winners | |
| Primary | Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement (HarperCollins, 1998) |
| Intermediate | Honus and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure by Dan Gutman (Avon, 1997) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Simon & Schuster, 1998) |
| Young Adult | Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville (Harcourt Brace, 1998) |
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| 2000 Winners | |
| Primary | Lost by Paul Brett Johnson and Celeste Lewis (Orchard, 1996) |
| Intermediate | Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan (Scholastic, 1999) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (Harper Trophy, 1998) |
| Young Adult | Breaking Boxes by A.M. Jenkins (Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1998) |
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| 1999 Winners | |
| Primary | Livingstone Mouse by Pam Edwards. Illustrated by Henry Cole (HarperCollins, 1996) |
| Intermediate | The 13th Floor: A Ghost Story by Sid Fleischman. Illustrated by Peter Sis (Greenwillow Press, 1995) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury (Delacorte Press, 1994) |
| Young Adult | The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristen Randle (Scholastic, 1995) |
| 1998 Winners | |
| Primary | Dog Breath by Dav Piley (Blue Sky Press, 1994) |
| Intermediate | The Junkyard Dog by Erika Tamar (Knopf, 1995) |
| Middle School/Junior High | The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis (Delacorte, 1995) |
| Young Adult | Ironman by Chris Crutcher (Greenwillow, 1995) |
| 1997 Winners | |
| Primary | Don't Fidget a Feather by Erica Silverman. Illustrated by S.D. Schindler (Macmillan, 1994) |
| Intermediate | Jennifer Murdley's Toad by Bruce Coville (Harcourt, 1992; Pocket Books, 1993) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Sparrow Hawk Red by Ben Mikaelsen (Hyperion, 1993) |
| Young Adult | Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher (Greenwillow, 1993; Dell, 1995) |
| 1996 Winners | |
| Primary | Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (Harcourt Brace, 1994) |
| Intermediate | Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn (Clarion Books, 1994) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (Scholastic, 1993) |
| Young Adult | Shadow of the Dragon by Sherry Garland (Harcourt Brace, 1994) |
| 1995 Winners | |
| Primary | Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh (Houghton, 1992) |
| Intermediate | Stonewords: A Ghost Story by Pam Conrad (HarperCollins, 1990; 1991) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Rescue John McGuire by Ben Mikaelsen (Hyperion, 1991; 1993) |
| Young Adult | Downriver by Will Hobbs (Atheneum, 1991; Bantam/Starfire, 1992) |
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| 1994 Winners | |
| Primary | High-Wire Henry by Mary Calhoun. Illustrated by Erick Ingraham (Morrow, 1991) |
| Intermediate | Scared Stiff by Willo Davis Roberts (Atheneum, 1991) |
| Middle School/Junior High | There's a Girl in My Hammerlock by Jerry Spinelli (Simon & Schuster, 1991; 1993) |
| Young Adult | We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier (Delacorte, 1991; Dell, 1993) |
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| 1993 Winners | |
| Primary | Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow, 1990; Mulberry Books, 1992) |
| Intermediate | Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume (Dutton, 1990; Dell, 1991) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Something Upstairs by Avi (Orchard, 1988; Avon, 1990) |
| Young Adult | The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause (Delacorte, 1990; Dell, 1992) |
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| 1992 Winners | |
| Primary | Never Spit on Your Shoes by Denys Cazet (Clarion, 1986; Orchard Books, 1990) |
| Intermediate | All About Sam by Lois Lowry (Houghton Mifflin, 1988) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Sniper by Theodore Taylor (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1989) |
| Young Adult | A Sudden Silence by Eve Bunting (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1989) |
| 1991 Winners | |
| Primary | Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger (Houghton Mifflin, 1988) |
| Intermediate | Harry's Mad by Dick King-Smith (Crown, 1987; Dell, 1988) |
| Middle School/Junior High | December Stillness by Mary Downing Hahn (Clarion, 1988) |
| Young Adult | Night Kites by M.E. Kerr (Harper & Row, 1986) |
| 1990 Winners | |
| Primary | Eyes of the Dragon by Margaret Leaf. Illustrated by Ed Young (Lothrop, 1987) |
| Intermediate | The War with Grandpa by Robert K. Smith (Delacourt, 1984) |
| Middle School/Junior High | The Other Side of Dark by Joan Lowery Nixon (Delacorte, 1986; Dell, 1987) |
| Young Adult | Izzy, Willy Nilly by Cynthia Voigt (Atheneum, 1996; Fawcett, 1987) |
| 1989 Winners | |
| Primary | What Happened to Patrick's Dinosaurs? by Carol Carrick. Illustrated by Donald Carrick (Clarion, 1986) |
| Intermediate | The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop (Holiday House, 1985; Bantam, 1986) |
| Middle School/Junior High | The Stalker by Joan Lowery Nixon (Delacorte, 1985) |
| Young Adult | The Face at the Edge of the World by Eve Bunting (Ticknor, 1985; Dell, 1986) |
| 1988 Winners | |
| Primary | If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff. Illustrated by Felicia Bond (Harper & Row, 1985; Scholastic, 1988) |
| Intermediate | Be a Perfect Person in Just 3 Days by Stephen Manes (Houghton Mifflin, 1982; Bantam, 1987) |
| Middle School/Junior High | The Root Cellar by Janet Lunn (Scribner, 1983; Penguin, 1985) |
| Young Adult | Interstellar Pig by William Sleator (Dutton, 1984) |
| 1987 Winners | |
| Primary | The Napping House by Audrey Wood. Illustrated by Don Wood Harcourt Brace, 1984 |
| Intermediate | The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright (Holiday House, 1983; Scholastic, 1985) |
| Middle School/Junior High | You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye by Patricia Hermes (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1982; Scholastic, 1984) |
| Young Adult | Pursuit by Michael French (Delacorte, 1981; Dell, 1983) |
| 1986 Winners | |
| Primary | Space Case by Edward Marshall. Illustrated by James Marshall (Dial, 1980) |
| Intermediate | Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe DeClements (Viking, 1981; Scholastic, 1982) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts (Atheneum, 1980; Scholastic, 1982) |
| Young Adult | The Darkangel by Meredith Pierce (Little Brown, 1982; Dell, 1982) |
| 1985 Winners | |
| Primary | Herbie's Troubles by Carol Chapman. Illustrated by Kelly Oechsli (Dutton, 1981) |
| Intermediate | The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks (Doubleday, 1980; Avon, 1982) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Taking Terri Mueller by Norma Fox Mazer (Morrow, 1983; Avon, 1981) |
| Young Adult | The Truth Trap by Frances Miller (Dutton, 1980; Dell, 1982) |
| 1984 Winners | |
| Primary | Bagdad At It by Phyllis Green. Illustrated by Joel Schick (Watts, 1980) |
| Intermediate | The Trouble with Tuck by Theodore Taylor (Doubleday, 1981) |
| Middle School/Junior High | There's a Bat in Bunk Five by Paula Danziger (Delacorte, 1980; Dell, 1982) |
| Young Adult | Stranger with My Face by Lois Duncan (Little, Brown, 1981; Dell, 1982) |
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| 1983 Winners | |
| Primary | Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp by Mercer Mayer (Scholastic, 1977) |
| Intermediate | Superfudge by Judy Blume (Dutton, 1980; Dell, 1981) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume (Bradbury, 1981; Dell, 1982) |
| Young Adult | Summer of Fear by Lois Duncan (Little, Brown, 1976; Dell, 1977) |
| 1982 Winners | |
| Primary | Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard. Illustrated by James Marshall (Houghton Mifflin, 1977) |
| Intermediate | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Middle School/Junior High | Hail, Hail, Camp Timberwood by Ellen Conford (Little, Brown, 1987; Archway, 1980) |
| Young Adult | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| 1981 Winners | |
| Primary | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Intermediate | Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls (Doubleday, 1977; Dell 1979) |
| Middle School/Junior High | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Young Adult | A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry (Houghton Mifflin, 1977; Bantam, 1979) |
| 1980 Winners | |
| Primary | Big Bad Bruce by Bill Peet (Houghton Mifflin, 1977) |
| Intermediate | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Middle School/Junior High | The Pinballs by Betsy Byars (Harper & Row, 1977) |
| Young Adult | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| 1979 Winners | |
| Primary | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Intermediate | Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl (Knopf, 1975) |
| Middle School/Junior High | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Young Adult | The Late Great Me by Sandra Scoppettone (Putnam, 1976) |
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| 1978 Winners | |
| Primary | Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth by Lucy Bate. Illustrated by Diane de Groat (Crown, 1975) |
| Intermediate | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Middle School/Junior High | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Young Adult | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
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| 1977 Winners | |
| Primary | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Intermediate | Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers (Harper & Row, 1972) |
| Middle School/Junior High | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Young Adult | Watership Down by Richard Adams (Macmillan, 1972) |
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| 1976 Winners | |
| Primary | How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head by Bill Peet (Houghton Mifflin, 1971; 1983) |
| Intermediate | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Middle School/Junior High | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Young Adult | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
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| 1975 Winners | |
| Primary | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Intermediate | How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell (Watts, 1973) |
| Middle School/Junior High | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| Young Adult | NO AWARD GIVEN (see NOTES) |
| NOTES |
The first Primary Award was given in 1976. Primary books were not included in the voting in 1977, 1979 and 1981. Beginning in 1987, the illustrator of the winning book was given full recognition along with the author. Intermediate books were not included in the 1976, 1978, or 1980 voting. After the 1977 voting, it was decided the intermediate category was too broad and a Middle School/Junior High School category was added. The Middle School/Junior High School Award began in 1980; it was not included in the voting in 1981. The Young Adult Award began in 1977. Young Adult books were not included in the voting in 1978, 1980, and 1982. The Picture Books for Older Readers Award was begun in 2000; it was not included in the vote of 2001. Abe books |Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Powells books | Indies | Alibris | Simply Audio usa | amazon.ca | amazon uk |