Evelyn Thurman Young Readers Book Award

Books eligible for the Evelyn Thurman Young Readers Book Award fall into two categories, to be awarded on alternating years: picture books and chapter books. Books must be: a) written or illustrated by a Kentucky author or illustrator; or b) have a significant Kentucky-related theme. A Kentucky author or illustrator is defined as an author/illustrator meeting one or more of the following qualifications: a) a native-born Kentuckian; b) an author/illustrator living in Kentucky; c) an author/illustrator whose permanent home address is Kentucky but who does not at present live in Kentucky. The winner(s) will be invited to WKU to speak to area school children and participate in an award ceremony, where they will receive a monetary prize and commemorative plaque at a reception.

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River Runs Deep

Jennifer Bradbury

Twelve-year-old Elias has consumption, so he is sent to Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave—the biggest cave in America—where the cool vapors are said to be healing. At first, living in a cave sounds like an adventure, but after a few days, Elias feels more sick of boredom than his illness. So he ...Read More
Duncan the Story Dragon

Amanda Driscoll

Duncan the Dragon loves to read. When he reads a story, his imagination catches fire! Unfortunately . . . so does his book. Fire breath is great for roasting marshmallows, but it’s not so great for reading. Duncan just wants to get to those two wonderful words, like the last sip of a chocolate milk shake: The End. Will he ever find out how the story ends? This bright, warm tale champions determination, friendship, and a love for books. And milk shakes
Wildflower

Alecia Whitaker

The book is about Sixteen-year-old Bird Barrett being discovered by a country music label while playing in her family’s bluegrass band. As her star rises, she must learn to stay true to her roots while navigating a brand new world of glamour and gold records in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jilli, That's Silly! -- A Story About Being a Girl

Christa Carpenter and Mark Wayne Adams
Same Sun Here

Silas House and Neela Vaswani
The Pirate of Kindergarten

George Ella Lyon and Lynne Avril
To Come and Go Like Magic

Katie Packard Fawcett
The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby: The Story of Jimmy Winkfield

Crystal Hubbard and Robert McGuire
Sluggers: Horsin' Around

Loren Long and Phil Bildner
The Dragonfly Door

John Adams and Barbara L. Gibson
The Secret of the Lonely Grave

Albert A. Bell