FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 1, 2004

CONTACT:
Jill Johnson, (515) 271-3992, jill.johnson@drake.edu
Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

LOCAL STUDENTS TO JUDGE BOOKS IN CHILDREN’S CHOICES PROGRAM
Approximately 2,000 local elementary students will take part in the Children's Choices book award program, which allows children to read and vote on thousands of newly published children's books. A kick-off meeting with teachers at Westridge Elementary in West Des Moines was held today (Wednesday, Sept. 1) and a similar meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, at Perkins Elementary, 4301 College Ave., Des Moines.

"The purpose of the project is to produce a bibliography of books that has been selected by children," said Jill Caton Johnson, co-team leader for the project and assistant professor of education at Drake University. "The kids' votes will be tallied in February and the top 100 titles will be named the Children's Choices books for 2005."

Children's Choices began in 1974. The award is sponsored by the International Reading Association and the Children's Book Council. Every year 10,000 children ages five to 13 participate in the program. Iowa is among five states taking part in the program this year. Montana, New York, Nevada and Tennessee will also participate.

"Approximately $100,000 worth of books will be distributed to classrooms in schools around Des Moines, Ames, Nevada and the Drake University School of Education Curriculum Library," Johnson said. Westridge Elementary in West Des Moines; Perkins Elementary in Des Moines; Edwards Elementary, Northwood Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary and Sawyer Elementary in Ames; and Central Elementary in Nevada will each receive approximately 600 books for circulation. The schools will be allowed to keep the books when the program ends.