The California Young Reader Medal
Every year, the California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) is awarded to one book in each of five categories: Primary, Intermediate, Middle School/Jr. High, Young Adult, and Picture Books for Older Readers.
Nominees are selected from student suggestions, and winners are chosen based solely on student votes.
The CYRM contest is sponsored by the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE), California Library Association (CLA), California Reading Association (CRA), and California School Library Association (CSLA).
Votes are due to the sponsoring organizations by April 1, and winners are announced on May 1.
Pennekamp students are read aloud the nominees in the Primary and Picture Books for Older Readers categories and then vote on those categories. Students who read or (hear read aloud) all the nominees in the Intermediate category are permitted to vote on that category, too.
Nominees are selected from student suggestions, and winners are chosen based solely on student votes.
The CYRM contest is sponsored by the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE), California Library Association (CLA), California Reading Association (CRA), and California School Library Association (CSLA).
Votes are due to the sponsoring organizations by April 1, and winners are announced on May 1.
Pennekamp students are read aloud the nominees in the Primary and Picture Books for Older Readers categories and then vote on those categories. Students who read or (hear read aloud) all the nominees in the Intermediate category are permitted to vote on that category, too.
Nominees for 2020-2021
Primary
Primary: The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson; Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, by Lisa Papp; Alfie: The Turtle that Disappeared, by Thyra Heder; After the Fall, by Dan Santat; Poor Louie, by Tony Fucile
Picture Books for Older Readers
Picture Books for Older Readers: Step Right Up, by Donna Janell Bowman; Six Dots, by Jennifer Bryant; Sergeant Reckless, by Patricia McCormick
Intermediate
Intermediate: Save Me a Seat, by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan; The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, by Karina Yan Glaser; Restart, by Gordon Korman
Primary: The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson; Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, by Lisa Papp; Alfie: The Turtle that Disappeared, by Thyra Heder; After the Fall, by Dan Santat; Poor Louie, by Tony Fucile
Picture Books for Older Readers
Picture Books for Older Readers: Step Right Up, by Donna Janell Bowman; Six Dots, by Jennifer Bryant; Sergeant Reckless, by Patricia McCormick
Intermediate
Intermediate: Save Me a Seat, by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan; The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, by Karina Yan Glaser; Restart, by Gordon Korman
Statewide Winners
2019-2020
Primary: The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Drew Daywalt
Picture Books for Older Readers: Her Right Foot, by Dave Eggers
Intermediate: The War I Finally Won, by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
2018-2019
Primary: The Bear and the Piano, by Tom Lichtfield
Picture Books for Older Readers: Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, by Laurie Ann Thompson
Intermediate: The War that Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
2017-2018
Primary: The Book with No Pictures, by B.J. Novak
Picture Books for Older Readers: Barbed Wire Baseball, by Marissa Moss
Intermediate: Pax, by Sara Pennypacker
2016-2017
Primary: Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, by Mac Barnett
Picture Books for Older Readers: Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson
Intermediate: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Chris Grabenstein
2015-2016
Primary: The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt
Picture Books for Older Readers: Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller, by Doreen Rappaport
Intermediate: A Dog Called Homeless, by Sarah Lean
2014-2015
Primary: Exclamation Mark, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Picture Books for Older Readers: Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Team, by Audrey Vernick
Intermediate: Wonder, by R.J. Palacio
2013-2014
Primary: Press Here, by Herve Tullet
Picture Books for Older Readers: Queen of the Falls, by Chris Van Allsburg
Intermediate: The Unwanteds, by Lisa McMann
2012-2013
Primary: We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems
Picture Books for Older Readers: Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle, by Brian Dennis
Intermediate: The Giant Slayer, by Iain Lawrence
2011-2012
Primary: I Need My Monster, by Amanda Noll
Picture Books for Older Readers: Henry's Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine
Intermediate: Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning, by Danette Haworth
2010-2011
Primary: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale, by Carmen Agra Deedy
Picture Books for Older Readers: John, Paul, George and Ben, by Lane Smith
Intermediate: Zorgamazoo, by Robert Paul Weston
Primary: The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Drew Daywalt
Picture Books for Older Readers: Her Right Foot, by Dave Eggers
Intermediate: The War I Finally Won, by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
2018-2019
Primary: The Bear and the Piano, by Tom Lichtfield
Picture Books for Older Readers: Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, by Laurie Ann Thompson
Intermediate: The War that Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
2017-2018
Primary: The Book with No Pictures, by B.J. Novak
Picture Books for Older Readers: Barbed Wire Baseball, by Marissa Moss
Intermediate: Pax, by Sara Pennypacker
2016-2017
Primary: Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, by Mac Barnett
Picture Books for Older Readers: Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson
Intermediate: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Chris Grabenstein
2015-2016
Primary: The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt
Picture Books for Older Readers: Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller, by Doreen Rappaport
Intermediate: A Dog Called Homeless, by Sarah Lean
2014-2015
Primary: Exclamation Mark, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Picture Books for Older Readers: Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Team, by Audrey Vernick
Intermediate: Wonder, by R.J. Palacio
2013-2014
Primary: Press Here, by Herve Tullet
Picture Books for Older Readers: Queen of the Falls, by Chris Van Allsburg
Intermediate: The Unwanteds, by Lisa McMann
2012-2013
Primary: We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems
Picture Books for Older Readers: Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle, by Brian Dennis
Intermediate: The Giant Slayer, by Iain Lawrence
2011-2012
Primary: I Need My Monster, by Amanda Noll
Picture Books for Older Readers: Henry's Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine
Intermediate: Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning, by Danette Haworth
2010-2011
Primary: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale, by Carmen Agra Deedy
Picture Books for Older Readers: John, Paul, George and Ben, by Lane Smith
Intermediate: Zorgamazoo, by Robert Paul Weston
Pennekamp's 2021 Voting Results
Pennekamp's 2020 Voting Results
Student in grades 4 and 5 who read all the Intermediate nominees will be permitted to vote on that category. Our results are still to come: 4 votes for The Detective's Assistant, by Kate Hannigan; 4 votes for The Losers Club, by Andrew Clements; and 6 votes for The War I Finally Won, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
Pennekamp's 2019 Voting Results
Student in grades 4 and 5 who read all the Intermediate nominees were permitted to vote on that category. Our results were as follow: 2 votes for Crenshaw, by Katherine Applegate; 8 votes for Fish in a Tree, by Lynda Mullaly Hunt; and 13 votes for The War that Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
Pennekamp's 2018 Voting Results
Pennekamp's 2017 Voting Results
Pennekamp's 2016 Voting Results
Pennekamp's 2015 Voting Results
Pennekamp's 2014 Voting Results
Pennekamp's 2013 Voting Results
Pennekamp's 2012 Voting Results
Pennekamp's 2011 Voting Results
