The Chickadee Award is for children in kindergarten through fourth grade throughout the state of Maine.  The goal is for children to develop an appreciation of outstanding writing and illustration in current children’s picture books through participation in the program.

The Chickadee Award began in 2005 and is named after Maine’s state bird. It is modeled after other successful state children’s choice picture book awards and is intended to complement the Maine Student Book Award program that involves children in grades four through eight. Over 24,000 children vote!

Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! will be in the ballot for the 2025-2026 school year along with these excellent titles.