Sponsored by the Oklahoma Library Association (OLA), the annual Sequoyah Book Award is a student’s choice award presented since 1959. The program added a Young Adult literature award in 1987. Books chosen for the annual Sequoyah masterlists are selected by two committees of OLA members. Each member of the committee reads over 100 books before recommending titles for the masterlists.

During the school year, young Oklahomans from grades three through eight are encouraged to read the titles from the masterlists. Students must read or listen to three books in order to cast a vote in April. The winning book is announced in May and the award is presented during the annual Oklahoma Library Association’s spring conference.

With this award, Oklahoma honors the Native American leader, Sequoyah, for his unique achievement in creating the Cherokee syllabary. In so doing, he created a way to preserve his people’s language and culture.

Click here for additional information about this award.