All lists of suggested titles as well as voting activities for the TBA master list are confidential items for the use of the Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee members only.

Step One

The TBA Coordinator receives titles of books to be considered for the next Texas Bluebonnet Award master list from librarians, teachers, parents, students, TBA Committee members, and other interested persons.

People are encouraged to suggest titles through announcements at conferences, workshops, mailings, and news releases from the TBA Publicity Subcommittee and the TLA Communications Office.  A special form may be used, but it is not mandatory, when recommending a title for consideration.  The suggestion form may be found on the TBA website.

Broad distribution of the suggestion form is made through an annual mailing to registered school and public libraries and library leaders including TLA officers.  The title suggestion form lists eligibility requirements for books being nominated for consideration for the master list.  Requirements include:

• You must have read the book.

• The reading level should be grades 3-6.

• Books must have a copyright date within the last three years prior to the release of the list.  For the 2004-05 master list, the copyright dates must be 2001, 2002 or 2003.

• The book must have been published in the U.S. and must have been written an author who is a U.S. citizen or an author who currently resides in the United States.

• The work must have been published in the United States and written by an author who is still living.

• The book must have received a favorable review in a review tool.

• The book must have literary merit and appeal to young readers.

• The content of the book must be appropriate.

• Ineligible categories of materials are textbooks, abridgements, and new editions of existing titles.

The closing postmark date for submitting suggestions is August 1 to give time for the committee members to receive review copies of the books.

Step Two

The TBA coordinator forwards to the TBA Master List Subcommittee the titles of the nominated books.  The subcommittee verifies eligibility and prepares a packet containing a list of books and their reviews.  Information of this type is mailed to each TBA Committee member monthly, June through September.  Among the reviewing sources used by the subcommittee are Booklist, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Hornbook Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, and  School Library Journal.  Other review sources also may be used.

Step Three

TBA Committee members attempt to locate and read all of the books nominated.  The coordinator requests review copies from the publishers for the committee, but committee members are responsible for attempting to locate any eligible titles for which review copies are not available.

Step Four

In September, the Master List Subcommittee sends a list of all eligible books nominated and a ballot to each TBA Committee member.  On this preliminary ballot, each member is to list 20 titles that he/she wishes to have considered in the final balloting.  Deadline for each committee member to return the ballot listing 20 titles is stated on the calendar adopted by the TBA Committee at its meeting at Annual Conference.

Step Five

The Master List Subcommittee tallies the ballots and sends each committee member a listing of all titles receiving one or more votes.  Books not receiving at least one vote are not considered at the Master List selection meeting in October.

Step Six

The TBA Committee meets to discuss, justify, and select the final twenty books for the master list.  Two alternate books are also selected.  The Committee is guided by the TBA selection criteria and selection policy.  Traditionally, the Master List Subcommittee conducts the selection portion of the meeting, providing copies of the books being discussed and preparing ballots for individual secret ballot voting.  The results produce the TBA Master List and two alternates.

Step Seven

Following the selection of the new master list, the coordinator notifies the publisher of each book title has boon selected.  The coordinator seeks assurance that sufficient copies (5000 to 8000 copies) of the title will be available for libraries wishing to purchase them.  If an insufficient supply exists, one of the selected alternate titles may be substituted.  The publishers are asked to notify authors of books selected for the master list.

Step Eight

From the publishers, the coordinator receives information about editions available, including audiobooks, and prepares a TBA master list for printing.  The coordinator also requests a release form from the publishers so that cover and interior illustrations may be used on the TBA promotional video and on the TBA web site.

Step Nine

The TBA Committee selects the date for release of the master list when the calendar is adopted.  On the release date the master list is made available on the TBA web page, through the TBA and TLC list serves, and to anyone who requests it.  The new master list is sent to all registered schools and public libraries, public school administrators, to the officers of the TBA sponsoring units, and to the TLA Board at the time the voting packet is mailed.

Christina Woll, 1993
Annette Nall, rev. 1998
Pat Jefferson, rev. 2003