Black Eyed Susan Reading Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
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About the Program
CGES students have been participating in the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Program (BES) since 2003.
The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award is the children's choice book award for the state of Maryland.
Students participating in the program read several of the nominated books in their age appropriate category and in April vote for their favorites.
The Media Center staff will begin promoting the BES program in November and several copies of each nominated book will be available for check-out from the CGES Media Center. BES books are also available in the public library.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Program?
The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Program (BES) is a children's choice award for the state of Maryland. The BES Award honors outstanding picture books and chapter books – each year 15 picture books, 10 chapter books and 10 graphic novels are nominated. Students in the state of Maryland vote for the winning book in each category – that is what makes this Award program so exciting!
How does this affect my child?
Participation in this book award program is voluntary. Grades 2-5 may vote for their favorite picture book. Students in grades 4 and 5 (and sometimes 3, when appropriate) vote for their favorite chapter book and graphic novel. In order to vote for their favorite books, the students must have read or listened to at least 8 of the 15 nominated picture books and/or at least 3 of the 10 nominated chapter books and graphic novels. Voting will take place in April. We will have four copies of each book in the Media Center for students to check out beginning in November. These books are also available at the public library.
How does this affect me as a parent?
Hopefully all of you will encourage your children to read the nominated books – they are excellent books! Just like the program is voluntary for students, it is also voluntary for teachers. Some of the classroom teachers in the building will be reading selected BES books in class – you might want to check with your child’s individual teacher to see if they will be reading a BES book. Otherwise, just encourage your child to check out the books in the Media Center and/or public library and help them keep track of what they read.