Direct quote from the TBA website
"What is the purpose of the Texas Bluebonnet Award program?
The Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) reading program was established in 1979 to encourage Texas children to read more books, explore a variety of current books, develop powers of discrimination, and identify their favorite books. The award process provides librarians, teachers, parents, and writers with insight into young students' reading preferences. It further affords an opportunity to honor and encourage imaginative authors who create books with high appeal to children.
The Texas Library Association sponsors the Texas Bluebonnet Award reading list solely to encourage free voluntary reading."
"How does the TBA program work?
All school libraries, public libraries and home-school groups in Texas are encouraged to participate in Texas Bluebonnet Award. The program is promoted to students in 3rd through 6th grades or those doing work equivalent to those grade levels.
Children can vote only from registered sites. Registration can be done at TLA Annual Conference or through the TBA website. Participating youngsters must read a minimum of five books from the current TBA Master List before they may vote for their favorite title in January. Teachers, parents, and librarians are encouraged to read some of the books aloud.
Home school students who are not registered through a home-school group or cooperative should go to their local public library or public school to vote. If the public library is not a registered member, then the home school should contact TLA or the TBA Coordinator for further help.
Registered sites send their voting tallies to the TLA office by January 31 of each calendar year. The author of the book receiving the most votes statewide is declared the winner of the Texas Bluebonnet Award.
Further information about the Bluebonnet Program is located in the Texas Bluebonnet Policies and Procedural Manual. "
"Since the books are so carefully selected, shouldn’t children read all of them?
No, the books on The TBA Master List are not intended to be read by all children. There are vast differences among the reading tastes of third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders, between boys and girls, and among different children at different points in the year. The program is intended to promote pleasure reading, therefore youngsters are encouraged to select the books they want to read and not be rewarded for reading the entire master list. Remember, they should, “Read 5, then decide.”
From the Texas Bluebonnet Award Policy and Procedure Manual: “The Bluebonnet Master List contains twenty titles each year. While librarians may choose not to order all titles, they cannot substitute or add titles to a list of books called the Bluebonnet Master List.” Titles may not be deleted or removed from the Master List or any promotional TBA materials."
