The Three Stars Book Award, named after the three stars on the DC flag, is a project of the District of Columbia Library Association: School Library Section, local librarians, and reading advocates. The inaugural award was created in 2017 by Emily Carmichael and Kate Sweeney.

Voting for the Three Stars Book Award takes place in May and June, and is open to students who live or go to school in Washington, DC. We strive to recognize books that incorporate diversity, multiculturalism, and other curricular connections as a means to connect reading to learning while building a culture of reading across DC schools. Nominees are chosen by a committee based on readers' interests and requests. Winners are chosen by students and readers across the district.

Updates for 2024 Selection

Three Stars Book Award voting in the categories of Picture Books, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School officially opens on Monday, May 6th through Monday, June 3rd. If you and/or your students are in the DC-area, we encourage you to share the links and vote for your favorite titles this year. The links are shared below. Book award winners will be announced by Friday, June 7th.   

Three Stares Book Award 2024 Voting: Picture Books 

Three Stares Book Award 2024 Voting: Upper Elementary 

Three Stares Book Award 2024 Voting: Middle School 

Three Stares Book Award 2024 Voting: High School 

 Please share with other DC educators, librarians, and reading advocates. Thanks for your support of the DC Library Association reading programs!  

Recent Committee Leads:

Catherine Fravel - DCLA 3-Star Award Committee Chair email: school_lsc@dcla.org

Eboni Henry - DCLA School Library Section Chair email: dcla3starchair@dcla.org

Recent Committee Members: 

The DC 3 Star Book Award Program is seeking interested volunteers to serve on the 2024-25 Selection Committee.  This book award program is one of the leading PK-12 book initiatives where students read, vote, and select the winner each year.  If you have an interest and passion in children's and/or young adult literature, please use this link and complete the committee interest form.  The deadline for self-nomination for the 2024-25 committee ends at 5PM on Friday, March 15th (next week!). 

If you have questions, please contact dcla3starchair@dcla.org  and either the committee or section chair will respond. 

Thank you for being the best part of DCLA! 

Interested in leading and/or joining the 2023-2024 committee? Email dcla3starchair@dcla.org

2017 - Present Three Stars Reading List