In case you are wondering what the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award is, do not fear! I am here to fill you in with everything you need to know.

What is the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award?

Each year, a committee is composed of experts in children’s literature and children’s development to choose five of their favorite picture books published from the previous year. These five picture books encourage early literacy skills by providing the five steps for Every Child Ready to Read (Read, Sing, Talk, Write, and Play). Any Indiana resident aged 5 and under can vote for their favorite of the five nominated books through July 31, 2021.

Here are the books nominated for the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award in 2021:

Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin (Illustrated by Blanca Gomez) 

Summary:

  • In this rhyming story, a young mouse makes her way around the world, introducing colors.


The Box Turtle by Vanessa Roeder

Summary:

  • Terrance the turtle was born without a shell, so he uses a cardboard box instead. Terrance loves his box. It keeps him dry on soggy days, safe from snooping strangers, and is big enough to cozy up with a friend. But when another turtle points out that Terrance’s shell is, well, weird, he begins to wonder whether there might be a better shell out there.


Who Has Wiggle-Waggle Toes? by Vicky Shiefman (Illustrated by Francesca Chessa)

Summary:

  • Children are invited to move their bodies in this interactive, call-and-response story.


Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown (Illustrated by AG Ford)

Summary:

  • An illustrated lullaby featuring a busy, independent, beloved brown baby being prepared for bedtime.


How Do You Dance? by Thyra Heder

Summary:

  • A playful picture book that urges readers to bop, bounce, and shake!

During the month of May, these books were made into kits and were checked out by various preschools and daycares throughout Floyd County. The library has received 112 votes so far, but we would like to get a lot more before the end of voting on July 31, 2021!

So, the Galena Digital Branch will have all five of these nominated books displayed for reading along with ballot sheets to vote! If you have never been to the Galena Branch before, this is an excellent reason to go!

We also have copies of the books in our collection for check out at the Main Branch in New Albany, as well as a display for voting.

These votes will be sent to the State Library in Indianapolis on July 31, and we will post at the beginning of August the book that received the most votes in Floyd County!

Happy Reading!