The Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award) annually recognizes one new American

children's book Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's ...

selected by the vote of

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

schoolchildren. It was inaugurated in 1957. The award is co-sponsored by the Vermont State PTA and the Vermont Department of Libraries and was originally named after the Vermont writer

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Dorothy Canfield Fisher (February 17, 1879 – November 9, 1958) was an educational reformer, social activist, and best-selling American author in the early 20th century. She strongly supported women's rights, racial equality, and lifelong educat ...

. In 2020, it was temporarily renamed the "VT Middle-Grade Book Award" before schoolchildren voted to officially call it the "Vermont Golden Dome Book Award".

Selection process and award

Each spring a committee of eight adults selects a "Master List" of thirty books first published during the previous calendar year. The list is announced at the annual Dorothy Canfield Fisher Conference, usually in May, and is available at Vermont school and public libraries for children who wish to participate over the next eleven months. The following spring, those children who have read at least five of the thirty books are eligible to vote for the award, with a deadline in mid-April. The award ceremony is scheduled after the end of the school year, usually late June. Thus the award is always for books published two years previously. The winning writer is invited to visit Vermont to speak with children about the experience of writing for children.

Awards in other categories

Vermont sponsors two other statewide book awards determined by the votes of younger and older students. The Red Clover Book Award recognizes a picture book published two years earlier. Voters are children in grades K–4 who have read, or heard read aloud, all 10 books on the list. The Red Clover BA was established by 1997–98, if not earlier, and its 2014 winner was announced by May. It is the centerpiece of a one-day conference in October. The Green Mountain Book Award is voted by high school students (grades 9–12, routinely ages 14–18) either through a school library or individually online, deadline May 31. Students are asked to vote only once and to read at least 3 from a list of 15 books (for 2014, published 2008–2012; for 2015, published 2011–2013). The Green Mountain BA was inaugurated in 2006.

Winners

One book by a single writer has won the Vermont Golden Dome Book Award every year since 1957. * 2020 ''Small Spaces'' by

Katherine Arden Katherine Arden Burdine (born 1987), best known by her pen name Katherine Arden, is an American novelist. Known primarily for her ''Winternight'' trilogy of fantasy novels, which are set in medieval Russia and have garnered nominations for Hugo ...

* 2019 ''Refugee'' by

Alan Gratz Alan Michael Gratz (born January 27, 1972) is the author of 17 novels for young adults including ''Prisoner B-3087'', ''Code of Honor'', ''Grenade'', ''Something Rotten'', and ''Refugee''. Alan Gratz was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. He holds a ...

* 2018 ''Projekt 1065'' by Alan Gratz * 2017 ''The Terrible Two'' by Jory John &

Mac Barnett Mac Barnett is an American writer of children's books living in Oakland, California. Barnett graduated from Pomona College, where he studied under the writer David Foster Wallace.El Deafo ''El Deafo'' is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Cece Bell. The book is a loose autobiographical account of Bell's childhood and life with her deafness. The characters in the book are all anthropomorphic bunnies. Cece Bell, in an int ...

'' by

Cece Bell Cecelia Carolina Bell (born December 26, 1970) is an American freelance author and illustrator born in Richmond, Virginia. She attended the Paier College of Art as an art major and went on to get a graduate degree in illustration and design at ...

* 2015 '' Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library' by

Chris Grabenstein Christopher Grabenstein is an American author. He published his first novel in 2005. Since then he has written novels for both adults and children, the latter often with frequent collaborator James Patterson. He graduated from the University of Te ...

* 2014 ''

Wonder Wonder most commonly refers to: * Wonder (emotion), an emotion comparable to surprise that people feel when perceiving something rare or unexpected Wonder may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * The Wonders, a fictional band ...

'' by

R. J. Palacio Raquel Jaramillo Palacio (born July 13, 1963) is an American author and graphic designer. She is the author of several novels for children, including the best-selling ''Wonder'', which was adapted into a 2017 film starring Julia Roberts and Ow ...

* 2013 ''The Running Dream'' by

Wendelin Van Draanen Wendelin Van Draanen Dutch name, see (born January 6, 1965) is an American writer of children's and young-adult fiction. Biography Van Draanen was born in Chicago, Illinois. One of her very early influences was ''Dandelion Wine'' by Ray Bradbu ...

* 2012 ''

Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses ...

'' by

Raina Telgemeier Raina Diane Telgemeier (/'ɹeɪna 'tɛlgə'maɪəɹ/, born May 26, 1977) is an American cartoonist. Her works include the autobiography, autobiographical webcomic ''Smile (comic book), Smile'', which was published as a full-color graphic novel i ...

* 2011 '' 11 Birthdays'' by

Wendy Mass Wendy Mass (born April 22, 1967) is an author of young adult novels and children's books. Her 2003 novel, '' A Mango-Shaped Space'' won the American Library Association (ALA) Schneider Family Book Award for Middle School in 2004. Her other no ...

* 2010 ''

The Hunger Games ''The Hunger Games'' is a series of young adult dystopian novels written by American author Suzanne Collins. The first three novels are part of a trilogy following teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen, and the fourth book is a prequel set ...

'' by

Suzanne Collins Suzanne Collins (born August 10, 1962) is an American author and television writer. She is known as the author of the book series ''The Underland Chronicles'' and ''The Hunger Games''. Early life Suzanne Collins was born on August 10, 1962, in ...

* 2009 ''

Rules Rule or ruling may refer to: Education * Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE), a university in Cambodia Human activity * The exercise of political or personal control by someone with authority or power * Business rule, a rule perta ...

'' by

Cynthia Lord Cynthia Lord is an American children's author. Her debut novel ''Rules'' was published by Scholastic, Inc. in 2006, and was a 2007 Newbery Honor book and winner of the Schneider Family Book Award. Early life Lord was born in Massachusetts and g ...

* 2008 ''

Diary of a Wimpy Kid ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' is an American children’s book series and media franchise created by author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney. The series follows Greg Heffley, a middle-schooler who illustrates his daily life in a diary (although he const ...

'' by

Jeff Kinney Jeffrey Patrick Kinney (born February 19, 1971) is an American author and cartoonist, best known for the children's book series ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid''. He also created the child-oriented website ''Poptropica''. Early life Jeff Kinney was born ...

* 2007 ''

Flush Flush may refer to: Places * Flush, Kansas, a community in the United States Architecture, construction and manufacturing * Flush cut, a type of cut made with a French flush-cut saw or diagonal pliers * Flush deck, in naval architecture * Flu ...

'' by

Carl Hiaasen Carl Hiaasen (; born March 12, 1953) is an American journalist and novelist. He began his career as a newspaper reporter and by the late 1970s had begun writing novels in his spare time, both for adults and for young-adult readers. Two of his no ...

* 2006 ''

The Old Willis Place ''The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story'' is a children's novel written by Mary Downing Hahn. It was first published in 2004 and is found in 9001 libraries.WorldCat Synopsis Diana and her younger brother Georgie live in the woods near Oak Hill M ...

'' by

Mary Downing Hahn Mary Downing Hahn (born December 9, 1937) is an American writer of young adult novels and a former school librarian. She is known for books such as ''Stepping On The Cracks'' and ''Wait Till Helen Comes''. She published her first book in 1979 and ...

* 2005 ''

The Tale of Despereaux ''The Tale of Despereaux'' (, ) is a 2003 children's fantasy book written by Kate DiCamillo. The main plot follows the adventures of a mouse named Despereaux Tilling, as he sets out on his quest to rescue a beautiful human princess from the r ...

'' by

Kate DiCamillo Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo (born March 25, 1964) is an American children's fiction author. She has published over 25 novels, including ''Because of Winn-Dixie'', '' The Tiger Rising'', ''The Tale of Despereaux'', ''The Miraculous Journey ...

* 2004 '' Loser'' by

Jerry Spinelli Jerry Spinelli (born February 1, 1941) is an American writer of children's novels that feature adolescence and early adulthood. His novels include ''Maniac Magee'', '' Stargirl'', and ''Wringer''. Life Spinelli was born in Norristown, Penn ...

* 2003 ''

Love That Dog ''Love That Dog'' is a free verse piece written by Sharon Creech and published by HarperCollins. It is written in diary format, in the perspective of a young boy who resists poetry assignments from his teacher. The author drew inspiration from Wal ...

'' by

Sharon Creech Sharon Creech (born July 29, 1945) is an American writer of children's novels. She was the first American winner of the Carnegie Medal for British children's books and the first person to win both the American Newbery Medal and the British C ...

* 2002 ''

Because of Winn-Dixie ''Because of Winn-Dixie'' is a 2000 children's novel written by Kate DiCamillo. It was adapted as a 2005 family film directed by Wayne Wang, produced by Walden Media and Twentieth Century Fox, and starring AnnaSophia Robb as Opal Buloni.

'' by

* 2001 ''

Bud, Not Buddy ''Bud, Not Buddy'' is the second children's novel written by Christopher Paul Curtis. The first book to receive both the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature, and the Coretta Scott King Award, which is given to outstan ...

'' by

Christopher Paul Curtis Christopher Paul Curtis (born May 10, 1953)Judy Levin, Allison Stark Draper, ''Christopher Paul Curtis'' (The Rosen Publishing Group, 2005), , p. 84. Excerptsat Google Books. Retrieved 2015-07-25. is an American children's book author. His f ...

* 2000 ''

Holes A hole is an opening in or through a particular medium, usually a solid body. Holes occur through natural and artificial processes, and may be useful for various purposes, or may represent a problem needing to be addressed in many fields of en ...

'' by

Louis Sachar Louis Sachar ( ; born March 20, 1954) is an American young-adult mystery-comedy author. He is best known for the ''Wayside School'' series and the novel ''Holes''. ''Holes'' won the 1998 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature

* 1999 ''

Ella Enchanted ''Ella Enchanted'' is a Newbery HonorGail Carson Levine Gail Carson Levine (born September 17, 1947) is an American author of young adult books. Her second novel, ''Ella Enchanted'', received a Newbery Honor in 1998.

* 1998 '' Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio'' by

Peg Kehret Peg Kehret (born Margaret Ann Schulze on November 11, 1936) is an American author, primarily writing for children between the ages of 10 and 15. Life Margaret Ann Schulze was born on November 11, 1936, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She contracted poli ...

* 1997 ''Mick Harte Was Here'' by

Barbara Park Barbara Lynne Park (formerly Tidswell; April 21, 1947 – November 15, 2013) was an American author of children's books. Life and career Barbara Park was the daughter of a merchant and a secretary, Doris and Brooke Tidswell. She and her older br ...

* 1996 ''Time for Andrew'' by

* 1995 '' The Boggart'' by

Susan Cooper Susan Mary Cooper (born 23 May 1935) is an English author of children's books. She is best known for '' The Dark Is Rising'', a contemporary fantasy series set in England and Wales, which incorporates British mythology such as the Arthurian le ...

* 1994 ''Jennifer Murdley's Toad'' by

Bruce Coville Bruce Farrington Coville (, born May 16, 1950) is an author of young adult fiction. Coville was first published in 1977 and has written over 100 books. Biography Coville was born on May 16, 1950, in Syracuse, New York, where he resided . Br ...

* 1993 '' Shiloh'' by

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (born January 4, 1933) is an American writer best known for children's and young adult fiction. Naylor is best known for her children's-novel quartet '' Shiloh'' (a 1992 Newbery Medal winner) and for her "Alice" book ser ...

* 1992 ''

Maniac Magee ''Maniac Magee'' is a novel written by American author Jerry Spinelli and published in 1990. Exploring themes of racism and inequality, it follows the story of an orphan boy looking for a home in the fictional town of Two Mills. Two Mills is ha ...

'' by

* 1991 ''

Number the Stars ''Number the Stars'' is a work of historical fiction by the American author Lois Lowry about the escape of a family of Jews from Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. The story centers on 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen, who lives with her ...

'' by

Lois Lowry Lois Ann Lowry (; née Hammersberg; March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of several books for children and young adults, including ''The Giver Quartet,'' ''Number the Stars'', and ''Rabble Starkey.'' She is known for writing a ...

* 1990 ''Where It Stops, Nobody Knows'' by

Amy Ehrlich Amy is a female given name, sometimes short for Amanda, Amelia, Amélie, or Amita. In French, the name is spelled ''" Aimée"''. People A–E * Amy Acker (born 1976), American actress * Amy Vera Ackman, also known as Mother Giovanni (1886 ...

* 1989 ''

Hatchet A hatchet (from the Old French , a diminutive form of ''hache'', 'axe' of Germanic origin) is a single-handed striking tool with a sharp blade on one side used to cut and split wood, and a hammerhead on the other side. Hatchets may also be use ...

'' by

Gary Paulsen Gary James Paulsen (May 17, 1939 – October 13, 2021) was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming of age, coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote mor ...

* 1988 ''

Wait Till Helen Comes ''Wait Till Helen Comes'' is a 1986 novel by American author Mary Downing Hahn. It was first published on January 1, 1986, through HarperCollins and has since gone through several reprints. The book won a 1989 Young Reader's Choice Award and fol ...

'' by

* 1987 ''

The Castle in the Attic ''The Castle in the Attic'' is a children's fantasy novel by Elizabeth Winthrop and illustrator Trina Schart Hyman, first published in 1985. The novel has won the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award and the California Young Reader Meda ...

'' by

Elizabeth Winthrop Elizabeth Winthrop ( Alsop; born September 14, 1948) is an American writer, the author of more than sixty published books, primarily children's fiction. She is best known for the classic middle-grade novel, '' The Castle in the Attic'' and its s ...

* 1986 ''The War With Grandpa'' by

Robert Kimmel Smith Robert Kimmel Smith (July 31, 1930 – April 18, 2020) was a novelist and award-winning American children's author. Smith was born in Brooklyn, New York and first learned to read from his mother Sally. Smith was inspired to become a writer at age ...

* 1985 '' Dear Mr. Henshaw'' by

Beverly Cleary Beverly Atlee Cleary (née Bunn; April 12, 1916March 25, 2021) was an American writer of chapter books, children's and young adult fiction. One of America's most successful authors, 91 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide sin ...

* 1984 ''A Bundle of Sticks'' by Pat Rhoades Mauser * 1983 ''

Tiger Eyes ''Tiger Eyes'' is a young adult novel written by Judy Blume in 1981 about a 15-year-old girl attempting to cope with the unexpected death of her father. In 2012, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Judy's son, Lawren ...

'' by

Judy Blume Judith Blume ( née Sussman; born February 12, 1938) is an American writer of children's, young adult and adult fiction. Blume began writing in 1959 and has published more than 25 novels. Among her best-known works are '' Are You There God? It's ...

* 1982 ''The Hand-Me-Down Kid'' by

Francine Pascal Francine Pascal ('' née'' Rubin, born May 13, 1938) is an American author best known for creating the Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. ''Sweet Valley High'' was the backbone of the collection, and was made into a popular television se ...

* 1981 ''

Bunnicula ''Bunnicula'' is a children's novel series. The first installment was written by James and Deborah Howe, and introduced a vampire rabbit named Bunnicula who sucks the juice out of vegetables. After the sudden death of his wife in 1978, Howe con ...

'' by

James Howe James Howe (born August 2, 1946) is an American children's writer who has written more than 79 juvenile and young adult fiction books. He is best known for the Bunnicula series about a vampire rabbit that sucks the juice out of vegetables. Bi ...

* 1980 ''Bones on Black Spruce Mountain'' by David Budbill * 1979 ''Kid Power'' by

Susan Beth Pfeffer Susan Beth Pfeffer (born February 17, 1948) is a retired American author best known for Young adult novel, young adult science fiction. After writing for 35 years, she received wider notice for her series of post-apocalyptic novels, officially t ...

* 1978 ''Summer of Fear'' by

Lois Duncan Lois Duncan Steinmetz (April 28, 1934 – June 15, 2016), known as Lois Duncan, was an American writer, novelist, poet, and journalist. She is best known for her young-adult novels, and has been credited by historians as a pioneering figure in th ...

* 1977 ''A Smart Kid Like You'' by

Stella Pevsner Stella Pevsner (October 4, 1921 — June 11, 2020) was an American author of children's books and works of young adult literature published since the late 1960s.Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2007. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmi ...

* 1976 ''The Toothpaste Millionaire'' by

Jean Merrill Jean Merrill (January 27, 1923August 2, 2012) was an American writer of children's books and editor, known best for ''The Pushcart War'', a novel published in 1964. She died from cancer at her home in Randolph, Vermont, in 2012, aged 89. Early ...

* 1975 ''The Eighteenth Emergency'' by

Betsy Byars Betsy Byars (née Cromer; August 7, 1928 – February 26, 2020) was an American author of children's books. Her novel '' Summer of the Swans'' won the 1971 Newbery Medal.Author's website She has also received a National Book Award for Young Peo ...

* 1974 ''Catch a Killer'' by George Woods * 1973 ''Never Steal a Magic Cat'' by Donald E. Caufield * 1972 ''Flight of the White Wolf'' by Melvin Ellis * 1971 ''Go to the Room of the Eyes'' by B. K. Erwin * 1970 '' Kavik the Wolf Dog'' by

Walt Morey Walter Morey (February 3, 1907 – January 12, 1992), was a writer of numerous works of children's fiction, set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Alaska, the places where Morey lived for all of his life. His book ''Gentle Ben'' was the basis fo ...

* 1969 ''Two in the Wilderness'' by M. W. Thompson * 1968 ''The Taste of Spruce Gum'' by Jacqueline Jackson * 1967 ''The Summer I Was Lost'' by Phillip Viereck * 1966 ''

Ribsy ''Ribsy'' is a children's book by Beverly Cleary Beverly Atlee Cleary (née Bunn; April 12, 1916March 25, 2021) was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction. One of America's most successful authors, 91 million copies of ...

'' by

* 1965 '' Rascal'' by

Sterling North Thomas Sterling North (November 4, 1906 – December 21, 1974) was an American writer. He is best known for the children's novel '' Rascal'', a bestseller in 1963. Biography Early life and family North's maternal grandparents, James Herve ...

* 1964 ''Bristle Face'' by Zachary Ball * 1963 ''

The Incredible Journey ''The Incredible Journey'' (1961), by Scottish author Sheila Burnford, is a children's book first published by Hodder & Stoughton, which tells the story of three pets as they travel through the Canadian wilderness searching for their beloved m ...

'' by

Sheila Burnford Sheila Philip Cochrane Burnford née Every (11 May 1918 – 20 April 1984) was a Scottish writer. She is best known for her novel The Incredible Journey about two dogs and a cat traveling through the Canadian wilderness. Life and work Born in ...

* 1962 ''City under the Back Steps'' by Evelyn Sibley Lampman * 1961 ''Captain Ghost'' by Thelma Bell * 1960 ''Double or Nothing'' by Phoebe Erickson * 1959 ''Comanche of the Seventh'' by Margaret Carver Leighton * 1958 '' Fifteen'' by

* 1957 ''Old Bones, the Wonder Horse'' by Mildred Pace

Multiple awards

Several writers have won more than one DCF Award:

in 1958, 1966, and 1985;

in 1988, 1996, and 2006; Jerry Spinelli and Kate DiCamillo and Alan Gratz twice each. Seven times from 1985 to 2005 (), and no others, the schoolchildren selected the winner of the annual

Newbery Medal The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contr ...

(dated one year earlier, established 1922). That award by the

Association for Library Service to Children The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is a division of the American Library Association, and it is the world's largest organization dedicated to library service to children. Its members are concerned with creating a better future ...

recognizes the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". The first agreement of Vermont children with U.S. children's librarians was their 1985 selection of ''Dear Mr. Henshaw'' by Cleary and there were six more such agreements during the next twenty years to 2005.

Controversy and renaming

In 2018, there was a call from the Vermont Library Board to change the name of the award to no longer honor

, following a report that she had ties to Vermont's

eugenics Eugenics ( ; ) is a fringe set of beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population. Historically, eugenicists have attempted to alter human gene pools by excluding people and groups judged to be inferior or ...

movement. In April 2019, the Vermont Department of Libraries announced that the award would be renamed in 2020. It was temporarily renamed the "VT Middle-Grade Book Award". In November 2020, it was officially renamed the "Vermont Golden Dome Book Award" after a vote by Vermont elementary school students.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vermont Golden Dome Book Award American children's literary awards Awards established in 1957 Vermont education-related lists Vermont culture