The Center for the Book at the N.H. State Library has created the Ladybug Picture Book Award. The purpose of the award is to promote early literacy and honor the best in recent children's picture books.

A committee met in late February 2003 to establish parameters and to set the guidelines for titles to be considered for the picture book award. Nominations will be considered at another meeting in April 2003. At that time, 12 titles will be selected and copies of the list will be made available to all public and school libraries at the N.H. Libraries Conference in May. Children from preschoolers to those in third grade will be voting to select the award winner during Children's Book Week in November. Once the Center for the Book launches its website, all details of the award will be posted there.

To be considered for nomination, a picture book must meet the following criteria:

• book must be published within last three years
• book must be in print
• either the book's authors or illustrator must be from the United States
• book must have strong child appeal
• book must have artistic quality with text that supports the illustrations
• no titles will be repeated from year to year

The Picture Book Award Committee welcomes the participants of any public or school librarian. For more information, please contact Ann Hoey at 271-2865 or ahoey@library.state.nh.us.