Samantha Espiritu ’27
EE Staff Writer
It’s no secret that screens are an instrumental part of 21st century entertainment. Between blockbuster movies, Netflix releases, TikTok, Instagram, and others, there’s a variety of options to choose from on a Friday night. All this digital media is delightful, but it would be impossible to forget the timeless form of media that preceded it all: literature.
Reading for pleasure is in no way an outdated pastime; libraries and bookstores still have plenty of patrons milling about and picking up new novels to fill their time with. People still love to read! That being said, it is important now more than ever to encourage kids to read. With generative AI and “brainrot” becoming more popular every day, it is imperative that the critical thinking skills of the youth be fostered. The annual Nutmeg Book Awards happen to be a fantastic tool for this.
You’re likely familiar with the Nutmeg Book Awards in some capacity, whether you heard about it from your elementary school teacher or you saw a flyer for it at the library. In any case, a quick refresher might be helpful. Every year, a committee of teachers, librarians, and students nominate a list of books, with a separate list being created for each age division. There’s the elementary division, which has books intended for grades 2-3; the intermediate division, intended for grades 4-6; the middle school division for grades 7-8; and the high school division for grades 9-12.
The list of nominees comes out on May 1st every year, giving students ample time to read before voting begins in April of the following year. Sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association (CLA) and the Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL), the program encourages students to engage with quality literature. That goal is admirable as is, but the voting aspect is what makes the Nutmeg Book Awards truly special. The best books for children and teens are decided on by children and teens. Anyone who chooses to participate is given a voice. And, in asking students to vote for their favorite book among the lot, the committee not only asks that they read, but that they do so mindfully. One must think critically in order to form an opinion on a book and vote for it.
You can vote at the Trumbull Public Library beginning in April. There’s still time to pick up a book from the list of nominees and read it! See the 2026 list of nominees here and pick a few titles. There’s no shortage of authors in the world with captivating and insightful stories to tell, and they’re waiting for you to read them. You can start with the carefully curated list of books that the Nutmeg Book Awards has so graciously provided.