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Donna Norvell Oklahoma Book Award
The Donna Norvell Oklahoma Book Award recognizes a book that has made a significant contribution to the field of literature for children through second grade.
The award honors Donna Norvell’s contributions to the development of the library profession in Oklahoma.
Voting for the current Donna Norvell Masterlist opens February 1st and closes March 15th
Winner of the current Donna Norvell Masterlist is revealed on or before March 31st
New Donna Norvell Masterlists are revealed in the fall prior to voting
Learn more about the book award process in the Sequoyah Policy Manual. Questions can be sent to sequoyah@oklibs.org.
2024 Donna Norvell Award Winner
The OLA Sequoyah Committee is pleased to announce the winner of the Donna Norvell Award for 2024:
Feathers Together by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso.
Donna Norvell Award Resources
View all winners of the Donna Norvell Oklahoma Book Award from 2006 to the present, with book covers and a brief description of each story.
The ODL Children’s Consultant from 1992-2004, Donna was the driving force behind Oklahoma's award-winning Summer Reading Programs.
Award Criteria
- The Norvell Award will be given annually.
- Oklahoma Library Association Sequoyah Committee will administer the award.
- It must be for an original work for children in grades 2 and under.
- The winning title will be voted on by children grades 2 and under from titles presented by the current year’s Children’s Reading Team.
- The Norvell Award will be announced at the same time as the winning Sequoyah Book award authors are announced.
- The award shall consist of plaque and/or medal honoring the author and illustrator.
Nomination Eligibility
- High quality in writing and illustration
- Clarity and accuracy of presentation in both text and illustrative material
- Distinctive use of language
- Excellent artistic presentation in illustration
- Stimulating presentation of concepts and ideas
- Engaging writing and illustration
- Age appropriate style of presentation
- Title considered for the award must be copyrighted one (1) year preceding the date of winner announcement.
- Titles that are self-published, published online in eBook format, and/or published by a publisher outside of the U.S. will not be considered eligible until the first year the book is available in print or distributed through a U.S. publishing house.
About the Award
The Donna Norvell Book Award was established in 2005 by the Oklahoma Library Association and is given annually, with the first award given in 2006. The Donna Norvell Book Award honors a book that has made a significant contribution to the field of literature for children through second grade.
Until 2020, this award was a librarian’s choice award and selected by librarians who were members of the Oklahoma Library Association’s Sequoyah Book Award Committee. It is now a children’s choice award for students in grades 2 and under, with the Children’s Sequoyah Committee selecting the award nominees.
The award is named for Donna Norvell, Children’s Consultant for the Oklahoma Department of Libraries from 1992-2004, who passed away in 2004. The award honors Donna’s contributions to the development of the library profession in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Library Association recognized Donna as an Oklahoma Library Legend in 2007.
Complete information about the Donna Norvell Award and the Sequoyah Book Awards is available in the Sequoyah Policy Manual.
The artwork for the Donna Norvell Award logo was created by artist Kim Doner from Tulsa, OK.
All graphics are copyright 2002-2023 by the Oklahoma Library Association. Permission is granted for Schools and Libraries to use them when promoting the Donna Norvell Book Award.
For all other uses, written permission from the Oklahoma
Library Association is required.