[1] The Children's Services Division initiated the award in 2004 as a means of identifying and promoting the best fiction and nonfiction books for beginning readers.
The further intention in granting the Award is to provide teachers, librarians, and caregivers with a resource list of excellent books for beginning readers, and to encourage publishers, authors and illustrators to create high quality, interesting and beautiful books that will entice young readers.
The Award is decided by a committee made up of public librarians and school media specialists who examine qualifying literature published within the calendar year.
The committee considers criteria such as legibility, vocabulary, visual and literary appeal, support matter (i.e. glossaries or pronunciation keys) and appropriateness to the needs of beginning readers.
Eligibility guidelines and nomination forms are listed on the Blue Crab page of the Maryland Library Association website.