2027 Children's Sequoyah and Donna Norvell Lists

By Kristina Acosta, MLIS, Youth Librarian, Herman and Kate Kaiser Library

While 2027 may feel far away, the 2027 Sequoyah and Donna Norvell lists are here!

The Sequoyah award is the third oldest children’s choice award in the country with the first awarded in 1959. This award honors Native American leader, Sequoyah for his unique achievement in preserving his language by creating the Cherokee syllabary. The Donna Norvell award is named after Ms. Norvell, who was a children’s consultant for the Oklahoma Department of Libraries from 1992-2004. This award goes to picture books that have made a significant contribution to children’s literature. Please see here for more information from the Oklahoma Library Association.

Every February 15th, the lists are presented with children across Oklahoma reading and then voting the following February for their favorite. Voting ends in mid-March with the award winner announced at the end of March. All children can vote in their age group: 3rd-5th graders for Children’s list, 6-8th graders for the Intermediate list, 9-12th graders for the high school list, and Prek-2nd graders for the Donna Norvell list. Students must read at least three of the books listed to vote. These books are vetted by librarians across the state and must fit the rigorous criteria of literary merit, age appropriateness, factual accuracy, and originality.

So, without further ado: here is the list of 15 Children’s Sequoyah books and 5 Donna Norvell books for 2027!