Mr. Schu delivered the good news this week that The Day-Glo Brothers had made the 2013 masterlist for the Bluestem Award, the Illinois School Library Media Association’s readers’ choice list for older elementary school readers:

The award is designed for students in grades 3-5 who are ready for longer titles than found on the Monarch list, but not quite ready for the sophistication of some of the Rebecca Caudill titles. Named in honor of Big Bluestem which is the state prairie grass, the award may include both timeless classics and current titles, as well as books that have appeared on Monarch and Rebecca Caudill lists.

It really is an interesting array of books, spanning from War Horse — published in 1982 — to several titles that came out in the past couple of years. I’m honored to have my book included in such great company. Thanks, Illinois — and thanks for the news, Mr. Schu!