The South Dakota Children's Book Awards has a long history of fostering a love of reading. The Prairie Pasque Award was first given in 1987 to Ivy Ruckman for her book, Night of the Twisters. Other winners include Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for Shiloh, David Pateneaude for Someone Was Watching, and Louis Sachar for Holes.
Created by the Prairie Valley Reading Council, the Prairie Bud Award has been given annually since 1998. The Prairie Bud Award was first given to Patricia Rae Wolff for her book, Toll-Bridge Troll. Other winners include Bill Grossman for My Little Sister Ate One Hare and Joan Steiner for Look-Alikes.
Until 2016, the Prairie Bud winners were determined by South Dakota kindergarten through second grade students and Prairie Pasque winners were determined by South Dakota third through fifth grade students. The Prairie Bloom award was introduced to better gear to reading levels.
