Mars Area Centennial School sixth-graders, from left, Jackson Wagner, Everly Henderson, Emma Johnston, Mary Rhenish and Jackie Li attended the 2024 Children’s Choice Awards. Submitted Photo

Five Mars Area Centennial School students helped decide the best book of the year at the 2024 Children’s Choice Awards hosted earlier this month by Allegheny Intermediate Unit and the Allegheny County Library Association.

To prepare for the event, sixth-graders Everly Henderson, Emma Johnston, Jackie Li, Mary Rhenish and Jackson Wagner read up to eight nominated books before voting on their favorite. The book, “Lasagna Means I Love You” by Kate O’Shaughnessy, was selected as the winner.

Students also joined in a book trivia competition that tested their knowledge of the books they read.

Ann E. Burg, author of books such as “Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown,” “Unbound” and “Serafina’s Promise,” served as keynote speaker for the event.