National Children's Book Week

Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of children’s books and reading. Established in 1919, it is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. The program is administered by Every Child a Reader (ECAR) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC) is the anchor sponsor.

What is even more exciting is that Shoreline Arts Alliance has just announced the 2014 winners and finalists in the 14th annual New Voices in Children’s Literature: Tassy Walden Awards.  This competition encourages and nurtures the creation of exceptional books for children by unpublished Connecticut writers and illustrators. Awards may be presented in five categories: Picture Book (text only), Illustrated Picture Book, Children’s Book Illustrator’s Portfolio, Middle Grade Novel and Young Adult Novel.  All submissions must adhere to the entry requirements and are evaluated according the chiildren’s book publishing industry standards in a two-tier process.  First, nationally recognized literary agents select submission finalists in each award category.  Second, acclaimed editors and art directors determine, at their discretion, awardees and honorable mention recognition.

The 2014 award winners are:

Picture Book Text:
Winner: Nancy Tandon, Glastonbury ~ The Worst Witch
Honorable Mention: Jacquelin C. Devlin, Norwalk ~ Grandpa’s Way

Finalists:
Kara Imre, Fairfield ~ X-Ray for Stingray Rex
Heather Jessen, New Haven ~ Sophia Wants a Best Friend
Cherish Ann Lisee, South Windsor ~ The Royal Pie Contest

Illustrated Picture Book:
Winner: Brenna Burns Yu, New Haven ~ Sophie’s Dol: A Birthday Tale

Finalists:
Douglas Armistead, Branford ~ Pots by Ming
Anneliese Juergensen, Cheshire ~ Calliope and Ona
Gabriella Svenningsen, New Haven ~ The Collector

Portfolio:
Winner: Brenna Burns Yu, New Haven

Finalists:
Anneliese Juergensen, Cheshire
Gabriella Svenningsen, New Haven

Middle Grade Novel:
Winner: Andrew Hendryx, Madison ~ Jared Jones and the Island of Eckamore
Honorable Mention: Pamela Farley, Darien ~ Outlier

Finalists:
Judith M Cooke, Higganum ~ Jamison Vaughn Boy Detective
David DiPalo, Ridgefield ~ The Stromling
Holly Howley, Glastonbury ~ Alien Virus
Juliana Spink Mills, Avon ~ Dream Catcher

Young Adult Novel:
No Winner or Honorable Mention in this Category

Finalists:
Heather Sherlock DiLorenzo, West Hartford ~ First Served
Maria Mazzaro, Fairfield ~ Through the Rearview
Valerie Stauffer, Greenwich ~ Shanghaied
A. Rudy Vener, North Haven ~ Causeway
Lorraine Vollhardt, Greenwich ~ Lavender Tea: A Zorber’s Tale

Shoreline Arts Alliance has also just received word that a former finalist in this competition is now under contract for publication.  Martha Seif Simpson’s book The Dreidel That Wouldn't Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah will be released in October 2014, published by Wisdom Tales Press.  Congratulations!

Please consider supporting local Connecticut children’s book authors and illustrators during this week.  For a list of published Tassy Walden Award winners visit www.shorelinearts.org/tassywalden.cfm.

The awards ceremony and reception for the 2014 awardees will be Tuesday, May 27 at 7pm at the James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street, Branford.  All are invited to come and hear or see the manuscripts and artwork from our winners and to celebrate!  Shoreline Arts Alliance wishes to thank the many Tassy Walden Awards founders and committee for making this another successful year for this program : Doe Boyle, Leslie Bulion, Mary-Kelly Busch, Leslie Connor, Frank Dormer, Deborah Freedman, Thea Guidone, Faith & Mark Hough, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Lorraine Jay, Marcella Staudenmaier, Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.

We also wish to thank our sponsors: Jack & Helen Davis, Susan & John Wieland, Rex, Wendy, Shane, Erica, & Walden, Sennheiser Electronic Corp., NewAlliance Foundation, CT Office of the Arts.

And donors:
Doe & Tom Boyle, Leslie Bulion & Rubin Hirsch, Mary-Kelly Busch & Daniel Picchioni, Leslie Cahill, Leslie Connor, Pamela Farley, Pamela Foarde, Barbara Gold, Traci Grigg, Thea & John Guidone, Lorraine Jay, Meira Rosenberg, A. Harris Stone.