The Results Are In!

 

Illustration by Tim Perra from The Dog Who Lost His Rhyme

Board books, picture books, chapter books and novels are many of the works submitted by authors and illustrators in Connecticut for review by a panel of experts in the field of children’s literature.  Children’s books provide a forum to learn about people and places throughout the world by offering an understanding of humanity, inspiring creativity, and giving access to new ideas and concepts

The Shoreline Arts Alliance recognizes the best in children’s books with the New Voices in Children’s Literature: Tassy Walden Awards.  An annual juried competition, the Tassy’s were established in 2001 to encourage and nurture the creation and publication of exceptional quality books for children by unpublished Connecticut writers and illustrators. An award of $250 may be presented to winners in each of five children’s book categories as judged by publishing industry experts. The following are this year's winners. Picture Book (Text Only): Linda Zajac of Vernon for Ice Is Speaking: Exploring Ice in Alaska; Illustrated Picture Book: Tim Perra of Unionville for The Dog Who Lost His Rhyme; Middle Grade Novel: Melanie Meehan of Farmington for The Giving Key; and Young Adult Novel: Holly Howley fo Glastonbury for Mad River. Congratulations to all the finalists:

Picture Book Text:
Winner:            Linda Zajac, Vernon for Ice Is Speaking: Exploring Ice in Alaska
Honorable Mention:    Patricia Nozell, Cheshire for Jacky and the Magic Seeds
Finalists:
            Karen Adams, Berlin for Davie & Duck
            Kira Sexton, Guilford for A Tale of Brave Ulysses
            Michael Weiner, Centerbrook for Egbert’s Firehouse
            Linda Zajac, Vernon for Sliders and Gliders: Tracking Penguins with Robots
Illustrator Portfolio:
Winner:            No Winner
Honorable Mention:     Barbara Mansilla, New Haven

Illustrated Picture Book:
Winner:            Tim Perra, Unionville for The Dog Who Lost His Rhyme
Honorable Mention:    Abi Cushman, New London for Aardvark & Zebra Star in Yet Another Alphabet
                                                                                                                          Book
Finalists:
            Charlice Culvert, Guilford for Dae’s Night
            Yvonne Page, Middletown for Stinky Poo
            Catherine Ransom, Riverton for Fantastical Animals A to Z
            Veronica Voorhies, East Haven for A Year of Full Moon Parties
Middle Grade Novel:
Winner:         Melanie Meehan, Farmington for The Giving Key
Honorable Mention:    Pamela Kelley, Simsbury for Finding Home
Finalists:
            Linda Anderson, Fairfield for Mom and John Wilkes Booth
            Dory Berstche, Newtown for Enough Light to See By
            Heather Sherlock DiLorenzo, West Hartford for Sheltered
            Shana Moore, Guilford for The Wicked Christie Sisters: The Mystery at
                                                                                                                       Northnoor Abbey
Young Adult Novel:
Winner:            Holly Howley, Glastonbury for Mad River
Finalists:
            Brianna Agnew-Weber, Niantic for A Noble Lie
            Mark Fitzpatrick, Seymour for The Blaze Arising from Sugar Street
            Miriam Giskin, North Haven for Which Lies to Tell
            Nancy Pfeiffer, Wallingford for My Checkerboard Life
            Rudy Vener, North Haven for Upgrades

 

On Wednesday, June 1, 2016, Shoreline Arts Alliance will celebrate the 16th annual New Voices in Children’s Literature competition and bestow the 2016Tassy Walden awards at the James Blackstone Memorial Library, 748 Main Street, Branford, Connecticut at 7:00pm.  The event is open to the public and free to attend. And all are invited to join the winners and finalists at a reception following the awards presentation.

New Voices in Children’s Literature is produced in part with support from dedicated volunteers and generous funding from Jack and Helen Davis, The Walden Family and the CT Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts.  Additional support was received from:  Doe & Tom Boyle, Leslie Bulion & Rubin Hirsch, Mary-Kelly Busch & Daniel Picchioni, Pamela & Andrew Farley, Deborah Freedman & Ben Ledbetter, Barbara & Marvin Gold, and Lorraine Jay.

Special thanks to the Blackstone Memorial Library for the use of their auditorium for the awards presentation and reception and to the members of the Tassy Walden Awards committee for all the dedication in coordinating and overseeing this program each year.