New Voices in Children's Literature: Tassy Walden Awards Announced

The Shoreline Arts Alliance is pleased to announce the winners of the 13th annual New Voices in Children’s Literature: Tassy Walden Awards.  The contest, open to writers and illustrators from the state of Connecticut, drew submissions from talented authors and artists from towns around the state.  Tassy Walden, for whom this contest is named, was a generous and vital member of the Shoreline community for over 40 years and her volunteerism with such organizations as Women & Family Life Center, the Guilford Free Library and Literacy Volunteers of America were all aimed at enhancing and enriching the lives of children in the community.  It is only fitting that this contest to promote and encourage quality children’s literature be named in her honor.

The winners will be invited to read from or display their work at the awards ceremony on Wednesday, June 26th at Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford at 7pm. All are invited to come and celebrate with the writers, illustrators and their family and friends.

Winners:
Illustrated Picture Book: Mary Jo Scott, Fairfield: On Saturdays
Middle Grade Novel: Traci Grigg, Madison: Watch Out for Scorpions
Young Adult Novel: Leslie Cahill, Milford: The Understudy

Honorable Mention:
Picture Book (text):
Heather Sherlock DiLorenzo, West Hartford: Mama’s Chai
Karlin Gray, Westport: Monster Change

Young Adult Novel:
Betsy Devaney, Ledyard: Finding Beauty

Finalists:  
Picture Book (text):
Deborah Fleet, Norwich: I Love the Seashore
Natasha Garnett,Vernon: Scatter
Deborah St. Thomas, Branford: My World
Kate Summerlin, Guilford: A New Kinda Blue
Betsy Witteman, Glastonbury: Edward and the Halloween Snowstorm

Illustrator Portfolio:    
Lisa Hess Hesselgrave, Branford
Katie Skau, West Hartford

Illustrated Picture Book:
Edward Tucchio, Stonington: Croc on the Doc
Edward Tucchio, Stonington: Feathers    
Murray McDonald, Clinton: Little D’Art
Molly Agnew, North Stonington: Achoo to Zoom
Gabriella Svenningsen, New Haven: Messy Creatures: A Very Small Book About Making a Mess

Middle Grade Novel:  
Heather Sherlock DiLorenzo, West Hartford: There’s Room at the Inn  
Pamela Farley, Darien: The Beggar’s Brother
Meira Rosenberg, Stamford: Indiana Bamboo, Gutsy Gumshoe
Theresa Rovillo, East Hampton: Stuck  
Betsy Devaney, Ledyard: Filbert and the Goobers
 
Young Adult Novel:  
Cherish Ann Lisee, South Windsor: A Stranger’s Heart
Faith Hough, Guilford: Cirque

Shoreline Arts Alliance is very grateful to 2013 New Voices in Children's Literature sponsors: Jack & Helen Davis & Wendy, Rex, Shane, Erica & Skye Walden.  Additional thanks to our donors: Alice Bauer, Doe & Tom Boyle, Leslie Cahill, Tricia Carey, Leslie Connor, Pamela Farley, Deborah Freedman & Ben Ledbetter, Miriam Giskin, Barbara Gold, Thea & John Guidone, Leslie Bulion & Rubin Hirsch, Terry McGuire, Nina Nelson, Mary-Kelly Busch & Daniel Picchioni, Deborah St. Thomas, Judy & Jerry Theise, Dianne Warner, Pam & Buck Wilson, Betsy Wittemann, Karen Zoccoli.

Come and support these talented award winners as well as Shoreline Arts Alliance so that we may continue to nurture and support writers and illustrators of quality children’s literature here in Connecticut!