Children?s Book Award Winners Announced at Maine Reading Conference

Augusta - Nearly 350 librarians and educators from public and school libraries from around Maine converged on Augusta today for the 27th Annual Reading Round Up conference promoting reading and literature for children and young adults. One of the highlights of the event was an award ceremony honoring books, authors and illustrators representing excellence in the field of children?s and young adult literature.

2016 Lupine Award

Four titles received recognition through the 2016 Lupine Award honoring living authors or illustrators who are residents of Maine or who have created a work prominently featuring Maine. The award was first given in 1989 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association.

Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose received awards in the Lupine Award juvenile and young adult category. Awards in the picture book category went to Island Birthday, by author Eva Murray and Illustrator Jamie Hogan and Growing Up Pedro by author and illustrator Matt Tavares.

2016 Katahdin Award

Maine author Cathryn Falwell received the 2016 Katahdin Award from the Maine Library Association. Established in 1999, the award recognizes lifetime achievement and an outstanding body of work of children?s literature in Maine.

2016 Chickadee Award

The 2016 Chickadee Award went to Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by author Lynne Cox and illustrator Brian Floca. The award is given to by the Maine Children?s Choice Picture Book Project to honor works created in the picture book category for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

2016 Maine Student Book Award

El Deafo by Cele Bell received the 2016 Maine Student Book Award. The award recognizes works selected by students in grades 4-8 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association, Maine Association of School Libraries, and Maine Reading Association.

About Reading Round Up

The Reading Round Up conference is an annual event offering learning opportunities for children?s and school librarians. The conference is sponsored by the Maine State Library and organized by a statewide committee of librarians dedicated to promoting literacy and love of reading in children and young adults. More information can be found online at: http://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/rru .