Children?s Book Award Winners Announced at Maine Reading Conference

Augusta ? Over 400 librarians and educators from public and school libraries from around Maine converged on Augusta today for the 28th 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.

2017 Lupine Award

Four titles received recognition through the 2017 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 Youth Services Section of the Maine Library Association.

Some Writer! by Melissa Sweet and Wrecked by Maria Padian received awards in the Lupine Award juvenile and young adult category. Awards in the picture book category went to Freedom Over Me, by author and illustrator Ashley Bryan and Hotel Bruce by author and illustrator Ryan T. Higgins.

2017 Katahdin Award

Maine author Melissa Sweet received the 2017 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.

2017 Chickadee Award

The 2017 Chickadee Award went to Land Shark by author Beth Ferry and illustrator Ben Mantle. 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.

2017 Maine Student Book Award

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson received the 2017 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 .