STEVE SHEINKIN, WINNER OF THE GUILD'S 2015 NONFICTION AWARD
Sheinkin has authored several highly acclaimed history books for middle-grade and young adult readers, including Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights; Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon; The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery; and King George: What Was His Problem? The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution.
Sheinkin attributes his
early job writing history textbooks to providing the inspiration for his career
as a writer of nonfiction for young readers. “Only by doing this kind of
[textbook] writing did I come to realize how much I love the process of finding
and telling true stories,” he notes. Sheinkin will share details of this
journey during his talk “Confessions of a Textbook Writer” at the award
luncheon.
The 38th annual Nonfiction Award presentation is sponsored by KPMG. In 2008, KPMG LLP established KPMG's Family for Literacy (KFFL) to combat childhood illiteracy. KFFL is managed in collaboration with First Book, a nonprofit organization with nearly two decades of outstanding accomplishment in delivering new books to low-income children.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: noon to 3 p.m.
Place: Clyde's Gallery Place Restaurant
701 7th Street NW
Washington, DC
Tickets: $35
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Congratulating Deborah Wiles
2. A Letter from Jean Heilprin Diehl and Kem Knapp Sawyer
3. Member Nomination: Gareth Hinds
4. The March Business Meeting
5. Announcing the Grateful American Book Prize
6. Member News
7. A Fun Look Back
THE GUILD CONGRATULATES DEBORAH WILES,
WINNER OF THE 2015 GOLDEN KITE AWARD
FOR FICTION
FOR REVOLUTION
Dear Guild Members,
The Guild is a remarkable community of accomplished people writing, drawing, editing, curating, teaching and otherwise facilitating the cause of great literature for young people. It was fantastic to celebrate last month with Kwame Alexander and Deborah Taylor.
For 38 years the Guild has honored the careers of wonderful authors of nonfiction. For an artist, as Kwame said in February, meaningful recognition spans everything from the pinnacle of a major award to hearing that you’ve made a positive difference in the mind of a single reader. We encourage you to buy a ticket to our April event, which is the Guild’s way, as an organization, of offering meaningful recognition and support for the work of our colleagues.
Please help us uphold the wonderful tradition of our annual award as we honor Steve Sheinkin, our 2015 winner.
Below is a direct link to an online ticket page:
http://www.childrensbookguild.org/component/content/article/42-general/613-nonfiction-award-event-payment
And for a preview of Steve Sheinkin, check out a YouTube video of Steve's speech at the 2014 National Book Awards ceremony:
Hope to see you on April 25!
Jean Heilprin Diehl
Kem Knapp Sawyer
Nonfiction Award Event Co-chairs
GUILD MEMBERS: PLEASE BRING YOUR BOOKS TO THE APRIL 25 LUNCHEON!
There will be a table at the Nonfiction Award luncheon where Guild members' books will be displayed. Please bring your books (no more than two per member, please) the day of the luncheon and place them on the table when you arrive. (Remember to take them home when you leave.) This is a wonderful opportunity to publicize your work!
GUILD MEMBERS: PLEASE BRING YOUR BOOKS TO THE APRIL 25 LUNCHEON!
There will be a table at the Nonfiction Award luncheon where Guild members' books will be displayed. Please bring your books (no more than two per member, please) the day of the luncheon and place them on the table when you arrive. (Remember to take them home when you leave.) This is a wonderful opportunity to publicize your work!
Unable to attend this year's Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award luncheon?
Please consider buying a ticket to give to a teacher, librarian or friend!
Need help finding a recipient for your ticket? Fellow member Dara La Porte, of An Open Book Foundation (dlaporte@anopenbookfound.org), knows many teachers and librarians who would be grateful for the opportunity to attend and will help distribute the donated tickets.
If you donate a ticket to another individual using the Guild's online Papypal account, please provide the name, email address and phone number of the recipient (if known). If you use the printed registration form, please add this information when when you mail your check.
Thank you helping us fill the house!
MEMBER NOMINATION: GARETH HINDS
Hinds is the author and illustrator of six critically
acclaimed graphic-novel adaptations of literary classics published by
Candlewick Press: Beowulf (which Publisher’s Weekly called a “mixed-media
gem”), King Lear (which Booklist named one of the top 10 graphic
novels for teens), The Merchant of Venice
(which Kirkus called “the standard
that all others will strive to meet” for Shakespeare adaptation), The Odyssey (which received four starred
reviews and appeared on numerous “best of 2010” lists) and Romeo & Juliet (which Kirkus called “a stunning visual reading
…thrilling and riveting”). His most recent book is Macbeth, which the New York Times
calls “stellar.” He has also illustrated a mythology-themed picture book, Gifts From the Gods, by Lise
Lunge-Larsen (Houghton Mifflin 2011), and is under contract for two more
graphic novels as well as illustrations for a nonfiction book.
Hinds moved to Takoma Park 18 months ago with his wife,
Alison Morris, an expert children’s book buyer and former independent
bookseller. Morris works with Guild member Erica Perl at First Book, a nonprofit
social enterprise that provides access to free and affordable books to children in
need. Hinds grew up in central Vermont and has previously lived in Boston and
New York.
THE MARCH BUSINESS MEETING OF THE CHILDREN'S BOOK GUILD, FEATURING A PRESENTATION BY MARFE FERGUSON DELANO
by Betsy Harvey Kraft
Children’s Book Guild members met for their annual business meeting on March 19, 2015, at the Bethesda Public Library. Lulu Delacre, nominating chair, announced the slate of officers for 2015-2016:
Amy Hansen, president
Kem Sawyer, vice president and incoming president for 2016-2017
Abby Nolan, recording secretary
Terry Catasús Jennings, treasurer
Henry Cole, Judy Hijikata and Erica Perl, program chairs
The slate was approved and candidates
were voted in unanimously.
After the
election, Guild member Marfé Ferguson Delano told of her journey from ambitious
high school student to children’s
book author. While a student at Duke University, Delano followed her passion
for books as an intern in the university’s
rare book collection. Her goal then was to become an attorney; it was only when
she was filling out applications for law school that she burst into tears,
realizing her interests lay elsewhere. She was not quite sure where they did lie, though. Following a
whim, she signed up for a book-publishing program, which soon led her to New
York, where she worked in the editorial department at Charles Scribner’s
Sons. When she moved to the Washington, D.C., area, Delano became a copy editor at Time-Life Books, but she couldn’t restrain herself from suggesting rewrites in the margins of proofs. Her insightful comments led to a job as a writer that taught her to keep up with a fast-paced production schedule and to write entertaining and informative copy as well as meaningful captions for photographs.
Since then, she has published more than 14 books with National Geographic Children’s Books. Some, such as Earth in the Hot Seat: Bulletins from a Warming World and Exploring Caves: Journeys into the Earth, are on scientific subjects. The research for the latter required her to repel 40 feet down into a dark pit—and prompted her to ask the publisher for an insurance policy covering the duration of her adventure. She has also written biographical works, including Genius: A Photobiography of Albert Einstein and Master George’s People: George Washington, His Slaves, and His Revolutionary Transformation. Recently she has authored a series of books for younger readers called Explore My World, about frogs, butterflies, clouds and more.
As a trained and
longtime enthusiastic singer, Delano has for years sung with the Alexandria
Choral Society. So it was a treat for Guild members to hear her close her
presentation by singing a classic folk tune while accompanying herself on her ukulele.
New Prize Honors Children's Books on American History
A new award, the first of its kind, aims to honor children’s books, both fiction and nonfiction, that feature “events and people that shaped the history of the U.S.,” the founders said in a release. Author and publisher David Bruce Smith, co-founder of the prize, added, “Of the more than five dozen literary awards for children’s books in the U.S., the Grateful American Book Prize is the only one awarded for excellence in writing, storytelling and illustration in the category of historically accurate works for children. Our aim is to restore the role of history in the education of America’s children at a time when the focus in the classroom is on math and science.”
Recipients will receive a $13,000 cash award, to commemorate the 13 original colonies. In addition, the winner will receive a not-yet-revealed work to be created by Smith’s mother, artist Clarice Smith.
The prize will be overseen by the following judges: Dr. Bruce Cole, co-founder of the award and former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities; Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education; Louise Mirrer, president and CEO, New-York Historical Society; Nick Kotz, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author; Douglas Bradburn, author, historian and founding director of the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon; and John Danielson, founder of the Chartwell Education Group and former chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Education.
The panel is ready to begin reviewing submissions for the prize from authors and publishers. The deadline for submissions is August 31, 2015. More information is available at http://www.gratefulamericanbookprize.com/
MEMBER NEWS
JACQUELINE JULES is excited to announce her new series Sofia Martinez, published by Picture Window Books. This new chapter book series features seven-year-old Sofia, a little girl with a big personality, ready to make every day memorable. Sofia’s tight-knit Hispanic family is the focus of her adventures. Kirkus called Sofia “reminiscent of Ramona.” Publisher’s Weekly said Sofia was “a highly personable elementary schooler,” and Booklist noted, “The author of the Zapato Power series, featuring Freddie Ramos, here offers another early chapter book with an appealing Hispanic protagonist.” The books include Spanish terms and phrases attractively printed in pink with a glossary in the back.
Sofia has her own dedicated webpage and book trailer at Picture Window Books. Check her out! http://www.capstonekids.com/characters/Sofia-Martinez/
SUE FLIESS's essay "Breakthrough Law No. 3," which ran in the August 2014 issue of O: the Oprah Magazine, was selected for inclusion in O's Little Book of Happiness, which comes out from Flatiron Books on March 31, 2015. Among the other contributors to O's Little Book of Happiness are Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Jane Smiley and Patricia Volk.
Sue also adapted 12 stories for Palace Pets: 5-Minute Palace Pets Stories, due out from Disney Press on March 31, 2015. Meet Pumpkin, Berry, Treasure, Teacup, Bayou and Blossom in this padded-cover treasury. Each of these adorable Palace Pets has its own unique adoption story to share. The pets also have exciting adventures with their princesses that are sure to make readers purr with delight. Additionally, each of these 12 stories is the ideal length for reading aloud in just around five minutes--perfect for playtime, bedtime, anytime!
And Sue's book A Gluten-Free Birthday For Me! (illustrated by Jennifer E. Morris) won a 2015 Best Gluten-Free Children's Book Award, given by the Gluten-Free Buyers Guide.
MOIRA ROSE DONOHUE would like to announce that her most recent title with National Geographic, Kangaroo to the Rescue, was released last month. It's part of the Kids Chapters series and was edited by Guild member Marfe Ferguson Delano.
KATY KELLY's latest, Melonhead and the Later Gator Plan, came out March 10. It is the sixth book in the Melonhead series.
CAROLINE HICKEY's two latest books in the Sew Zoey series, Bursting at the Seams (#10) and Clothes Minded (#11), came out in December and February respectively. This middle grade series is published by Simon & Schuster and chronicles the adventures of a 12-year-old girl who makes a name for herself designing and sewing clothes. They're published under the pseudonym Chloe Taylor.
The Year of Goodbyes, DEBBIE LEVY's 2010 middle grade book in verse about her mother’s last year as a girl living in Nazi Germany, is being released in paperback and e-book editions by Disney-Hyperion on April 7. The book received starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, and was recognized with several awards, including a Parents’ Choice Award. It was a Sydney Taylor Notable Book, a VOYA Nonfiction Honor Book and one of Kirkus's Best Children's Books of 2010.
Frida & Diego: Art, Love, Life, by CATHERINE REEF, is one of Bank Street College's Best Children's Books of the Year, 2015.
A SOUVENIR OF GUILD HISTORY
The writers’ critique group pictured here was active for 26 years with changing members, including (left to right) Peggy Thomson, Marguerite Murray, Phyllis Naylor and Joan Carris. Peggy now lives in Massachusetts, near her son. Joan is living in Charlottesville (when she is not on the Outer Banks!). Marguerite is living in Virginia and continues to belong to a book club.Phyllis writes: "Of the four people pictured, only Peggy, Marguerite and I were original members of this critique group--a group I'll remember fondly all my life. It originated in the early 80s, and I only remember that by the manuscripts I was reading to the group at the time, and the ones they were reading. Larry Callen, Gene Namovich and Gloria Kamen were members too, and we took turns meeting in one another's homes on Monday nights. We were simply a group of Guild members who happened to live fairly close to one another and wanted feedback on what we wrote. Each time we met, we asked who had material to read that night, and then we divided our three hours up and parceled equal amounts out to each reader. We also found that we used the first 15 or 20 minutes just to talk about what had happened to us during the week, as that often had impact on what we wrote. And halfway through the evening, we stopped for coffee and cake or something.
"So many books came out of this critique group. At the time this picture was taken, I think Joan was working on her first 'Bed and Biscuit' book. Larry Callen wrote Who Kidnapped the Sheriff, Marguerite wrote Like Seabirds Flying Home, Peggy was working on several nonfiction books--one on orphaned orangutans and another on canine companions, and I remember each week reading another chapter of my novel for adults, Unexpected Pleasures. Gloria Kamen would show us art work for her next book. Later, after Larry died, Gloria moved away, and Marguerite sold her house and moved in with her daughter, Peggy and I and two of our newest members, Laura Melmed and Betsy Kraft, met weekly in Peggy's Chevy Chase home. Peggy and I were treated to Laura's melodic books for young children and Betsy's flair for bringing nonfiction topics to life. Then Rex and I moved to Gaithersburg, Laura and Betsy were becoming increasingly busy not only with book projects but married children and grandchildren, and we finally decided to disband. Except that once or twice a year, Laura, Betsy and I meet halfway for lunch and fill the table with new drawings, new manuscripts and what's new in our lives."
Contact Karen Leggett (Leggett@comcast.net) if you would like to send photos to Peggy.
Tweet Your News
Do you have a publication date for a new book, a local appearance coming up or an award nomination to tout? Don't be shy! The Guild has its own Twitter account (@ChildrensBookGuild) and is looking for news to tweet. Just send your news to Caroline Hickey (carolinesmithhickey@gmail.com
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NOTE ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S BOOK GUILD NEWS: Would you rather print your newsletter than read it online? Current and past issues now available for printing on the Guild's website at http://www.childrensbookguild.org/guild-newsletters. Look for the "Newsletter" tab on the left side of the Guild website. There is also a "Printer Friendly Version" link on the top left hand side of this blog.
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