BUNNY FINDS EASTER wins a NORTHERN LIGHTS BOOK AWARD!

I’m delighted to share that my 2022 Easter-themed board book BUNNY FINDS EASTER published by Zonderkidz and illustrated by Ela Jarzabek has won a Northern Lights Book Award in the Holiday/Notable Days Category.

Per their website, “The Northern Lights Book Awards considers children’s books to be an art form and honors books that excel in aesthetic and literary qualities with an emphasis on permanency. We are seeking works that will leave a lasting impression, ones that will resonate with the reader not only now but in years to come.”

Their judging panel “consists of industry experts in the fields of education, publishing, and writing. Not only are they seeking works that will resonate with the reader in years to come, but they are especially interested in books that are enriching, uplifting, and promote goodwill.”

Wow! Bunny and I are honored to be recognized in this way and we can’t wait to visit schools and churches this coming Easter season. In the meantime, order a copy for your church or school, or your children’s Easter basket, if you haven’t already, and enjoy this fun book trailer that Zonderkidz created for the book’s release last spring.

This will be my last post of 2022. See you in January with brand new inspiration for your inbox!  

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FUN NEWS! Diva Delores and the Opera House Mouse is an Iowa Goldfinch Award Nominee!

The nominees for the 2021-2022 Iowa Goldfinch Award, which is given annually by the Iowa Association of School Librarians, have been selected and DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE made the list! For the complete round up of nominees plus links to the book trailers for each click here. 

According to the official description, the four-fold purpose of the Iowa Goldfinch Award is to:

To encourage children to read more and better books.

To discriminate in choosing worthwhile books.

To provide an avenue for positive dialogue between teacher, parent, and children about books and authors.

To give recognition to those who write books for children.

The Goldfinch Award is special because it offers school kids an opportunity to choose the winning book and to suggest books for the yearly reading list.

Delores and Fernando are delighted to be included and can’t wait to have their story shared and talked about by Iowa school kids!

If you live in Iowa, please ask your library, school or bookstore to provide books and voting materials etc. for this award. What a neat chance to be a part of celebrating reading in this special way!

And now, just for fun, here is the book trailer for DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE. Enjoy!

The 2020 ANNA DEWDNEY READ ALOUD AWARD: Celebrating Books that Spark Compassion, Empathy and Connection

(Read to the end for a fun LOVE IS KIND connection.)

Per the official description “The Anna Dewdney Read Together Award is given annually to a picture book that is both a superb read-aloud and also sparks compassion, empathy, and connection. The award commemorates the life and work of author/illustrator Anna Dewdney, and celebrates her commitment to reading with young children and putting books into as many little hands as possible.”

This year’s award goes to author/illustrator Oge More for her picture book THANK YOU, OMU!

I love this book. My kids are big now, but it’s just the kind of story I would have read to my kids over and over again. It would make a wonderful addition to any book collection.  It is also a Caldecott winner and the illustrations are amazing.

Here’s my quick description: Omu has created a delicious stew and its mouth-watering aroma fills the neighborhood. Soon all sorts of visitors stop by for a taste and Omu gladly shares.  But, when it’s finally time for her dinner, she discovers the pot is empty!  Will she go to bed empty-bellied or will compassion and generosity prevail? 

You will have to read the story to find out.

You can also hear the author herself read it live this coming Friday, May 8th at 3pm ET as part of Children’s Book Week on the Every Child A Reader Facebook Page.

Now, the little bit of fun news – with a LOVE IS KIND connection:

Though not the winner, LOVE IS KIND is named as one of five honor books for this year’s award.  Isn’t that neat? Little Owl thinks so. Here’s the link to the official announcement. 

Hooray for stories that foster love and joy and connect us to others!  And hooray for the magic of reading aloud with children! Happy Monday! 

Best in Rhyme Top 10 Interview: Laura Sassi

Thank you to Best In Rhyme Award committee member, Linda S. Mai, for taking the time to interview me as part of Angie Karcher’s 2019 Best In Rhyme Author Interview Series. I am thrilled that DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE (Sterling Publishing) won First Honor Book and DELIGHTED to see rhyming picture books CELEBRATED in this lovely way!

Here’s the link if you want to pop over for a quick (and hopefully inspiring) read. Happy rhyming!

https://rhymerev.com/2019/02/26/best-in-rhyme-top-10-laura-sassi-interview-by-linda-s-mai/

DIVA DELORES Earns FIRST HONORS in the 2019 Best in Rhyme Awards!

WOW! Delores is delighted to receive first honors in the 2019 Best In Rhyme Awards! Watch the official announcement on KidLit TV and thank you to Angie Karcher and her team of judges for their hard work over the last few months analyzing entries and winnowing the list. Congrats to winner Sue Douglass Fliess for her delightful MARY HAD A LITTLE LAB and second honor winner Josh Funk for his picture book MISSION DEFROSTABLE!

Hooray for rhyming picture books and lovely occasions like this when we get to celebrate them! Happy Monday!