“Our favorite [Growing Good Kids] award committee reviews come from our teachers who put these books to the real test of reading. These committee members read them to their classroom of elementary students and ask them what they think!”
At no time in recent memory has it been more important to celebrate, and we have plenty of recent Texas literary awards and recognitions to appreciate.
GROWING GOOD KIDS EXCELLENCE IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AWARDS
The Junior Master Gardener program is an international youth gardening program, engaging children in hands-on group and individual learning experiences that foster a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind. Since 2005, the Growing Good Kids Book Awards Winners have been selected and represent the best of children’s garden-related picture books.
Among the four winning books is We Are the Gardeners (Thomas Nelson) by Waco’s Joanna Gaines, illustrated by Julianna Swaney.
EISNER AWARDS
Tillie Walden’s Are You Listening? (First Second) was awarded the 2020 Eisner Award for the Best New Graphic Novel, during an online version of the annual awards ceremony that was pre-recorded and held as part of Comic-Con@Home, a virtual recreation of the in-person San Diego Comic-Con International.
SCBWI SUMMER SPECTACULAR
Marissa Valdez, member of the Houston chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, was recognized with a Portfolio Showcase Honor during the SCBWI Summer Spectacular.
MORITZ THOMSEN PEACE CORPS EXPERIENCE AWARD
James Skelton finished his book about a deadly virus long before a global pandemic put epidemiology in the news. His book, Eradicating Smallpox in Ethiopia: Peace Corps Volunteers’ Accounts of Their Adventures, Challenges and Achievements (Peace Corps Writers), won the Moritz Thomsen Peace Corps Experience Award, an annual honor for Peace Corps volunteers or staffers who best depict life in the Peace Corps.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S POET LAUREATE
The Poetry Foundation has announced the extension of Naomi Shihab Nye's tenure as Young People's Poet Laureate. The Young People's Poet Laureate title and $25,000 prize "celebrate a living writer in recognition of their devotion to writing exceptional poetry for young readers."
WILLA LITERARY AWARDS
Women Writing the West announced the winners and finalists of the WILLA Awards. The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber won Best Historical Fiction, and We Make A Tiny Herd: Poems to Honor the Burro Lady Of Far West Texas by Lucy Griffith won Best Poetry. Angel Thieves by Kathi Appelt was a finalist in the Young Adult category.
NORTH TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL AWARDS
The NTBF 2020 was cancelled due to plague, but the awards ceremony was presented virtually. The winners are:
Adult Fiction Winners
Chains Broken by C. J. Peterson
Comanche Trace by David Bowles
A Long Way Home by Myra McIlvain
Chasing Hope by Dana Wayne
Sanctuary Moon by Chris Manno (A Lone Star Lit book reviewer!)
Adult Nonfiction Winners
An Airline Pilot’s Life by Chris Manno
Nam-Mares: X-ray Platoon by Clint Majors
The San Marcos 10 by E. R. Bills
Workday Catalyst by Hope LeNoir
YA Fiction
Einstein’s Compass by Grace Blair and Laren Bright
The Watchers by Misty Hayes
Hex: The Apprentice by Fran Hodgkins
Children’s Picture Books
Fred’s If I Were A Sea Turtle by Diane Shapley-Box
The Christmas Gift by John Alexander
Horses of a Different Color by Toshia Stelivan
Fred and Tator’s Christmas Star by Diane Shapley-Box
Short Stories
“It’s Not Time to Die” by Margarita Dager-Uscocovich
Laundered: An Anthology of Monster Messes edited by Kelly Lynn Colby
“Pendulum Grim” by E. R. Bills
If you know of a recent award or honor earned by a Texas writer or illustrator that we’ve missed, please drop us a line at info@lonestarliterary.com.
