WLA Burr Worzalla Children's Book Awards Announced

From the Wisconsin Library Association: 

WLA Announces 2024 Children's Book Awards

 

The Children’s Book Awards and the Literary Awards Committees of the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) have announced the recipients of their annual awards for 2024.   Many thanks to both committees for the many hours they spent reading to arrive upon these great lists of titles and authors. The time and expertise you shared is much appreciated! 

 

Children's Book Awards

The Children’s Book Awards recognize outstanding books for youth by Wisconsin-connected authors and illustrators. This year’s recipients are:

• The Elizabeth Burr/Sheridan Worzalla Award to What Happened to Rachel Riley by Claire Swinarski.  Named for notable Wisconsin librarian Elizabeth Burr (1908-1996) and made possible by Sheridan Worzalla, this annual award is bestowed upon the most distinguished work in children’s and young adult literature written and/or illustrated by a Wisconsin book creator.
•  The Wisconsin Notable Children's Author/Illustrator Award to author Miranda Paul.  This annual award honors Wisconsin authors, past and present, for their literary contributions.

What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski 

Anna Hunt is an eighth grader and is the “new kid” at East Middle School. She is into podcasts, and she has stumbled on to a mystery within the school walls. Last year the most popular girl was Rachel Riley, but this year she is not. Anna decides to investigate interviewing various classmates including Rachel herself. Rachel was blamed for a barn fire from the year before, but Anna believes that Rachel didn’t do it. Anna follows the evidence, and the story is told through notes, emails, texts, voice recordings, and Anna’s podcast episodes. This all leads to a mysterious website created by some of the boys at school. Anna finds the truth elusive but follows her instincts to the surprising conclusion. Primarily a middle-grade mystery that shines an important light on peer pressure, the power of silence, body image, and harassment.

About the Author

Claire Swinarski is the author of multiple books for both kids and adults. Her writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Seventeen, Milwaukee Magazine, and many other publications. She lives in small town Wisconsin with her husband and three kids, where she writes books, wears babies, and wrangles bread dough. You can follow her on Instagram @claireswinarski.

 Honor Titles

Ten noteworthy honor titles written and/or illustrated by Wisconsin book creators were selected for Outstanding Achievement Award in children’s literature:

• How to Catch a Polar Bear - Stacy DeKeyser
• The Wishing Machine - Jonathan Hillman
• Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends - Lita Judge
• How Mr. Silver Stole the Show - Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise
• Starlings - Amanda Linsmeier
• Team Meena - Karla Manternach
• Full Moon Pups - Liz Garton Scanlon
• Always the Almost - Edward Underhill
• What Rosa Brought – Eliza Wheeler (illustrator)
• The Cartographers - Amy Zhang

Notable Wisconsin Author - Miranda Paul
Miranda Paul is an award-winning children’s author of One Plastic Bag and Water is Water, both named Junior Library Guild selections. 365: How to Count Your Year, released in September 2023, was named a CCBC Choices pick. In 2020, the CBAC recognized her and her husband’s book, I am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon as one of its Outstanding Books of the year.

Her titles have received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly in addition to being named to several recommended and “best of” reading lists.  10 Little Ninjas also was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month (August 2016).

Miranda makes regular appearances at schools, libraries, and bookstores, and has been a guest presenter at the Library of Congress Young Readers Center along with environmental activist Isatou Ceesay. Miranda also serves as Mentorship chair for We Need Diverse Books™ (www.diversebooks.org), volunteers for Books for Africa, and is a regional advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers (Wisconsin Chapter). She believes in working hard, having fun, and being kind. Learn more about her current and forthcoming titles at www.mirandapaul.com.

You can read the full information with press releases here at the WLA  Children's Book Award page at the WLA website

COMMITTEE MEMBERS | 2024

Chair - Murray Johnson

Hanna Collins, Youth Services Librarian, Slinger Community Library
Dawn Tevis, Youth Services Coordinator, La Crosse County Library 
Katrina Wulff, Youth Services Manager, Neenah Public Library
Ann Vickman, Portage Public Library
Sarah French, Irvin L Young Memorial Library

You can read more about this committee's work here at the WLA website.

Apply to be on the 2025 CLEL Book Selection Committee

We recently shared this year's CLEL book award winners on the blog.

Did you know that WI library youth staff can serve on this early literacy award committee?

Applications are now open for the 2025 CLEL Bells award selection committee.  This is a great opportunity to take a deep dive into ECRR, and connect with Librarians from across the country.  Spanish speakers are highly encouraged to apply.

Applications will be accepted through 5 pm on March 22nd. Applicants will be notified of decisions by March 31, 2024.

CLEL Membership is 100% FREE and open to anyone interested in early literacy. Membership is NOT limited to Colorado residents.

Involvement in the CLEL Bell Award Committee requires:

• Membership in Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy.
• A two-year commitment to serving on the CLEL Bell Award Committee 
• Access to email and the Internet (for routine communication, editing shared Google documents and attending virtual meetings). 
• Access, via your library, interlibrary loan and/or bookstores, to a large sample of picture books published during the selection year.
• A commitment of several hours a week securing access to, reading and evaluating as many new picture books as possible.
• A commitment to attend a virtual meeting in the spring.
• A commitment to attend, virtually or in the Denver area, an 8-hour shortlist selection meeting in December.
• Please note that due to the potential conflict of interest we are unable to select a committee member who is professionally affiliated with a publishing company, including employees of the company, independent sales consultants, or authors publishing children’s books in the selection year.

You can find even more info at their website

Throw your hat in the ring and celebrate picture books!

WI Children’s Book Award Committee Openings

Are you an adult who loves reading children's and teen books? Would you like to critically discuss excellent youth books with your peers? 

If so, please consider applying for WLA's Children's Book Award Committee (CBAC)! The CBAC annually bestows the Burr/Worzalla Award and Notable Children's Author/Illustrator Award upon Wisconsin's best and brightest book creators.  https://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/childrens-book-awards-committee

The CBAC is looking to fill 2 vacant committee seats starting in 2024. The committee will meet (likely virtually) three times during the Spring of 2024 to deliberate and decide. If you are interested, please review the committee duties and submit the following via email to YSS Chair Alison Loewen alison.loewen@meadpl.org

• Name, Job Title, Library, and City
• Are you a current member of WLA and YSS?
• Please describe your professional library work experience, including any reviewing experience and/or WLA committee work.
• Please detail your reading preferences, including any areas of special interest.
• Why should we consider you for a position on this committee?

Applications are due by 11:59pm on Friday, October 13.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact the CBA Committee Chair Murray by email.

The CBAC is a great way to meet new friends, read new books, and be a part of the one of the coolest committees on the planet!


Alison Loewen, YSS Chair: alison.loewen@meadpl.org
Murray Johnson, CBAC Chair: MJohnson@marshfieldlibrary.org

Chair's Corner - September 2023 YSS Board Updates

This month's September YSS board meeting update is from Alison Loewen, our YSS 2023 Chair and Youth Services Librarian, Mead Public Library, Sheboygan

The annual WLA conference is scheduled for October 24-27th in Middleton. The program schedule is live on the website, so you can peruse offerings and determine if a full conference, or single day registration makes sense for you and your Library.  There are some amazing off-site tours and events you should take advantage of if you can, including YSS social at the CCBC Wednesday, October 25 from 6-7:30 p.m.  This will be a great opportunity to not only check out the amazing space and chat with CCBC Librarians, but also to reconnect with your board members, and other YS staff from around the state.  The event requires special registration, so sign up now by clicking this link.  You do not need to attend the conference to attend the social, so keep the social in mind when planning your Wednesday evening.

Another Fall opportunity, is an invitation to apply for WLA’s Children's Book Award Committee (CBAC)! The CBAC annually bestows the Burr/Worzalla Award and Notable Children's Author/Illustrator Award uWhile it is still technically summer for a week or so longer, it sure does feel like Fall.  Summer reading prizes have been awarded, and the kids are back in school.  Every book on apples has disappeared off the shelves, and just like squirrels gathering acorns, you might consider placing holds on your favorite winter read-alouds just to make sure you are ready for when the inevitable snow arrives.  It’s also time to think about a few opportunities that WLA has on the horizon.

pon Wisconsin's best and brightest book creators.  

The CBAC is looking to fill 2 vacant committee seats starting in 2024. The committee will meet (likely virtually) three times during the Spring of 2024 to deliberate and decide. If you are interested, please review the committee duties  and submit the following via email me at alison.loewen@meadpl.org

• Name, Job Title, Library, and City

• Are you a current member of WLA and YSS?

• Please describe your professional library work experience, including any reviewing

            experience and/or WLA committee work.

• Please detail your reading preferences, including any areas of special interest.

• Why should we consider you for a position on this committee?

Applications are due by 11:59pm on Friday, October 13.

If you have any questions about any of these opportunities, feel free to reach out to myself or other members of the board, 

Looking forward to seeing you at WLA!

Apply to be on the CLEL Book Selection Committee

We recently shared this year's CLEL book award winners on the blog.

Did you know that you too could serve on this early literacy award committee?

Applications are now open for the 2024 CLEL Bells award selection committee.  This is a great opportunity to take a deep dive into ECRR, and connect with Librarians from across the country.  Spanish speakers are highly encouraged to apply. Stop here to apply.

CLEL Membership is 100% FREE and open to anyone interested in early literacy. Membership is NOT limited to Colorado residents.

Involvement in the CLEL Bell Award Committee requires:

• Membership in Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy.
• A two-year commitment to serving on the CLEL Bell Award Committee 
• Access to email and the Internet (for routine communication, editing shared Google documents and attending virtual meetings). 
• Access, via your library, interlibrary loan and/or bookstores, to a large sample of picture books published during the selection year.
• A commitment of several hours a week securing access to, reading and evaluating as many new picture books as possible.
• A commitment to attend a virtual meeting in the spring.
• A commitment to attend, virtually or in the Denver area, an 8-hour shortlist selection meeting in December.
• Please note that due to the potential conflict of interest we are unable to select a committee member who is professionally affiliated with a publishing company, including employees of the company, independent sales consultants, or authors publishing children’s books in the selection year.

Throw your hat in the ring and celebrate picture books!

The Children's Book Award Committee wants YOU!

 Hello YSS members!

Are you an adult who loves reading children's and teen books? Would you like to critically discuss excellent youth books with your peers? If so, please consider applying for WLA's Burr/Worzalla Children's Book Award Committee (CBAC)! The CBAC annually bestows the Burr/Worzalla Award and Notable Children's Author/Illustrator Award upon Wisconsin's best and brightest book creators.  https://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/childrens-book-awards-committee

The CBAC is looking to fill 4 vacant committee seats starting in 2023. The committee will meet (likely virtually) three times during the Spring of 2023 to deliberate and decide. If you are interested, please review the committee duties and submit the following via email to YSS Chair Claire Parrish, claireparrish@ricelakegov.org:

• Name, Job Title, Library, and City

• Are you a current member of WLA and YSS?

• Please describe your professional library work experience, including any reviewing        experience and/or WLA committee work.

• Please detail your reading preferences, including any areas of special interest.

• Why should we consider you for a position on this committee?

Applications are due by 11:59pm on Friday, October 14. 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the CBA Committee Chair, Briony Zlomke, briony.zlomke@mcfls.org. 

The CBAC is a great way to meet new friends, read new books, and be a part of one of the coolest committees on the planet!

Thanks for considering!

YSS Chair, Claire Parrish: claireparrish@ricelakegov.org

CBAC Chair, Briony Zlomke: briony.zlomke@mcfls.org