2018 Burr/Worzalla Children's Award Winners and Honors

Children’s book Roll, written by Darcy Miller and published by HarperCollins, has won the coveted Burr/Worzalla Award for 2018.  She will present at the WLA conference in La Crosse on Thursday October 25 at 1:45 p.m.  Roll, is a hilariously funny and poignant coming-of-age story about Lauren, or rather “Ren,” who learns about friendship, family, and Birmingham Roller Pigeons after he moves to the country.  Roll is an impressive debut from Miller, who lives with her family in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.  The Children’s Book Award Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association’s Youth Services Section annually awards the Burr/Worzalla to the most distinguished work in literature for children written and/or illustrated by a Wisconsin book creator.

This year’s Wisconsin Notable Children’s Author, Laurence Yep, was chosen for his amazing body of work in children’s literature. A former Marquette University student, and respected author of children’s literature, Yep was the 2005 recipient of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for his career contribution to children’s literature.  Yep’s many notable works include two Newbery honor titles, Dragon Wings and Dragon’s Gate.  The Children’s Book Award Committee is very pleased to bestow yet another award upon this master storyteller.

Ten noteworthy titles were selected for Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Literature, written and/or illustrated by Wisconsin book creators:

The March Against Fear: The Last Great Walk of the Civil Rights Movement and the Emergence of Black Power by Ann Bausum

Big and Little Questions (according to Wren Jo Byrd) by Julie Bowe

Claymates written by Dev Petty, illustrated by Lauren Eldrige

Slider by Pete Hautman

Egg by Kevin Henkes

Noah Webster’s Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurer

Someday Birds by Sally Pla

Liberty: The Spy Who (kind of) Liked Me by Andrea Portes

Pomegranate Witch written by Denise Doyen, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler

Where Are You? By Sarah Williamson

The 2018 Children’s Book Award Committee members consist of Judy Jones, Chair, U.S.S. Liberty Memorial Public Library (Grafton), Abby Bussen, Chair Elect, Muskego Public Library, Amanda Brandt, Hudson Area Library, Jenni Frencham, Hilarie Kane, Prairie Hill Wardorf School, Katherine Schoofs, Aram Public Library (Delavan) and Aimee Schreiber, Sparta Free Library.  For more information about the Children’s Book Awards Committee, visit http://wla.wisconsinlibraries.org/yss/childrens-books-award-comm.