It was enough to get my illustrations bound in a book and distributed to libraries and bookstores all over the country. But awards? On my first book? Pinch me, I must be snoozing.
A lot of people I know were happy to say “good riddance” to 2017. I would have been in total agreement, except for all the amazing things that happened with my kidlit debut.
The National Science Teachers Association put The Secret Life of the Red Fox on its short list of Outstanding Science Trade Books. Thank you, awesome science teachers! Hooray for science! #goSTEM
The California Reading Association named it a Eureka! Silver Award Winner for Non-Fiction Books. I’ve always preferred to wear silver over gold. Thanks, Cali!
My book was nominated for the Ezra Jack Keats Award for new illustrators. I did not win an award, “however, out of the 356 books submitted for 2017, your book was one of the top contenders,” said the committee. Just being nominated was a total surprise. I can’t say I wasn’t waiting on pins and needles on decision day, but I’m honored to have been considered. Dziękuję! (That’s “thank you!” in Polish. Ezra was polish. I had no idea until I read about his life story, thanks to this nomination.)
Beyond the awards, my book with Laurence Pringle received loads of great reviews. You can read a nice sampling of them on the Amazon page for The Secret Life of the Red Fox
Not the least of which is this lovely writeup from Virginia Lee Manning, our Illustration Coordinator for SCBWI Eastern Pennsylvania. Virginia is a gifted creator in her own right, so check out her work while you visit her site.
I wonder what surprises will 2018 bring?
