FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY – March 22, 2017 – After a two month-long open nomination process, Penguin Young Readers, the Children’s Book Council, and Every Child a Reader are proud to announce the five finalists for the first Anna Dewdney Read Together Award, to be 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.

The five finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

EDWARD GETS MESSY, by Rita Meade; illus. by Olga Stern (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET, by Matt de la Pena; illus. by Christian Robinson (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers)

MOTHER BRUCE, by Ryan Higgins; illus. by Ryan Higgins (Disney)

TOBY, by Hazel Mitchell; illus. by Hazel Mitchell (Candlewick)

WON TON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU, by Lee Wardlaw; illus. by Eugene Yelchin (Holt Books for Young Readers)

The winning book will be announced during Children’s Book Week, May 1-7, 2017. The author and illustrator of the winning book will share a prize of $1,000 from the Children’s Book Council, and Penguin will purchase and donate $5,000 in copies of the winning book to a school, library, or literacy organization chosen by the award winner(s).

The finalists have been voted on by: Berol Dewdney, Early Childhood Educator, Baltimore, MD; Cheryl Lee, Program Coordinator-Branch Manager, Santa Clara City Library- Northside Branch Library, Santa Clara, CA: Kristine Millard, Co-Director and Youth Services Librarian, Lodi Public Library, Lodi, WI; Susannah Richards, Professor, Education, Eastern Connecticut State University, Windham, CT; and Crystal Soltren, Children’s Specialist, WORD Bookstores, Jersey City, NJ.

About Anna Dewdney
Anna Dewdney was the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of Llama Llama Red Pajama. Other award-winning books in the Llama Llama series include Llama Lama and the Bully Goat, Llama Lama Time to Share, Llama Llama Misses Mama, Llama Llama Holiday Drama, and Llama Llama Mad at Mama. She was also the author/illustrator of Nobunny’s Perfect, Roly Poly Pangolin, and Grumpy Gloria. Anna worked as a rural mail carrier and taught at a boys’ boarding school for many years before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. Anna was a committed advocate of literacy, speaking regularly on this topic and publishing articles in the Wall Street Journal and other national outlets.

About Penguin Young Readers
Penguin Young Readers Group is one of the leading children’s book publishers in the United States. The company owns a wide range of imprints and trademarks including Dial Books, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Kathy Dawson Books, Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Workshop, Philomel, Puffin, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Viking, Razorbill, Speak, and Frederick Warne. These imprints are home to such award-winning, New York Times- bestselling authors as, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jay Asher, Judy Blume, Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Ally Condie, Roald Dahl, Tomie dePaola, Sarah Dessen, Anna Dewdney, John Flanagan, John Green, Oliver Jeffers, Marie Lu, Mike Lupica, Richelle Mead, Richard Peck, Ruta Sepetys, Jacqueline Woodson and dozens of other popular authors. Penguin Young Readers Group is also the proud publisher of perennial brand franchises such as the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Peter Rabbit, Spot, the Classic Winnie the Pooh, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Madeline, Mad Libs, the Rangers Apprentice, Skippyjon Jones, Who Was?, and Flower Fairies, among many others. Penguin Young Readers Group is a division of Penguin Group LLC, a Penguin Random House company.

About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy charity dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens across America. Every Child a Reader’s popular national programs include Children’s Book Week (May 1-7, 2017), the longest-running literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards, the only book awards chosen by children and teens; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program in partnership with the Library of Congress. Individual and corporate donations, grants, and the CBC support Every Child a Reader.

About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
Every Child a Reader works in partnership with the Children’s Book Council, the nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers in North America. The CBC offers children’s publishers, from smaller independent presses to large international houses, the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, diversity in employment and books, literacy advocacy, and partnerships with other national organizations.

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Penguin Contact:
Marisa Russell, Associate Director of Publicity
212-414-3467
mrussell@penguinrandomhouse.com

CBC/Every Child a Reader Contact:
Shifa Kapadwala, Publicity Manager
The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader
212-966-1990
shifa.kapadwala@cbcbooks.org