WNBA Pannell Award
Excellence in Children's Bookselling
About The WNBA Pannell Awards
In 1981, the WNBA established the WNBA Pannell Awards to recognize and publicly applaud the work of booksellers who stimulate, promote and encourage children's and young people's interest in books. Lucile Micheels Pannell, a founding member of one of the WNBA chapters, was born in the late 1800s. A model bookwoman, her career included teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, working as a librarian, then managing the Hobby Horse Bookshop in Chicago's Carson Pirie Scott department store from 1943 to 1953. Although she had no children of her own, Lucile loved reading to children and introducing them to the world of books. Chicago schools would sponsor field trips to the Hobby Horse Bookshop because children and teachers loved visiting with Lucile to listen to stories and learn about the world of books. This Award is our way to honor Lucile's special role in WNBA's history.
The Process: Selecting Two Recipients
Mary Grey James, Chair of the WNBA Pannell Committee, selects a jury of professionals involved in children's books. Each jury member reviews materials sent by bookstores that are nominated for the Award and selects two recipients - a children's specialty bookstore and a general bookstore. The jury chooses winners based on creativity, responsiveness to community needs, passion, and understanding of children's books and young readers. If the quality of entries warrants, the jury may also select stores for honorable mention.
Recognition & Rewards for Recipients
The Awards presentation is traditionally made during BookExpo America at the American Booksellers Association and Children's Book Council luncheon. In addition to receiving recognition in the book industry press, each recipient receives a $1,000 check from WNBA as well as a framed piece of original art created by a children's book illustrator.
To Nominate a Store
The call for nominations goes out each Fall from WNBA via industry press and e-mail. Stores may nominate themselves. Only stores in the United States will be considered. Previous winners, if nominated, are ineligible to compete again for seven years after their store wins. The call for nominations is below:
Who is your favorite children's bookseller?The Women's National Book Association wants to know about bookstores in the United States that excel at creatively bringing books and children together and inspiring children's interest in books and reading. WNBA will present the WNBA Pannell Award to two bookstores (one general and one children's bookstore) at Book Expo America. Each recipient will receive a check for $1000 plus a framed piece of original art by a children's book illustrator.
To nominate your favorite U.S. bookstore that inspires children to read, provide the name of the store, address and phone number, a contact person at the store, and email address along with a brief reason why you believe they are worthy of the Award. Please send your nomination to mary.james@ingrambook.com or to WNBA Pannell Award Nomination, Mary Grey James, 2200 Sharondale Dr., Nashville, TN 37215.
Nominations for the 2009 Award must be received by January 16, 2009.
If You Are Nominated
Nominees will be contacted by Ms. James when the call for nominations closes. As a nominee for the WNBA Pannell Awards, we ask that a store gather materials that will let the judges know the kinds of things they have done in the past and do on a regular basis to bring children and books together. Stores should feel free to include promotional materials, photos, press clippings and other items. Nominees may also write an introductory essay (1,000 word limit, please). Remember, the jury is looking for creativity, responsiveness to community needs, passion, and understanding of children's books and young readers, not simply big events or slick marketing. Nominees will need to send six (6) complete packets to Mary Grey James, WNBA is unable to return submissions.
If Your Store Wins
Ms. James contacts the winners and nominees once the jury has made its decision. The jury deadline is intended to be early enough to allow winning stores to make arrangements to attend BEA if they choose. WNBA also provides a press release to industry press and winners about the award.
Questions?
Contact Mary Grey James at mary.james at ingrambook.com
Winners of the
2008 Lucile Micheels Pannell Award of the WNBA
for Excellence in Children's Bookselling
General Bookstore
Kepler's Books and Magazines
of Menlo Park, CAChildren's Specialty
The Flying Pig Bookstore
of Shelburne, VT
Thanks to
The 2008 Lucile Micheels Pannell Award of the WNBA is underwritten by
Penguin Young Readers GroupArtist Janet Stevens of Harcourt and Chris Van Dusen of Candlewick Press
for their generous donation of artwork for the Award.
The 2008 Pannell Jury
Kate DeRosier - Candlewick Press
Lisa vonDrasek - Bank Street College of Education
Peggy Kohlepp - Tulane University Bookstore
Allan Winebarger - Penguin Young Readers' Group
Dawn Zahorik - Scholastic
The Children's Book Council, The Association of Booksellers for Children, The American Booksellers Association, and BookExpo America for their kind hospitality.
WNBA Pannell Award Recipients
2007 Books & Books, Coral Gables, Florida
Wonderland Books, Rockford, Illinois2006 Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
A Likely Story Children’s Bookstore, Alexandria, VA2005 BookPeople, Austin, TX
Reading Reptile Books and Toys for Young Mammals, Kansas City, MO2004 UConn Co-op, Storrs, CT
Hicklebee's Children's Books, San Jose, CA2003 Dutton's Brentwood Bookstore, Los Angeles, CA
Halfway Down the Stairs Children's Book Shop, Rochester, MI2002 Anderson's Bookshops, Naperville, IL
Eight Cousins Children's Books, Falmouth, MA2001 Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
Whale of a Tale, Irvine, CA2000 McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petosky, MI
Children's Bookshop, Brookline, MA1999 All for Kids Books, Seattle, WA 1998 Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island, WA
Toad Hall Children's Bookstore, Austin, TX1997 R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
Enchanted Forest Books for Children, Dallas, TX1996 Edward T. Rabbit & Co., Richmond, VA
Barron's Books, Longview, TX1995 Awards not given 1994 Compass Rose Bookshop, Orleans, MA
Adventures for Kids, Ventura, CA1992 Shippack Children's Books, Kippack, PA
Red & Black Books, Seattle, WA1991 Rosemary and Michael Stimola, A Child's Story Teaneck, NJ
Janet E. Grojean, Little Professor Book Center, LaVista, NB1990 Rabbit Hill Children's Bookstore, Hewlett, NY
the kids' place, Marshall, MI1989 Children's Book & Gift Market, Atlanta, GA
Judi's Bookstore, Twin Falls, ID1988 A Likely Story Children's Bookstore, Alexandria, VA 1987 The Children's Bookstore, Chicago, IL 1986 The Children's Hour, Salt Lake City, UT 1985 Toad Hall Children's Bookstore, Austin, TX 1984 R.M. Mills Bookstore, Nashville, TN 1983 OxCart Bookshop, Rochester, NY August 1983 WNBA establishes the award