Pannell Award Winners

DEVANEY DOAK AND GARRETT BOOKSELLERS – Farmington, Maine

(General Bookstore Category)
DDG Booksellers
Upon receiving the award, Kenny of DDG booksellers had this to say,
Dear Quinlan and Susan,
Thank you both, and please extend my thanks to all of the leadership and members of the WNBA, for the wonderful experience my family and I had accepting The Pannell Award at BEA. Literacy projects with children are inherently rewarding. Successful ones involve a great deal of partnering and work with other industry professionals and educators who care deeply about children’s literacy. The Pannell Award provides a focus upon these efforts, honoring its recipients as well as their partners in the industry and in the community.
With deepest gratitude,
Kenny

4 KIDS BOOKS & TOYS – Zionsville, Indiana

(Children’s Specialty Bookstore)
4 Kids Books & Toys

Since 1983, the Women’s National Book Association has awarded one of the most prestigious honors in children’s bookselling. Given annually at BookExpo America’s Children’s Book and Author Breakfast, the WNBA Pannell Award recognizes bookstores that enhance their communities by bringing exceptional creativity to foster a love of reading in their young patrons. The winning stores receive a check for $1,000 and a piece of original are from a children’s book illustrator.
Every year a panel of publishing professionals selects two winners of the award—one a general bookstore and one a children’s specialty bookstore. Store nominations come from customers, sales reps, store personnel, or anyone who has been impressed with the work of a particular independent bookstore.

The Pannell Award jurors for 2014 are:
Cheryl Willis Hudson, vice president and editorial director of Just Us Books
Andrew Karre, editorial director of Carolrhoda, an imprint of the Lerner Publishing Group
Lisa von Drasek, curator of Children’s Literature Research Collections, Univ. of Minnesota
Emma D. Dryden, children’s editorial and publishing consultant, drydenbks
Kelli Chipponeri, executive editor/children’s, Chronicle Books

Kelli Chipponeri wrote, “This year my selections were heavily influenced by the bookstores that are the epicenters of their communities. The outreach that these booksellers do, with little resources and support, makes them, not only cultural touch points for the people who shop at their stores, but influence and promote reading, art, and education (as well as other ideas that feed the mind and soul) in communities. She concluded, “It was really hard to choose this year as there were so many impressive stores that do so much to support their community, not only through reading, but philanthropy, as well.

Along with WNBA, Penguin Young Readers Group co-sponsors the award. Founded in 1917, WNBA is a national organization of women and men who promote the value to the written word by championing the role of women in the book community and by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information relating to the written word.

Writing Contest Winners Announced

WNBA’s Writing Competition opened August 15, 2014 and ended January 15, 2015

Our Winners:

Poetry: Diana Whitney for “Curiosity”

Fiction: Allison Har-zvi for “If You’re Ready”

Creative Non-Fiction/Memoir: Diane Kraynak for “Science Project”

To download details, click on the link:

2015 WNBA Annual Writing Competition