The 2010 Golden Kite Awards are presented for excellence in books for young readers published in the 2009 calendar year. The award is sponsored by the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators.
Sea of the Dead
By Julia Durango
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Julia’s second novel, Sea of the Dead,
is a fast-paced adventure story for middle-grade readers,
which draws the reader quickly into a world loosely based on Central America,
although with an alternate history.
Nonfiction
Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song
By Ashley Bryan
Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster)
Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song is an autobiographical picture book,
which also won this year’s Laura Ingalls Wilder Award.
Ashley is a three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner.
Picture Book Text
The Longest Night
By Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ted Lewin
Holiday House
The Longest Night text tells the story of a tiny creature
whose voice summons the new day.
Picture Book Illustration
Gracias/Thanks
Illustrated by John Parra
(written by Pat Mora)
Lee & Low Books
John Parra’s bright and delightful illustrations
follow a young multiracial boy’s gratitude
in a bilingual celebration of family and friendship.
Golden Kite Honor Recipients
Fiction
Neil Armstrong is My Uncle & Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me
By Nan Marino
Roaring Brook Press
Neil Armstrong…is librarian Nan Marino’s debut novel.
Nonfiction
Ernest Hemmingway: A Writer’s Life
By Catherine Reef
Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Catherine Reef is the author of more than
40 award-winning nonfiction books for young readers.
Picture Book Text
Bella & Bean
By Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illustrated by Aileen Leijten
Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster)
Read the Cynsations interview with Rebecca.
Picture Book Illustration
Bad News for Outlaws
Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
(written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson)
Carolrhoda Books
R. Gregory Christie is a three-time Coretta Scott King Honor recipient.
The Golden Kite Awards, given annually to recognize excellence in children’s literature in the previous calendar year, grant cash prizes of $2,500 to author and illustrator winners in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration. Authors and illustrators will receive an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the award ceremony at the Golden Kite Luncheon at SCBWI’s Annual Summer Conference in August.
The Golden Kite Awards are given each year to the most outstanding children’s books published during the previous year, and written or illustrated by members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Four panels of three judges each (one panel for each category, consisting of author or illustrator members of SCBWI whose own works are that of the category being judged), award the titles they feel exhibit excellence in writing or illustration, and that genuinely appeal to the interests and concerns of children.
An Honor Book plaque is awarded in each category as well. A certificate of acknowledgment is presented to the author of the picture book illustration award book and the illustrator of the picture book text award book.
General Information
Founded in 1971, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is one of the largest existing writers’ and illustrators’ organizations, with over 22,000 members worldwide. It is the only organization specifically for those working in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia. The organization was founded by Stephen Mooser (President) and Lin Oliver (Executive Director), both of whom are well-published children’s book authors and leaders in the world of children’s literature.
The Golden Kite Awards will be presented to the winners on Sunday, August 1st at the Golden Kite Luncheon, the centerpiece event of SCBWI’s 39th Annual Conference on Writing and Illustrating for Children, taking place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel July 30th – August 2nd, 2010.
A list of previous Golden Kite Award winners and honor books is available on the SCBWI’s website: www.scbwi.org.