Contacts: Larra Clark/Macey Morales
ALA Media Relations
312-280-5043/4393
For Immediate Release
January 22, 2007
Schneider Family Book Award recipients named
SEATTLE — The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the winners of the Schneider Family Book Award, which honors an author or illustrator for the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Recipients are selected in three categories: birth through grade school (age 0–10), middle school (age 11–13), and teens (age 13–18).
“The Deaf Musicians,” written by Pete Seeger and poet Paul DuBois Jacobs, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons is the winner in the young children’s category. After losing his hearing, jazzman Lee learns to make music in a new way. The book’s upbeat narrative and bright colors teach the reader that there is more than one way to do everything, to never give up on your dreams and that music can be enjoyed by all.
“Rules,” written by Cynthia Lord and published by Scholastic Press is the winner in the middle-school category for its realistic depiction of 12-year-old Catherine’s quest to find her place in a family consumed by her autistic brother David’s needs. Catherine copes by developing rules for herself and for David. She tries to adhere to these rules until she meets Jason, a non-verbal paraplegic teen, who teaches her that rules are sometimes just excuses.
“Small Steps,” written by Louis Sachar and published by Delacorte Press, is the winner in the teen category. In this sequel to the award-winning “Holes,” Sachar portrays the unexpected friendship between Armpit and and 10-year-old Ginny, who has cerebral palsy, as they help each other take incremental steps towards a brighter future. “Small Steps” shows that friendship comes in many shapes, sizes, ages and abilities.
“The Schneider Family Book Award provides us with an opportunity to bring to light books that can help children and teens better understand what it is like for someone living with a disability,” explains Schneider Family Book Award Committee Chair Barbara T. Mates. “This year’s award winners have each, in their own way, painted a picture for the reader that both educates and inspires.”
The award announcement was made January 22 at the 2007 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.
Winners receive $5,000 and a framed plaque, which will be presented during the 2007 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., June 22-26.
Members of the 2007 Schneider Family Book Award Committee are: Chair Barbara T. Mates, Cleveland Public Library; Joan K. Blaska, consultant, Anoka, Minn.; Julie A. Cummins, author/consultant, Canandaigua, N.Y.; Donna K. McMillen, King County Library System, Federal Way, Wash..; Karen L. Odean, Voices of Vision TBC, Geneva, Ill.; Patricia M. Steelman, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
For more information on the
Schneider Family Book Award and other ALA literary awards, please visit
www.ala.org/mw07winners.