WA State Book Award finalists announced, and...

...there are more than a few names we recognize in their respective categories of the Scandiuzzi Children’s Book Award Finalists:

 Picture Book

• “Little Green Peas: A Big Book of Color” (Beach Lane Books) written and illustrated by Keith Baker of Seattle
• “Two Speckled Eggs” (Candlewick Press) written and illustrated by Bainbridge Island resident Jennifer K. Mann of Bainbridge Island
• “Hands Say Love” (Little Brown Books for Young Readers by George Shannon of Bainbridge Island, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
• “S Is for Salmon: A Pacific Northwest Alphabet” (Sasquatch) written and illustrated by Hannah Viano of Seattle

Books for Middle Readers (ages 9 to 12)

• “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” (Andrews McMeel Publishing) by Dana Simpson of Des Moines, Wash
• “Ken Jennings’ Junior Genius Guides: Maps and Geography” by Ken Jennings of Seattle (Little Simon)
• “Time Out of Time: Book One: Beyond the Door” by Maureen McQuerry, of Richland (Amulet Books)

Books for Young Adults (ages 13 to 18)

• “Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific” (Abrams Books for Young Readers) by Mary Cronk Farrell of Spokane
• “Between Two Worlds” (Wendy Lamb Books) by Katherine Kirkpatrick of Seattle
• “Six Feet Over It” (Random House Books for Young Readers) by Jennifer Longo of Seattle
• “The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender” (Candlewick Press) by Seattle resident Leslye Walton

Wonderful, wonderful news for all! Congratulations and high-fives
to everyone for such an incredible honor!

5th annual Bainbridge Student Writing Contest

The fifth annual Bainbridge Student Writing Contest is coming!

 

Hosted by Suzanne Selfors, who will be joined by fabulous guest judges Kevin Emerson, Martha Brockenbrough, and George Shannon, this year's theme will be "Creatures, Monsters and Beasts."

 

 

Contest Guidelines:

 

* This short-story contest is open to all local students, grades 1 - 12.

 

* Entry forms are available at Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Island (or see below). 

 

* Deadline to enter is September 13. 

 

* Finalists will be announced at the bookstore on Sunday, September 15 at 3pm. Everyone who enters will receive a Certificate of Achievement in Creative Writing. Eight finalists will each receive a $50 gift certificate to Eagle Harbor Books.

 

 

 

Please spread the word, and good luck and good writing to all entrants!

Good News for George Shannon

Da-da-da-DAAAH! Joyful noises for some lovely news for George Shannon. We all appreciate and value George, but Bainbridge Island named George a treasure! Check out the article here.

Field's End Class with George Shannon

George Shannon is teaching "Writing the Picture Book" class at Field's End. This is a great opportunity to study with a master of picture books.

The class is has four sessions- October 13, 20, 27 and November 3 from 7-9 p.m. at the Bainbridge Public Library. Cost is $160.

For more information and to register visit the class link.

Thanks to Margaret Nevinski for sending the link!

Picture Book Blog

Fellow SCBWI member, and illustrator George Shannon started a blog recently that celebrates the picture book. This blog includes reviews, essays about picture books, writing tips, related bibliographies, and critique services. Check out his blog, and also his website.

Eagle Harbor Celebrates Summer Reading

Join Eagle Harbor Book Company as they present eight weeks of summer events for kids in July and August, with special visitors, a birthday party, and a summer reading program for children from age three to twelve. Also scheduled is a special storytime with Bainbridge children's author George Shannon. All events are free, and open to the public. For the calendar of events, and more information, go to Eagle Harbor's website.

5th Annual Field’s End Writers’ Conference

Lots of familiar face presenting at this conference--it sounds great!

Registration is open for the 5th Annual Field’s End Writers’ Conference to be held Saturday, April 17 at Kiana Lodge, on the shores of Agate Passage just north of Bainbridge Island. Enjoy a day of camaraderie, inspiration, and learning about the art and craft of writing.

This year’s keynote speaker is environmental journalist Bruce Barcott, 2009 Guggenheim Nonfiction Fellow and author of The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw, named one of the best books of 2008 by Library Journal. Award-winning poet and performance artist Dr. Gloria Burgess will be opening speaker, discussing “Creative Perseverance: For Such a Time as This.” Founder and Principal of Jazz, Inc., her books include Legacy Living and Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside.

Several authors for children and young adults will offer presentations: Anjali Banerjee on “Knowing When to Stop Revising”; David Patneaude on “What If? What Then?”; Alma Alexander on “It’s Not Just Harry’s World”; Carmen T. Bernier-Grand on “Writing Vivid Biographies for Children”; and Joni Sensel on “Green and Growing: Ecology Topics for Children’s Fiction.” Children’s book author George Shannon serves as Master of Ceremonies.

Publicist Alice B. Acheson will present a workshop, “A Dozen Steps to Find a Literary Agent or Publisher.”

Other features this year include a professional panel of three industry experts examining the topic “Writing Outside the Lines: State of the Industry,” a “Writing Aerobics” hands-on workshop with Kathryn Galbraith that will jump-start your writing by using all of your senses, and an open reading session. The event also includes a continental breakfast, delicious salmon or vegetarian lunch, and a cheese and wine book signing reception.

Please visit www.fieldsend.org to register.

George Shannon event at Adams Elementary School

He'll be reading from STORIES TO SOLVE: FOLKTALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. He will also discuss his other books, including MORE STORIES TO SOLVE: Fifteen Folktales from Around the World, TOMORROW'S ALPHABET, WHITE IS FOR BLUEBERRY, and THE SECRET CHICKEN CLUB.

It's at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5 at Adams Elementary School, 6110 28th Ave. NW in Seattle, and is sponsored by Secret Garden Books.

The public reading is the final event of Adams Elementary School’s third annual six-week-long ADAMS READS THE SAME BOOK program. In late December, the Adams PTA purchased paperback copies of Stories to Solve for all 400 students to read with their families.

As part of the book reading, librarian Marlene Friend has invited Adams students to create a “book reaction”—a painting, poem, skit or other artistic expression. These will be presented and on display the night of the reading.

The community is invited to attend the reading, Q&A, and book signing. Free.

Ultimate Tuesday: George Shannon at the Secret Garden Bookshop

Get in the habit of coming to the Secret Garden for ultimate Tuesdays!

EVENT: Author and storyteller George Shannon shares age-appropriately scary Halloween stories!
DATE: Tuesday, 27 October 2009
TIME: 7 – 7:30 PM
LOCATION Secret Garden Bookshop
2214 NW Market St.
Downtown Ballard

It’s a new and special story time every last* Tuesday of the month, where the story teller is an author or illustrator reading his or her own work! With themed prizes for all listeners!

* according to dictionary.com, the first definition of ultimate is “last” so, ULTIMATE TUESDAY is really just a fancy way of saying LAST TUESDAY . . . and we’re setting every last one of them aside to showcase the best and brightest minds working in kid’s literature today. From Seattle authors to those on national tours.

October’s Ultimate Tuesday author, George Shannon, has written dozens of books for children, including The Secret Chicken Club, Busy in the Garden, Wise Acres, and Stories to Solve. He is a professional storyteller and is a delight to listen to.