Ninth Annual Children’s Choice Book Awards Winners Announced During the 97th Annual Children’s Book Week
New York, NY — May 6, 2016 – The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader today announced the winners of the ninth annual Children’s Choice Book Awards (CCBA). The announcement is an annual highlight of Children’s Book Week (May 2-8, 2016), as the Children’s Choice Book Awards is the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by kids and teens. Readers across the country voted on a diverse selection of titles for children and young adults that ranged from a picture book about a shark that’s afraid of the dark to issue-driven stories including a novel about a young transgender girl.
Acclaimed actor and children’s book author Taye Diggs (Mixed Me!) says of the announcement:
The Children’s Choice Book Awards is one of the most exciting programs in children’s literature because it is a dual celebration of reading and our
chance to recognize the books that resonate with young readers. As a
parent, I’m proud to foster a nation of readers. As an author, I’m happy
to join the Children’s Book Council in announcing The 2016 Children’s Choice Book Awards during the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.
The 2016 Children’s Choice Book Awards winners are:
KINDERGARTEN TO SECOND GRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR
- The Little Shop of Monsters by R.L. Stine, illustrated by Marc Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Hachette Book Group)
THIRD GRADE TO FOURTH GRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR
- I’m Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton (Viking Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group)
FIFTH GRADE TO SIXTH GRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR
- Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick (Random House Books for Young Readers)
TEEN BOOK OF THE YEAR
- All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books)
CHILDREN’S CHOICE DEBUT AUTHOR
- Alex Gino for George (Scholastic Press)
TEEN CHOICE DEBUT AUTHOR
- Kelly Loy Gilbert for Conviction (Disney-Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group)
CHILDREN’S CHOICE ILLUSTRATOR
- Kate Beaton for The Princess and the Pony (Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic)
About the Children’s Choice Book Awards (CCBA)
Launched in 2008 by the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, the CCBA program was created to provide young readers with an opportunity to voice their opinions about the books being written for them and to help develop a reading list that will motivate children to read more and cultivate a love of reading. More at ccbookawards.com/about.php.
About Children’s Book Week (CBW)
Established in 1919, CBW is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Each year, official events – which give kids the opportunity to connect with their favorite authors and illustrators in person – are held from coast to coast. In 2016, official events are being held in all 50 states. Learn more at bookweekonline.com.
About Every Child a Reader (ECAR)
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children. Every Child a Reader creates and supports programs that strive to make the reading and enjoyment of children’s books an essential part of America’s educational and social aims; and enhance public perception of the importance of reading. ECAR’s programs include Children’s Book Week, a nationwide celebration of books and reading, and the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by kids and teens of all ages; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Program, the country’s “Children’s Literature Laureate.” Please visit https://www.cbcbooks.org/about/every-child-a-reader/ for more information.
About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
The Children’s Book Council is the national nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and collaborations with other national organizations. Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses. Membership in the CBC is open to U.S. publishers of children’s trade books, as well as in some cases to industry-affiliated companies. The CBC is proud to partner with other national organizations on co-sponsored reading lists, educational programming, and literacy initiatives. Please visit https://www.cbcbooks.org/ for more information.
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Contact:
Audra Boltion
The Boltion Group PR
646-331-9904
audra[@]thebgpr.com
Emma Kantor
Communications Coordinator
The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader
212-966-1990
emma.kantor[@]cbcbooks.org
