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2021 Children's Book Awards |
CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS2021 Awards AnnouncementsThe Children’s Book Award Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association’s Youth Services Section annually selects outstanding books for youth by Wisconsin-connected authors and awards the Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award, Outstanding Books of the Year, and Notable Wisconsin Authors/Illustrators.
Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award
Awarded to the most distinguished work in children’s and young adult literature written and/or illustrated by a Wisconsin book creator. The Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award is made possible by the Worzalla Publishing Company, Stevens Point, through a grant to the WLA Foundation.
Notable Wisconsin AuthorFor her incredible body of work in children’s literature, Wisconsin resident Pat Zietlow Miller was selected as the 2021 Wisconsin Notable Children’s Author. Miller has written a variety of stories for children with relatable characters and engaging, inclusive storylines. She has received much acclaim for her writing, including starred reviews, honors, and awards for her works. The Children’s Book Award Committee is delighted to present this award to such an inspiring and dedicated storyteller. About the AuthorPat Zietlow Miller’s first book, Sophie’s Squash, was published in 2013. It won a Golden Kite Award, the only award in children’s literature awarded by a group of peers; it was also a Charlotte Zolotow Honor and an Ezra Jack Keates New Writer Honor book. She has gone on to write other gems such as The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, Be Kind, and When You Are Brave. On her website, Pat shares that she knew in seventh-grade she wanted to be a writer. Her English teacher “read her paper about square-dancing skirts out loud in class and said: “This is the first time anything a student has written has given me chills”. Pat was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She received her Bachelor’s degree from UW-Oshkosh, majoring in Journalism and English. She later returned to UW-Oshkosh to pursue a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and now spends her days writing for an insurance company, while continuing to write books in her free time. In an interview with the Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators, Pat Zietlow Miller shared why picture books are her passion, “I loved children’s books as a kid and kept loving them as an adult. I think children’s books — and picture books especially — are full of truth and beauty. And, truth and beauty are something you never outgrow.” Since her first book was published in 2013, Pat has continued to create memorable, highly acclaimed (and more award-winning) works. Her books feature universal themes of friendship, strength, and courage that appeal to people of all ages; they show readers that they can be scared while still being good and kind and that these traits are important to who we are as human beings. As Pat told the Wisconsin State Journal in an interview, “The thing that guides me the most … the core ... is a universal human emotion. So no matter if you’re 4 or 94, you can say ‘Oh, I’ve felt that way.’ Hopefully that’s what gives the book universal appeal, because I really think picture books really are for everybody”. As of 2020, she has 11 books published, with two more coming out in 2021. Pat lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Sources LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-zietlow-miller-08496a7 https://www.patzietlowmiller.com/about-me https://austin.scbwi.org/2021/02/07/meet-our-2021-conference-faculty-pat-zietlow-miller/ Outstanding Books of the YearNoteworthy honor titles are selected for Outstanding Achievement in children’s literature, written and/or illustrated by Wisconsin book creators. Alone in the Woods written by Rebecca Behrens
American Immigration: Our History, Our Stories written by Kathleen Krull
Doodleville written and illustrated by Chad Sell
Everything’s Not Fine written by Sarah Carlson
Feast of Peas written by Kashmira Sheth
Never Fear, Meena’s Here! written by Karla Manternach
Nina Soni, Sister Fixer written Kashmira Sheth
Outside In written by Deborah Underwood
Robobaby written and illustrated by David Wiesner
Skunk and Badger written by Amy Timberlake
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