Press Release

2017 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards Results Announced

(Traverse City, MI – October 11, 2017) We all know about the importance of early childhood literacy, but what does it take to inspire a new generation of readers? It takes falling in love with books — and it’s up to us as parents, teachers, and the creators of books to make sure our kids do fall in love with books and reading — by surrounding them with great books and helping them begin a lifelong love affair with reading. 

The annual Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards contest has this philosophy of “book love” at its core, and Jenkins Group is proud to announce this year’s 156 medal-winning books. We congratulate the authors, illustrators and publishers from the United States, Canada, and six countries overseas for their dedication to inspiring young people to read and to love books. See the complete list of Moonbeam Award medalists here: http://www.moonbeamawards.com/83/2017-winners.

From board books for toddlers aimed at blooming curiosity, to mature-themed young adult books helping teens grapple with life, the Moonbeam Awards contest recognizes excellence in categories for children of every age. In her introduction to the gold medal-winning, The Historical Heroines Coloring Book: Pioneering Women in Science from the 18th and 19th Centuries (White Wave Press), author Elizabeth Lorayne writes in her introduction: “My hope is that through coloring these illustrations of strong, brilliant, hard-working women scientists, you will feel inspired to go forth and seize your own dreams and that you will in turn continue the circle of empowering yourself and others.” One of the featured scientists, astronomer Maria Mitchell (1819-1889) said: “We especially need imagination in science. It is not all logic, nor all mathematics, but is somewhat beauty and poetry.”

In another Moonbeam gold medal-winning book, Growing Up with the River: Nine Generations on the Missouri (Walsworth Publishing) the authors open the book with a quote from the great naturalist and painter John James Audubon: “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children.” The book goes on to tell a “living history” of the Missouri River valley through voices of children growing up there and creating a microcosm of American westward expansion.

Moonbeam Award winners will be honored at an award ceremony held November 11th, on the evening of the annual Traverse City Children’s Book Festival. The day-long festivities are dedicated to childhood literacy and a celebration of books, reading, and the creative and hard-working people who support this essential cause.

“With all the distractions of cell phones and other electronic gadgets, kids need a reason to fall in love with books,” says awards director Jim Barnes. “Our contest and book festival are designed to do just that, bringing authors and children together to celebrate the magic of books and reading.”

Kudos to all of this year’s Moonbeam Award winners for their dedication to children and literature!