MAKING SENSE OF DEADLY DISEASES, MEDICAL FIASCOES AND DAMAGING HOAXES:

GAIL JARROW WILL RECEIVE THE 2022 CHILDREN’S BOOK GUILD NONFICTION AWARD 

The Children’s Book Guild of Washington, D.C. has selected Gail Jarrow as the 2022 Nonfiction Award winner. The award, given annually since 1977, honors authors and author/illustrators whose body of work has contributed significantly to the quality of nonfiction for children.

In her nonfiction books for young readers, Gail Jarrow has explained challenging topics—including dreadful diseases, medical fiascoes, and damaging hoaxes--with narrative verve, well-researched facts, and fascinating details. Although her books focus on events in the 19th and 20th centuries—including The Poison Eaters:
Fighting Danger and Fraud in Our Food and Drugs, Spooked!: How A Radio
Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America, and Blood and Germs: The Civil War Battle Against Wounds and Disease–they nevertheless hold great relevance and wisdom for today’s young readers. Her nonfiction books, the last eleven of which have been published by Calkins Creek, are wonderfully produced, with appealing designs and compelling archival images. Her latest book, Ambushed!: The Assassination Plot Against James Garfield, will be published October 12, 2021.

The Nonfiction Award Committee for this year consists of Abby Nolan, Yukari Matsuyama and Catherine Reef, as well as emeritus member Liane Rosenblatt.

Gail Jarrow will be honored by the Children’s Book Guild on May 19, 2022.  

SPEAKER SERIES

Newbery Honors Award-Winning Author

Christina Soontornvat

Thursday, November 18 @ 1 p.m.

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At 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, the Children's Book Guild's Zoom Speaker Series will feature a conversation with award-winning author Christina Soontornvat. Christina will share thoughts on her career, which includes writing both fiction and nonfiction. She will also talk about her upcoming projects.

In 2019, Christina won two Newbery Honors for the middle grade fantasy book A Wish in the Dark and her non-fiction book, All Thirteen: the Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team. The latter also received a Siebert Honor and a Horn Book honor. She has written more than a dozen books for children. Her picture books include The Ramble Shamble Children (illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo) and Simon at the Art Museum (illustrated by Christine Davenier). She is the author of the beloved Diary of an Ice Princess chapter book series.

She grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town and is proud of both her Thai and her Texan roots. She makes regular trips to both Weatherford and Bangkok to see her beloved family members (and eat lots and lots of Thai food!). In addition to being an author, Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science. She is passionate about STEM (science, technology engineering, and math) and loves learning. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, two young children and one old cat. You can read more about Christine here.

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Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC: Book Highlights 2021

The following video was presented at the Children's Book Guild's Nonfiction Award Event honoring author Catherine Reef, which took place on May 22, 2021. It features highlights of books published by Guild authors and illustrators within the previous two years.

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by Deborah Taylor

Eloise Greenfield was a trailblazer whose extraordinary books of poetry and prose influenced many and continue to resonate with children today. Her rich body of work will always inspire and enrich readers.

Ms. Greenfield was born in Parmele, North Carolina and was a longtime resident of Washington, D.C. Early in life, she discovered a love of reading and writing and realized there were few books that showed the fullness of African American life. She published her first book in 1972 and went on to write and publish more than 45 books. She was still publishing outstanding work right up through this year. So many were inspired by her work, but she was also a role model for doing the work she loved with dignity and integrity. She was outspoken about making sure that her picture book texts provided opportunities for illustrators of color. Indeed, her book, Grandpa’s Face was the first project of Floyd Cooper, who also recently passed way.

In 2018, she was named the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award for her body of work. continue reading

The Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC, is committed to the fight for racial justice and support for Black lives. Please click on the links above for information on organizations to support, and readings to help educate and inspire positive change.