"Take a look, it's in a book..." Host Krosoczka and special guest (and former 'Reading Rainbow' host) LeVar Burton serenaded attendees.
May 03, 2011
Rick Riordan was named author of the year, and David Wiesner was named illustrator of the year at Monday night’s fourth annual Children's Choice Book Awards, held at a gala at New York City’s Chelsea Piers, which kicked off Children's Book Week. Riordan won for the first book in his new Heroes of Olympus series, The Lost Hero (Disney-Hyperion), and Wiesner for Art & Max (Clarion Books). The awards are all chosen by children; more than 500,000 children and teens voted for their favorite books this year, a record number for the Children's Book Council, which administers the awards along with the Every Child a Reader foundation.
Rick Riordan (l.) and David Wiesner took home the author and illustrator of the year awards, respectively.
The Impact Award, which is given for “raising awareness of important issues and encouraging global understanding,” had been announced as going to author Greg Mortenson, but given the controversy currently surrounding the author, CBC executive director Robin Adelson announced, “We have decided not to present the Impact Award at this time. Too many questions remain unanswered. That doesn't mean he won't get the award someday, but not at this time."
The book of the year winners, by age group, were:
Kindergarten to second grade: Little Pink Pup by Johanna Kerby (Putnam)
Third to fourth grade: Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf)
Fifth to sixth grade: The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles: Book 1) by Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion)
Teen: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (Dutton)
See below for a photo-essay of the evening's festivities. And click here for a list of Children's Book Week events and activities taking place across the country all week.
Both Rick Riordan and Suzanne Collins were up for Author of the Year. Riordan took home that honor as well as the prize in the Fifth and Sixth Grade category for 'The Red Pyramid.'
Katherine Paterson, the current National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, with gala host Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
'Eloise' illustrator Hilary Knight greets fans. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Walter Dean Myers chats with attendees. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Nick Bruel, who had a Bad Kitty book up for an award in the Third and Fourth Grade category, signs autographs for young fans. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Erin and Philip Stead flank former 'Reading Rainbow' host LeVar Burton, who made a special appearance. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
L. to r.: David Wiesner, Matthew Reinhart, Hilary Knight, and Jon Scieszka. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
L. to r.: Cassandra Clare, David Levithan, and Wendy Mass. Clare was a finalist for Author of the Year; Levithan won the Teen Choice award for his collaboration with John Green, 'Will Grayson, Will Grayson'; and Mass's 'Finally' was a finalist in the Third and Fourth Grade category. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Robin Adelson, executive director of the CBC, greeted the guests at the gala. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Johanna Kerby won the Kindergarten to Second Grade award for 'Little Pink Pup.' Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Host Krosoczka, whose 'Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown' won in the Third and Fourth Grade category, pretended to pay off the voting audience--kids--and attempted to give his wallet to presenter R.L. Stine. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Author Laurie Halse Anderson presented the Teen Choice award. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Jon Scieszka made a 'very' special appearance as Snooki of 'Jersey Shore' fame. Note: the color of this photo has not been adjusted. Photo: Natural Expressions NY.
Krosoczka, Burton, and Snooki closed out the festivities with a spirited rendition of the theme song to 'Reading Rainbow.'
The Roundup for Industry News
Publishing news from across the Web
Using comics books (like The Avengers) to get kids interested in reading.
In a "marriage made in lard," NYC children's bookstore Books of Wonder is playing host to the Baconery, which specializes in bacon-themed sweets.
After 24 years, the Banbury Cross Children's Bookshop in Wenham, Mass., will close its doors.
Worldcrunch.com asks: are today's children's books about Africa still racist?
| 1 | Serpent's Shadow Rick Riordan / Author |
| 2 | Insurgent Veronica Roth / Author |
| 3 | Bitterblue Kristin Cashore / Author, Ian Schoenherr / Illustrator |
| 4 | Invaders John Flanagan / Author |
| 5 | Divergent Veronica Roth / Author |
| 6 | The Lost Hero Rick Riordan / Author |
| 1 | Dinosaur Pet [With CD (Audio)] Neil Sedaka / Author, Marc Sedaka / Author, Tim Bowers / Illustrator |
| 2 | Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons Eric Litwin / Author, James Dean / Illustrator |
| 3 | Duckling Gets a Cookie!? Mo Willems / Author, Mo Willems / Illustrator |
| 4 | Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Sherri Duskey Rinker / Author, Tom Lichtenheld / Illustrator |
| 5 | Are You a Cow? Sandra Boynton / Author, Sandra Boynton / Illustrator |
| 6 | The LEGO Ideas Book Daniel Lipkowitz / Author, Sebastiaan Arts / Contribution by, Tim Goddard / Contribution by, Deborah Higdon / Contribution by, Barney Main / Contribution by, Duncan Titmarsh / Contribution by |
| 1 | Hunger Games Suzanne Collins / Author |
| 2 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid Jeff Kinney / Author |
| 3 | The Lorax Dr Seuss / Author |
| 4 | Big Nate Lincoln Peirce / Author |
| 5 | The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart / Author |
| 6 | The Kingdom Keepers Ridley Pearson / Author |
