Newswise — A fearless polar bear unites other bears to save their melting Arctic habitat. A young girl embarks on a mystical mission in the name of environmental protection and world peace. An Academy Award-winning producer provides tips to combat global warming.
All three are books honored during the 2008 Green Earth Book Awards at Salisbury University"•the nation's first prize for environmental stewardship in children's literature. The ceremony takes place during SU's annual Children's Literature Festival at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center.
Each year, SU partners with the Newton Marasco Foundation, an environmental organization in McLean, VA, to highlight books that encourage environmental stewardship among children and youth. The national awards honor books that not only raise awareness of environmental issues, but also instill a sense of responsibility for nurturing, protecting and defending the earth. This year, some 75 titles were nominated in three categories. Winners are: "¢ Winston of Churchill: One Bear's Battle Against Global Warming, written by Jean Davies Okimoto and illustrated by Jeremiah Trammell (Sasquatch Books) for children's fiction;"¢ The Light-Bearer's Daughter, by O. R. Melling (Harry N. Abrams, Inc./Abrams Books for Young Readers) for young adult fiction; and"¢ The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming, written by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon (Scholastic, Inc.) for nonfiction.
"Whether through beautiful storytelling, simple tips or fun illustrations, each of these books inspires young readers to play an important role in caring for the environment," said Mary Alex, president of the Newton Marasco Foundation. "Parents and educators will find a wealth of wisdom in these books, imparting important lessons to youth in an engaging way."
In Winston of Churchill: One Bear's Battle Against Global Warming, a polar bear named Winston notices that his icy home of Churchill, Manitoba, the polar bear capital of the world, is slowly melting. He explains to other bears why the ice is melting and then, using the stirring words of his famous namesake, rallies them to convince humans to save their Arctic home.
The Light-Bearer's Daughter tells the story of Dana who embarks on a fantasy-filled journey through Ireland and meets such wonders as a talking wolf and a saint who tames monsters. Vivid fantasy scenes balance and support the tale's calls for environmental protection and peace.
The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming provides essential facts, photos, illustrations and suggestions to help kids combat global warming in their homes, schools and communities. Co-author Laurie David is the Academy Award-winning producer of "An Inconvenient Truth."
Since 2005, the Newton Marasco Foundation has honored nine "Green Earth" books.
The 2008 Green Earth Book Awards are supported by SU, Constellation Energy and Pepsi Bottling Ventures of Delmarva. The ceremony is preceded by an environmental community fair at 5:30 p.m. and followed by a book signing and reception. A breakfast reception with the authors is 10 a.m. Thursday, April 3, at Poplar Hill Mansion, 117 Elizabeth St., Salisbury. All events are free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6030. Or visit the SU Web site at http://www.salisbury.edu and the Newton Marasco Web site at http://www.newtonmarascofoundation.org.
SALISBURY, MD---The first prize for environmental stewardship in children's literature in the United States, the 2008 Green Earth Book Awards at Salisbury University recognize works that inspire young readers to appreciate and care for the environment. They are also supporting prominent international environmental groups.
Held Wednesday, April 2, during SU's Children's Literature Festival, the 7 p.m. ceremony in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center has a guest list that reads like a who's who of children's literature and environmentalism. It includes keynote speaker Phillip Hoose, the widely-acclaimed author of books such as Hey, Little Ant.
The three Green Earth Book Award winners receive $2,500, as well as $500 for an environmental organization of their choice. Jean Davies Okimoto, author of Winston of Churchill: One Bear's Battle Against Global Warming, will contribute to the conservation group Polar Bears International. O. R. Melling, author of The Light-Bearer's Daughter, has chosen the Golden Eagle Reintroduction Project in Ireland, which is the setting of the book and the place where the bird became extinct in 1910. Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, who together wrote The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming, have selected stopglobalwarming.org, an Internet-based grassroots organization founded by David.
"Through our partnership with SU and the Children's Literature Festival, we are able to publicly showcase and honor the writers and illustrators whose books have earned the national Green Earth Book Award for their promotion of environmental awareness and stewardship for young people," said Dr. Laura Marasco of SU's Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies and Newton Marasco's board of directors. "The respect and care for the earth is a responsibility for all of us on this planet."
Since 2005, the Newton Marasco Foundation has honored nine "Green Earth" books, awarding $22,500 to 29 authors and contributing $4,500 to environmental charities in the authors' names. The foundation also has recognized 18 Honor Books. This year's Honor Books are: Adventures of Riley: Polar Bear Puzzle by Amanda Lumry and Laura Hurwitz (Eaglemont Press); An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming, written by Al Gore and adapted by Jane O'Connor (Viking Children's Books); On Meadowview Street, written and illustrated by Henry Cole (Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers); Secrets of the Sirens, by Julia Golding (Marshall Cavendish Children's); The Sorta Sisters, by Adrian Fogelin (Peachtree Publishers).
Presenters at this year's Green Earth Book Awards ceremony include John Wolinski of SU's Teacher Education Department; Sue Corbett, a children's book reviewer and reporter for the Miami Herald; Peter Trick, executive vice president of the Newton Marasco Foundation; and Lisa Bryant, education reporter for WBOC-TV.
The 2008 Green Earth Book Awards are supported by SU, Constellation Energy and Pepsi Bottling Ventures of Delmarva. The ceremony is preceded by an environmental community fair at 5:30 p.m. and followed by a book signing and reception. A breakfast reception with the authors is 10 a.m. Thursday, April 3, at Poplar Hill Mansion, 117 Elizabeth St., Salisbury. All events are free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6030. Or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu and the Newton Marasco Web site at www.newtonmarascofoundation.org.
SALISBURY, MD---From three-time Caldecott Medal winner David Wiesner to the widely-acclaimed writer Phillip Hoose, esteemed authors and illustrators from around the world visit Salisbury University for its annual Children's Literature Festival April 1-3.
"We are extremely excited about the high quality of authors and illustrators coming to this year's festival," said Dr. Ernie Bond of SU's Teacher Education Department. "We want to share that excitement with local artists and writers, with kids of all ages and with teachers. And, of course, with the Green Earth Book Awards, we want to reach out to anyone who is concerned about the world we live in. We are very proud that Salisbury is hosting a national literary award and even prouder that our festival is free and open to the public so anyone can attend."
Children, young adults and parents can meet renowned literary professionals"•and hear them speak about their work"•during several events Wednesday, April 2, in Caruthers Hall Auditorium. At 1 p.m., Wiesner, the only three-time winner of the Caldecott Medal for distinguished American picture books (including Tuesday and Flotsam) explores the art of visual storytelling. At 2 p.m., Hoose discusses The Race to Save the Lord God Bird, his multi-award winning book about the extinction of the legendary ivory-billed woodpecker and those who tried to paint it, shoot it, sell it, and, in a last-ditch effort, save it. At 3 p.m., three 2008 National Green Earth Book Award honorees lead an environmental writing panel.
Wiesner also delivers an address at the Eastern Shore Reading Council banquet at 4:45 p.m. in the Worcester Room of the Commons. Banquet admission is $32, $25 for council members. For reservations contact Brandy Terrill at [email protected].
The evening culminates with the 2008 National Green Earth Book Awards 7 p.m. in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center. Hoose is keynote speaker. Recipients are Winston of Churchill: One Bear's Battle Against Global Warming, written by Jean Davies Okimoto and illustrated by Jeremiah Trammell; The Light-Bearer's Daughter by O. R. Melling; and The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon. Five Honor Books are also recognized including Adrian Fogelin's The Sorta Sisters and Henry Cole's On Meadowview Street. The ceremony is preceded by a 5:30 p.m. environmental community festival featuring the Salisbury Zoo, Ward Museum, Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County and Coastal Bays, among other organizations. It is followed by a book signing and reception.
Green Earth Book Award winners receive a $2,500 prize and $500 for the environmental organization of their choice. Okimoto donated her contribution to Polar Bears International, which is dedicated to understanding issues affecting polar bears. The recipient, President Robert Buchanan, shares his vision of saving the polar bears' region and the planet at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in Henson Science Hall, Room 103.
The Children's Literature Festival extends into the community with a Young Author Reception 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at the Most Blessed Sacrament School in Berlin, MD. Hoose keynotes the reception, which recognizes winners of the Eastern Shore Reading Council's Young Author Contest. On Thursday, April 3, a breakfast reception with the authors is 10 a.m. at Poplar Hill Mansion in Salisbury. At 1:15 p.m. Okimoto and Fogelin visit the Wicomico Public Library, while Melling and Gordon visit the Ward Museum, for a talk and book signing.
All events are free unless otherwise noted. The public is invited. For more information call 410-548-3257 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.
MEDIA ALERT
WHAT: SU Announces Schedule of Events for Children's Literature Festival and 2008 Green Earth Book Awards.
WHEN: April 1 - 3
WHERE: On campus and in the community
INFO: Tuesday, April 14 p.m. - Robert Buchanan on "The Work of Polar Bears International," Henson Hall, Room 103
5 p.m. " Young Author Reception featuring Phillip Hoose at Most Blessed Sacrament School, Berlin, MD
Wednesday, April 21 p.m. " Talk by author David Wiesner, Caruthers Hall Auditorium
2 p.m. " Talk by author Phillip Hoose, Caruthers Hall Auditorium
3 p.m. " Environmental Writing Panel with Jean Davies Okimoto, O.R. Melling and Adrian Fogelin, Caruthers Hall Auditorium
4:45 p.m. - Eastern Shore Reading Council Banquet featuring David Wiesner, Worcester Room, Guerrieri University Center
5:30 p.m. " Environmental Community Festival, Wicomico Room, Guerrieri University Center
7 p.m. " 2008 Green Earth Book Awards, Wicomico Room, Guerrieri University Center
Thursday, April 310 a.m. " Breakfast Reception with authors, Poplar Hill Mansion, 117 Elizabeth St., Salisbury
1:15 p.m. " Talk/book signing with Jean Davies Okimoto and Adrian Fogelin, Wicomico Public Library and O.R Melling and Cambria Gordon, Ward Museum
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