Advertisments

A premier publishing services firm

Independent Publisher on Instagram

Feature

2015 Moonbeam Medalist and Press Page

Congratulations to the winners of the 2015 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards! Below is the official results announcement press release, followed by important links. 

 

  


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"Inspiring Kids to Read, Learn and Grow"
2015 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winners Announced
(Traverse City, MI - Oct. 14, 2015)  The results of this year’s Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards have been announced, and the medalists make up an outstanding and diverse reading list. Now in its ninth year, the contest was founded on the notion that childhood literacy and lifelong reading are vital to help children thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

The Moonbeam Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to the year's best children's books and are chosen by judging panels of book reviewers, librarians, teachers, and students. "This year's winners are more well-written and better-looking than ever, and they are filled with inspiring messages that encourage kids to be kind, compassionate and courageous," says Awards Director Jim Barnes. 

One of the gold medalists, What Does It Mean To Be Kind? (Little Pickle Press) epitomizes the "sharing and caring" message delivered by many of the winning books: "Being kind means having the courage to treat others the way you like to be treated," writes author Rana DiOrio. "And spread the word -- if we can all be kind to each other and to ourselves, our world will be more loving, caring, and harmonious." 

In all, 165 medalists in 48 categories were chosen from over 1,400 total entries, and medals will go to books representing 36 U.S. States and the District of Columbia, six Canadian provinces, and Australia, Singapore, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Spain. See the complete 2015 Moonbeam Awards results here: 

http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1986 

Silver medalist Noah Chases the Wind (Red Leaf Press) encourages contemplation and exploration. Science-loving Noah knows where the wind comes from, but not where it goes, and when he asks his mom about it she says, "Why don't you try finding the answer for yourself?" As the next storm approaches, he sits with his back to a large tree: "He stood, his face to the sky, and felt the whooshing wind build and blow his hair into his eyes. Noah took a deep breath. He was ready to chase the wind."

Along with the contest's numerous picture book and early-reader categories, there is a wide range of pre-teen and young adult fiction, with categories such as Mystery, Historical/Cultural, and Mature Issues. Gold Medalist Infandous (Lerner Publishing Group) explores the complexities of young adulthood through a dark lens, weaving altered versions of mythology into its narrative and warning from the first page that "things don't really turn out the way they do in fairy tales." Later on, author Elana K. Arnold writes, "Disney makes them prettier and cleans them up. . . But like with art, the original stories are underneath. They bleed through."

About the Awards

The Moonbeam Awards were created in 2007 by northern Michigan-based book marketing firm Jenkins Group, and the winners represent the best books published for children and young adults during the previous year. Jenkins Group has been involved in book packaging, marketing and distribution since 1988, and the growing influence of their children's and grandchildren's love of books inspired them to launch the Moonbeam Awards and the Traverse City Children’s Book Festival.

Learn more about the book festival at http://www.TCChildrensBookFestival.com.

For more information about the Moonbeam Awards and the winning books, or to interview their creators, contact Awards Director Jim Barnes at 1-800-644-0133 x 1011 or jimb (at) bookpublishing.com.


MOONBEAM MERCHANDISE

Moonbeam Awards Merchandise Page where extra award seals, medals, certificates, and electronic versions of the medal artwork are available:
http://www.jenkinsgroupinc.com/store/index.php?p=catalog&parent=2&pg=1

  •  Seals are available in rolls of 250 and 1000
  • You may order additional certificates with customized wording.
  • Hi-res versions of the seal artwork are available for reproducing on book covers and promotional materials

 

Moonbeam Logo Low-Res Artwork for use on webpages, etc.:

Gold artwork: www.moonbeamawards.com/Gold_Moonbeam_LR.jpg
Silver artwork: www.moonbeamawards.com/Silver_Moonbeam_LR.jpg
Bronze artwork: www.moonbeamawards.com/Bronze_Moonbeam_LR.jpg


OTHER IMPORTANT LINKS

Moonbeam Award-Winner Bookstore:

http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1989


MOONBEAM AWARD BLURBS

"The cause of promoting childhood literacy knows no boundaries, and the award winners illustrate that point well, coming not only from long-established publishers and university presses, but from small presses, foundations, museums, and self-published entrepreneurs."

"The Moonbeam Children's Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children's books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. The Awards recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians - and to children themselves."

 


Comments