UMaine announces 2016 Correll Book Awards

Five children’s books are being honored as part of the 2016 Correll Book Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Informational Text.

“Spectacular Spots” by Susan Stockdale (Peachtree Publishers) is the winner in the birth to 3-year-old division. The book impressed the selection committee with its effective blend of engaging illustrations and factual information made accessible to the youngest literacy learners. Honorable mention in the division goes to “A Bird is a Bird” by Lizzie Rockwell (Holiday House).

In the ages 4–8 division, the winner is “Families” by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly (Holiday House). This photo-illustrated book is the first social studies-themed work to receive the award. Committee members cited the diverse representation of families, clear, accurate language and bright engaging photos as reasons for its selection. The ages 4–8 category has two honorable mention titles: “Emergency Vehicles” by Rod Green, illustrated by Stephen Biesty (Templar Books) and “What in the World? Numbers in Nature” by Nancy Raines Day, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (Beach Lane).

This is the fifth year of the Correll Book Awards, created through the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development to bring attention to quality informational text for young children. UMaine Associate Professor of Literacy Education Susan Bennett-Armistead chairs the seven-member Correll Committee, which chooses the winners as exemplars of the genre, appropriate for the age group, engaging for young children and sources of accurate information. All of the winning books were published in English in the U.S. during the previous calendar year. This year, the committee reviewed more than 60 submissions from publishing houses across the country. Bennett-Armistead says an event is being planned for August to recognize this year’s winners.

Past winners include: “Gorillas” by Gail Gibbons, “A Place for Bats” by Melissa Stewart, “Look!” by Ted Lewin, “Best Foot Forward” by Ingo Arndt, “Full Speed Ahead! How Fast Things Go” by Marie-Laure Cruschi, and “Swamp Chomp” by Lola Schaefer.

Contact: Susan Bennett-Armistead, susan.bennett-armistead@maine.edu