by Kathy Halsey
On Fridays you’ll find us GROGers on the hunt for gems we
feel writers could use. These tidbits may be a bit esoteric, but that’s part of
the fun! What WILL those groggy GROGers find next???
So here’s today’s
question…what do the following items all have in common?
- Buckeye
- Blue Bonnet
- Mitten,
- Blue Spruce
- Blue Hen
No, it’s not game of “let’s pick out the only item that does
not belong!” If you guessed that these are the readers’ choice awards of Ohio, Texas, Michigan, Colorado, and Delaware, you win the
blue ribbon! Did you know that every
state has a children’s choice award? Some states champion teen awards and some
also recognize non-fiction!
You ask, “But why is this important to me as a writer?” Glad
you asked, curious reader! Two “old saws” will answer your burning question. Old saw #1: All politics is local. Old saw
#2: Location, location, location! (realtors) Do you get the connection?
Think LOCAL! Peruse your state’s reading awards site and get to know your local
audience. Cynthia Leitich Smith, New York Times best-selling author, writing
teacher, and speaker, has a complete
list of all the state awards, plus other goodies for kidlit writers here.
As a former board member of The Buckeye Children’s Book Award, Ohio’s readers’ choice award, I learned
so much about Ohio’s
young readers during my tenure, but you don’t have to be on the board to
support/benefit from your state award. The benefits…
·
I learned the themes/subjects/genres that
resonate with Ohio
readers.
·
I met other local/national authors at the annual
awards banquet.
·
I networked with public librarians, school
librarians, professors and teachers across the state.
·
I found lists of books Ohio kids adore going back to the early 80’s
– good mentor texts for my local audience!
As your tour guide for the Buckeye Book site, we find
features that are similar to many other states.
·
The award is usually a collaboration of
library/educator/reading associations. (Sometimes
we writers call these folks “gatekeepers.” These are good folks to know!)
For example, in Ohio the sponsors of the
Buckeye are the State Library of Ohio, Ohio Council International Reading
Association The Ohio
Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, The Ohio Educational Library
Media Association, The Ohio Library Council and The Kent State University
School of Library and Information Science.
·
The award groups encourage reading for pleasure
and newer titles, usually within the last 2-3 years. Nominated titles are kid
favorites and teacher/librarian approved. (Your
specific state list might be a great set of mentor texts for you!)
·
The BCBA even mentions authors: “The Buckeye Children’s
and Teen Book Award program is designed to encourage students in Ohio to read
literature critically, to promote teacher and librarian involvement in young
adult literature programs, and to
commend authors of such literature. The Teen category was added to the
existing Buckeye Children’s Book Award in 2003. (Buckeye winners are feted at a state conference from one of the
sponsoring associations and usually the award group picks up the travel tab!)
Take some time to investigate YOUR state’s award soon! They
have this GROGer’s seal of approval and a blue ribbon for promoting authors!
