SLIS Associate Professor Marilyn Irwin was the Chairperson of this year’s Schneider Family Book Award Jury. Her role builds on her professional expertise with both disability resources and with library resources for children and young adults. The American Library Association’s press release about this year’s recipients of the Schneider Award included the following list and descriptions.
- In an email interview, we asked Dr. Irwin about her experience. She responded:
- Serving on the Schneider jury is truly a rewarding experience. It is an honor to be able to select books that best represent the disability experience to give the award. This year in particular, we heard many people say that they had never heard of the winning books, so we brought quality materials to the attention of others.
- The success in chairing any working group depends in large part on the commitment of those who are in the group. The 2013 Schneider jury was composed of dedicated, hardworking individuals who seriously engaged in the task at hand. This was particularly important this year due to the large number of books submitted for consideration for the award.
Excerpts from — ALA NEWS
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2013
Contact: Macey Morales
2013 Schneider Family Book Awards Recipients Named
SEATTLE — The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Schneider Family Book Awards, which honor an author or illustrator for the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. The award was announced during the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, Jan. 25 - 29.
• “Back to Front and Upside Down!,” written and illustrated by Claire Alexander and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., won the award for younger children.
“Ms. Alexander presents a delightful story of promise for young people who may also have difficulty with their letters,” said Award Chair Marilyn M. Irwin.
• “A Dog Called Homeless,” written by Sarah Leanand published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, won the award for best middle school title.
“Through Ms. Lean’s words, Cally and Sam demonstrate that communication can take a number of different formats,” Irwin said.
• The teen award winner is “Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am,”written by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangisand published by Simon & SchusterBFYR, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world with approximately 58,000 members. Its mission is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.
Posted February 12, 2013