RI Children's Book Award

Voting for the 2024 RI Children's Book Award will be pushed back a month to give students more time to access the nominees. Voting will take place March 1 - April 30 and voting materials will be available in February at https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award/voting. The 2025 nominees will still be announced in March, but the 2024 winner will be announced early May.

Fact sheets for the 2024 nominees are now available on the RICBA LibGuide. Each fact sheet includes a summary, author/illustrator bio, links to professional reviews, and relevant awards. The LibGuide also includes additional resources for each title as well as promotional printables. Visit the LibGuide at https://olis-ri.libguides.com/ricba/2024

Check out video messages from nominated authors to RI students at https://flip.com/mixtapes/+q04e8vq0

The following 2024 RICBA nominated authors are available for library and school visits.

Kelly Starling Lyons, author of Miles Lewis: King of the Ice is a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, teaching artist and award-winning children's book author. Her mission is to center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship and heritage and show all kids the stories they hold inside. She has written more than two dozen books for young readers that span from easy readers to picture books and chapter books. Among her acclaimed titles are Caldecott Honor winner Going Down Home with Daddy, Geisel Honor Award recipient, Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom, Christopher Award winner Tiara's Hat Parade and Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations, a Bank Street Best Book. Her latest picture book, My Hands Tell a Story, earned two starred reviews. Kelly lives in Raleigh and was named to Good Morning America's 2021 Inspiration List: Who's Making Black History. Find out more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com.

Maryann Cocca-Leffler, author of Fighting for YES!: The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann , has been a disability rights advocate since her daughter, Janine Leffler, was born with Cerebral Palsy in 1985. Maryann offers both virtual and in-person presentations which focus on inclusion, diversity and the history of disability rights through her books. Maryann also offers Community/Educators Professional Development, and Book Talks. Please see the attached flyer for more information.