The Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award is an annual award presented by the Gelett Burgess Center for Creative Expression. Named for
Gelett Burgess
Frank Gelett Burgess (January 30, 1866 – September 18, 1951) was an American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist. An important figure in the San Francisco Bay Area literary renaissance of the 1890s, particularly through his iconoclas ...
, an artist and writer famous for his humorous
Goops series (1900-1950), this award recognizes outstanding books that inspire
imagination
Imagination is the production or simulation of novel objects, sensations, and ideas in the mind without any immediate input of the senses. Stefan Szczelkun characterises it as the forming of experiences in one's mind, which can be re-creations ...
and
creativity
Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a printed lit ...
, and helps support childhood literacy and lifelong reading.
History
The first award was granted in 2011 when
Pat Mora
Pat Mora (born January 19, 1942 in El Paso, Texas) is an American poet and author of books for adults, teens and children. Her grandparents came to El Paso from northern Mexico. A graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, she received Honor ...
won Book of the Year with ''Gracias Thanks''. In addition to the Book of the Year and several Burgess Honors, awards are granted each year in 40 categories, within 4 distinct groups: Lifestyle,
Arts and Letters, Society and Culture, and
Education
Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...
.
[ The resulting list of award-winning titles is promoted throughout the year with additional activity and lesson plan resources made available.
The Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award seal was designed by the artist himself as a child.][ He made an early mark on the world by carving his initials, in the form of a monogram based on the Phoenician alphabet, on nearly every church steeple in Boston. (Author's full name is Frank Gelett Burgess)
]
Eligibility and Criteria
* All English-language titles, North American or International may be submitted as long as the books are available to the general public (i.e., retail outlets, catalog, Amazon or manufacturer websites). Non-English language titles may be submitted to the "Foreign Language Title" category.[
* Entries must be published during the preceding three years.][
]
Recipients
A number of international celebrities have received the Gelett Burgess Children's Book award, including figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, comedic actor Jim Carrey
James Eugene Carrey (; born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian and artist. Known for his energetic slapstick performances, Carrey first gained recognition in 1990, after landing a role in the American sketch comedy t ...
, and film director John Fusco.
See also
* Caldecott Medal
The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Servic ...
* Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished cont ...
References
External links
Official websiteTaylor University Article About Award Recipient
American children's literary awards
Picture book awards
Awards established in 2011
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