The 2012 Irma S. Black Awards

Yesterday was a really big morning for us.  Not only was it the first ever ceremony for The Cook Prize, but it was also the morning that the Irma Simonton and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature (Irma Black Award) was presented to honor books and the winner.  The Irma Black Award has been presented annually by Bank Street since 1973. We had three wonderful, engaging and very funny speakers: Paul O. Zelinsky, Peter Brown and Fiona Robinson. Needless to say, it was a fantastic morning!

Like The Cook Prize, the Irma Black Award is a children’s choice award for an outstanding picture book with inseparable text and illustrations.  Thousands of children from around the world voted for this year’s winner, What Animals Really Like by Fiona Robinson (Abrams, 2011).  The three honor books are –

• All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel by Dan Yaccarino (Knopf, 2011)
• I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (Candlewick, 2011)
• You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown (Little, Brown, 2011)

 

And now, for some of our favorite moments…

Paul O. Zelinsky gives the keynote address (and brings down the house).

Lisa Von Drasek presents Peter Brown with his honor award.

Peter Brown

Lisa Von Drasek presents Fiona Robinson with her award.

Fiona Robinson

Peter Brown, Fiona Robinson, and Paul O. Zelinsky [R to L] autograph books for fans.

Connie Black Engle and Earl Engle