Announcing the Gelett Burgess Scholarship for Young Writers

THE GELETT BURGESS CENTER is pleased to announce the Gelett Burgess Young Writer’s Scholarship for high school seniors and college students wishing to pursue careers in writing.

Scholarship recipients will receive funding covering full admission to James Patterson’s Master Class, a program consisting of 22 (one-hour) video lectures covering the art of writing. In addition, winners will receive a collection of writing resources and reference materials to enhance their learning experience.  (Scholarship value $250)

Applicants MUST provide the following information in hardcopy:

(1) One letter of recommendation from an academic advisor or instructor

(2) A brief statement outlining your career goals as a writer (200 words or less)

(3) Three writing samples consisting of any materials you have produced during your course of study (article, class writing assignment, short story, etc).

Download Gelett Burgess Scholarship Fund for Young Writers form here

Submit your package in hardcopy to the Gelett Burgess Center
by Jan 15th, 2016:

Gelett Burgess Center
c/o Nicholas Beatty
908 NE 53rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97213

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Congratulations Emily Winfield Martin! (NYT Best-Selling Author!)

Congratulations to Gelett Burgess Award-winning author Emily Winfield Martin. Her brand new book, The Wonderful Things You Will Be debuted on the New York Times Best-Selling Children’s Book List this week. Her book, Dream Animals, was named the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book of the Year in 2013.

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US Major Book Award Winners Announced

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

“The Crossover,” written by Kwame Alexander, is the 2015 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Two Newbery Honor Books also were named:

“El Deafo” by Cece Bell, illustrated by Cece Bell and published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS.

“Brown Girl Dreaming,” written by Jacqueline Woodson and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

“The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend,” illustrated by Dan Santat, is the 2015 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Dan Santat and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Six Caldecott Honor Books also were named:

“Nana in the City,” illustrated by Lauren Castillo, written by Lauren Castillo and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

“The Noisy Paint Box: The  Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art,” illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

“Sam & Dave Dig a Hole,” illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett and published by Candlewick Press.

“Viva Frida,” illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Yuyi Morales and published by Roaring Brook Press, a Neal Porter Book.

“The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus,” illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant, and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

“This One Summer,” illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, written by Mariko Tamaki and published by First Second.

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

“Brown Girl Dreaming,” written by Jacqueline Woodson, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Three King Author Honor Books were selected:

Kwame Alexander for “The Crossover,” published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.

Marilyn Nelson for “How I Discovered Poetry,” illustrated by Hadley Hooper and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Books (USA) LLC.

Kekla Magoon for “How It Went Down,” published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:

“Firebird,” illustrated by Christopher Myers, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Misty Copeland and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Two King Illustrator Honor Book were selected:

Christian Robinson for “Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker,” by Patricia Hruby Powell, published by Chronicle Books LLC.

Frank Morrison for “Little Melba and Her Big Trombone,” by Katheryn Russell-Brown, published by Lee and Low Books, Inc.

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2014 Award-Winning Titles Announced

Each year the Gelett Burgess Center offers our network of educators, librarians, bookstores and parents a glimpse into the magic of children’s books, and the incredible role they play in helping children reach their full potential. The books we select represent a talent pool that is inspired to explore new boundaries in children’s literature. We know this is true because incredible children’s books live and breathe truth, and they are the ones that stay with children throughout their entire lives.

Cherish each and every opportunity you have to share a book with a child, whether it be a friendly recommendation or an impromptu bedtime story. These moments are golden and have the potential to change a child’s path forever.

It is with great pleasure we announce the winners of the Gelett Burgess Center, Book of the Year recipients. Many hours have been spent interviewing readers, reviewing new releases, and sifting through bookshelves in order to find the perfect match for our organization. We recognize the creative energy, outstanding talent, and the collaborative nature of creating children’s books. It is with this understanding we offer our thanks and congratulations to the teams responsible for producing this year’s list of winners.

Book of the Year: The Farmer and The Clown by Marla Frazee

“The book opens in a subdued landscape with the grim farmer, whose displeasure is evident when he’s obliged to rescue the young clown thrown from a passing circus train. At first, the farmer and the clown seem in stark contrast. The young clown is dressed in a red one-piece, with a relentlessly cheerful, painted smile, while the old, bent-over farmer has stark black overalls and an unchanging, glum face. But when it is time to wash up, the farmer sheds his black and white clothes and reveals a red one-piece of his own. The clown’s painted smile is wiped off, revealing that the child’s face is actually sorrowful. The emotional resonance of that single mirroring scene is extraordinary. In fact the entire book, with Frazee’s perfect pacing of images and use of negative space, light and shadow is true poetry.” (New York Times Book Review October 19, 2014)

Honor: The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus by Jen Bryant

“Those who have relied upon a thesaurus . . . will gain a greater appreciation for the reference tool in this beautifully designed picture book biography of its creator, Peter Roget. . . . Busy and exuberant, Sweet’s charming watercolor illustrations, layered over collages of vintage images and fonts, capture Roget’s passion for classification while also providing readers new opportunities for discovery. . . . Expertly researched and well written, Bryant’s narrative not only details the creation of the thesaurus; it also conveys a sense of Roget the man. . . . An excellent illustrated biography.” School Library Journal

Honor: What Do You Do With An Idea?
by Kobi Yamada

This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child’s confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who s ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. It s a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it some space to grow, and to see what happens next. Because your idea isn t going anywhere. In fact, it’s just getting started.

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