National Book Foundation AwardsFirst Innovations in Reading Prizes

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By Rocco Staino -- School Library Journal, 05/20/2009

An online community for teenage girls, a best-selling author Web site that promotes books for kids, a program that allows inmates to read to their children, and a teacher are four winners for the first Innovations in Reading Prizes presented by the National Book Foundation.

The award—which comes with a $2,500 check and a certificate—recognizes individuals or organizations that demonstrate passion, creativity, dedication, and leadership in creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading.

James Paterson’s ReadKidddoRead, a site “dedicated to making (children) readers for life” was among the winners. “There are millions of kids that have never read a book they’ve liked,” says Patterson, who teamed with children’s literature consultant, Judy Freeman to create the site. “This site lists the ones they won’t be able to resist.” 

The three co-founders (from lef) Justina Chen Headley, Dia Calhoun, Lorie Ann Grover.

Another winner was Readergirlz,  an online community created by five YA authors to get teenage girls to read, reflect and share. The site uses social network to get teens to chat with their favorite authors. The project is totally volunteer and is self-funded was the brainchild of authors; Dia Calhoun, Holly Cupala, Lorie Ann Grover, Justina Chen Headley, and Melissa Walker, who call themselves the divas.

When asked how the award will make a difference to their lives, Headley told SLJ, “We can now pay for our day-to-day operational costs—but also kick off a new, exciting literacy program we've been brainstorming for the coming year!” e absolutely cannot wait to partner with school librarians to get teens reading.”

Robert Wilder, a teacher from Santa Fe, NM, was the only individual to win the prize. In his role as a writer and teacher, he strives to “get good books into people’s hands.”

Meanwhile, the Fathers Bridging the Miles program of the Hawai-based

Robert Wilder, a teacher from Santa Fe, NM, was the only individual to win the prize.

Read to Me International Foundation was recognized for bringing incarcerated fathers closer to their children through books. In Eloy, AZ, imprisoned dads are encouraged to record themselves reading a book. The recording, along with a copy of the book is sent to the prisoner’s child. “It is amazing to see the relationships between fathers and their children bloom over books and reading,” says Pat Mizuno, the program’s director,

In addition to the four youth literacy awards, the Maricopa County Library District was recognized for dropping the Dewey system two years ago to make their library more users friendly. The awards were selected from 150 entries and are supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation.

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