“Best Books for Kids” Book Awards

updated June 18, 2010

After 20 years of providing great new children’s books to the kids who need them, we felt it was high time to recognize the “best of the best” in children’s literature. So we created the Best Books for Kids award in celebration of our milestone anniversary to recognize the wonderful creativity available in children’s literature today.

We announced the winners of the Best Books for Kids Awards at the Library Bistro in downtown Seattle.

Drumroll, please:

• Best Read Aloud: Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum
• Best Non-fiction: Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, by Brian Floca
• Best Multicultural: 14 Cows for America, by Carmen Agra Deedy

The Puget Sound Council nominated the book finalists, and the winning books were chosen by a panel of children’s literature experts from across Washington State.

Special thanks to our judges: Stephanie Dunnewind, Children’s book reviewer to The Seattle Times; Cecelia Goodnow, Cover to Cover Kids blog; Rene Kirkpatrick, Third Place Books; Cecilia McGowan, Children’s Services Coordinator of King County Library System; and Danielle Ringwald, of Get Lit! in Spokane.

Read Aloud: Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie Harris; and The Three Little Tamales by Eric A. Kimmel. Although not chosen to receive an award, the judges gave A Book by Mordicai Gerstein special mention for its originality.

Non-fiction: Butterflies and Moths by Nic Bishop; The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull; The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino;and Boy, Were We Wrong About the Solar System! by Kathleen V. Kudlinski.

Multicultural: One Hen - How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway; The Beckoning Cat by Koko Nishizuka; Our Children Can Soar by Michelle Cook; and Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora.

And remember, nominated books make excellent gifts! Just click on the links next to the titles above to start your shopping; a portion of each purchase will go to Page Ahead. Thank you!

 

A Taste for Reading Benefit Luncheon

May 12, 2010
Four Seasons Hotel, Seattle

Page Ahead appreciates all the sponsors, guests, table captains, volunteers and students who helped to make our 7th Annual Taste for Reading benefit luncheon a success! Together, we surpassed our goal of $90,000 to provide new books and literacy services for children in need.

Our 2010 luncheon represents a special anniversary for Page Ahead – we have been giving away books in Washington State for 20 years! We were excited to recognize founding board members, Dave Osmer, Barbara Clark and Rick White who were in attendance.

First grade students from Daniel Elementary students delighted guests with their performance of The Three Tamales, one of Page Ahead’s award-nominated books. They were followed by more than two dozen second and third graders from Van Asselt caught the spirit of the day perfectly with their “Thank You!” song.

Special thanks to emcee Enrique Cerna, the host of KCTS9 Connects, Instructional Coach Lien Le from Daniel Elementary and Paul Fowler, choir director at Van Asselt Elementary.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

• The Boeing Company
• Jim and Marilyn Cook
• Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
• Gene and Nancy Leonardson
• Whittnee Chen

 

Banking for Books

Posted May 2, 2010

Thank you to 49 Spokane area banking institutions for making Banking for Books 2010 a huge success! They encouraged their patrons to "Make a Book Deposit" and collected more than 1,100 new books for local kids in need.

Shout out to the branch that collected the most new books - an amazing 453 - Spokane Federal Credit Union! In celebration of their accomplishment, breakfast is being provided for the employees of their branch on May 5. Thanks to Albertson's on N Indian Trail, Albertson's on NW Blvd, Costco, Craven's Coffee, Jan Young, Rosauers, Starbucks Coffee on Main & Post, Yoke's Fresh Market for making it possible.

• Banner Bank
• NorthTown Branch
• Hamilton Branch
• N. Division Branch
• Market Street Branch
• Hastings Branch
• Millwood Branch
• Argonne Branch
• Sullivan Branch
• Sprague and University Branch
• Northland Credit Union
• Safeway Federal Credit Union
• Spokane Federal Credit Union
• Downtown Branch
• Francis Ave. (CU Service Center)
• Drive-up Location
• Spokane Media Federal Credit Union
• Valley Branch
• Main Branch
• Washington Trust Bank
• Liberty Lake Branch
• Spokane Main Office
• Sullivan Branch
• Airway Heights Branch
• Indiana Branch
• Manito Branch
• Medical Center Office
• Second & Wall Branch
• East Sprague Branch
• Valley Financial Center Branch
• Northgate Branch
• Wandemere Branch
• Maple Garland Branch
• Lincoln Heights Branch
• Priority Service Branch
• Deer Park Branch
• Five Mile Branch
• Operations
• Wells Fargo Bank
• Main Office 1st Floor
• Wealth Management Group - Main Office, 7th floor
• Retail Admin- Main Office, 8th floor
• Northwest and Ash Branch (Inside Safeway)
• Town and Country Branch (Monroe and Francis)
• North Division Branch (Division and Cozza)
• University City Branch (Sprague and Dartmouth)
• E Sprague and Evergreen Branch (Inside Safeway)
• South Spokane Branch (30th and Regal)
• Wells Fargo Financial
• 7450 N Division
• 1419 N Argonne
• 3209 E 57th
• Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
• 1212 N Washington Suite 300 (3rd floor)
• 11707 E Sprague Suite 102 (1st floor)
• Wells Fargo Insurance Services - 601 W Main Suite 1400 (14th floor)

 

2 Millionth Book!

posted April 15, 2010

What do 2,000,000 books weigh? More than 40 elephants!

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire declared March 12th, 2010, to be officially “Page Ahead Day.” On this day Page Ahead gave away our 2 Millionth book at Van Asselt Elementary School in Seattle. The celebration included music, entertainment, cake, and of course, new books!

Everyone enjoyed a lively rendition of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, read by Washington State First Gentleman Mike Gregoire. Radio Disney entertained the kids, and many volunteers--including VoluntEars from the local Disney Store--were there to read with the children.

Check out the special “Thank You” song composed and performed by the Van Asselt Choir in commemoration of the occasion.

Special thanks to sponsors The Boeing Company, MoneyTree, AKJ Books, and Scholastic Books, along with all who celebrated with us!

 

Page Ahead Honored

posted March 11, 2010

Page Ahead has been named Program of the Month for March by Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)! Founded in 1966, RIF is the oldest and largest children’s literacy organization in the country. Thank you RIF!

Read more here

 

Kids Skate in Spokane

Eight students from Audubon Elementary had the opportunity to attend the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane on January 24. Page Ahead donated ten tickets to the school for the event. A special treat was the chance to meet gold medalist Rachael Flatt, who serves as a spokesperson for the national group Reading Is Fundamental (RIF).

Read more here