There are two book awards given annually that address diversity and the experience of diversity. They are the Schneider Family Book Awards and the Stonewall Book Award.
The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. The 2011 award winners are: for middle school readers - After Ever After written by Jordan Sonnenblick. (Tells the story of Jeffrey who is free of cancer, but not the fallout from the treatment. Tad, his cancer survivor buddy and he swap wisecracks as they cope with their "chemo-brain," other cancer effects and typical 8th grade angst.); for teen readers - Five Flavors of Dumb written by Antony John. (Dumb is not the name Piper, a high school senior who is Deaf, would have chosen for a heavy metal band, yet she volunteers to manage this disparate group of would-be musicians. in her attempt to make Dumb profitable, Piper learns a few things about music and business, striking a chord within herself.); and for young children - The Pirate of Kindergarten written by George Ella Lyon and illustrated by Lynne Avril. (Ginny's eyes play tricks and, in her world, there are two of everything. Reading, math, and kindergarten activities are a challenge. Wearing an eye patch turns her into the pirate of kindergarten, and glasses help bring her world into focus. Whimsical mixed media illustrations cleverly convey Ginny's experiences first hand.).
The Stonewall Book Award is presented by the GLBT Round Table of the ALA for exceptional merit to works of fiction, non-fiction, and children's & young adult literature relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered experience. The 2011 award winner for children's & young adult literature is Almost Perfect written by Brian Katcher. (This remarkable book takes a hard look at the difficulties and pain experienced by young male-to-female transsexuals from an easily relateable perspective. A small-town Missouri boy's world is rocked when he falls for the new girl at school who was born a male and is in transition to becoming a female.).
Keep on Reading!
Mr. T Reiter
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