1 – Page 177 – Cathy C. Hall Writes

2009-CBW-Poster I know prestigious awards are, well, prestigious. And I’d certainly jump up and down if I won one. But I think I’d be jumping and hollering if I won a Children’s Choice Book Award.

I mean, kids vote for the winners. And if you write for kids, what better feeling is there than for a bunch of kids to think you’re swell?

Mo Willems won for The Pigeon Wants a Puppy (K-2) Oh, that pigeon is a hoot (no pun intended).

Dinah Williams won for Spooky Cemeteries (3-4th)…I’m adding that book to my library list. I’ll also be adding Thirteen, the 5-6th winner, written by Lauren Myracle. You can read more about the Children’s Choice Book Awards if you visit the website. And you can even order this nifty poster by Ian Falconer. I’m completely in love with Olivia, and I think can spare sixty cents. But I can download the bookmark by Dan Yaccarino for free!

Children’s Book Week lasts all week, so check out the website to see if there’s an activity in your area. If my Junior Halls were still little, we’d be all over Children’s Book Week. Heck, who am I kidding? I don’t need kids to be jumping up and down about Children’s Book Week!

DSCN1748

Yesterday, I received my last assignment feedback from my instructor at the Institute of Children’s Literature. It was kind of a Whee! Boo Hoo! moment for me, as I’ve enjoyed every minute of the class and really liked my instructor, Marcia Hoehne. Mostly because Marcia laughed at all my jokes. But she also happens to be a wonderful writing instructor.

When I added children’s writing to my portfolio, I really thought it would be easy-weezy. But I had a little something-something to learn about this specialty. And I’m still learning every day. Which is why I read the ICL newsletters. They’re free (whee!), and Jan Fields does a great job, packing pertinent info into the pages

Like this link at Kid Magazine Writers for a list of markets that have bitten the dust, or are missing in action. You might want to give it a look before you send off that next marvelous manuscript.

You might even want to sign up for the class at the ICL. It was the best investment I’ve ever made in my writing. Well, next to marrying the beneficent Mr. Hall ( who gave me the money to take the class).