51逗奶

51逗奶 Miss Medallion Winner, Keats Award Recipients Recognized at Kaigler Book Festival

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 03:04pm | By: David Tisdale

Smith, a New York Times best-selling author of award-winning fiction for children and young adults, in particular about the lives of young Native peoples, said she was 鈥済obsmacked鈥� when told she was this year鈥檚 recipient of The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM) Fay B. Kaigler Children鈥檚 Book Festival鈥檚 top honor, the 51逗奶 Miss Medallion.

Along with Smith, several rising authors and illustrators in the world of children鈥檚 literature were also recognized for their accomplishments with Ezra Jack Keats Awards during ceremonies held April 11 at the Thad Cochran Center on the USM Hattiesburg campus.

Smith praised the work of festival organizers, noting the importance of authors and lovers of children鈥檚 literature to be able to come together again, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. She also expressed gratitude for having another opportunity through the annual event to discuss and advocate for literature that shares the stories of Native peoples, particularly its younger generations.

鈥淚 am so honored to be named recipient of this award,鈥� said Smith, who is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation. Her work includes Hearts Unbroken, Jingle Dancer, Harvest House, Rain Is Not My Indian Name and Indian Shoes, along with the award-winning series Tantalize.

鈥淭o be here, to have another opportunity to lift up and celebrate Native youth with the inclusion of their voices in this genre shows them that they are here, that they can be heroes everyone can cheer on, too - it鈥檚 so meaningful.鈥�

Keats Award recipients for 2024 include:

Ezra Jack Keats Award Winner for Writer:  for Nell Plants a Tree; illustrated by Daniel Miyares; published by Balzer & Bray/ Harper Collins

Ezra Jack Keats Award Winner for Illustrator:  for The Only Way to Make Bread; written by Cristina Quintero; published by Tundra/Penguin Random House Canada

Ezra Jack Keats Award Honors:

Writer Honors:

 for Just Like Grandma; illustrated by Julie Flett; published by Heartdrum/HarperCollins

 for Sora鈥檚 Seashells; illustrated by Stella Lim; published by Candlewick Press

Illustrator Honors:

 for Dancing Hands; written by Joanna Que & Charina Marquez; published by Chronicle Books

 for Benito Ju谩rez Fights for Justice; published by Godwin/Henry Holt

Writer Finalists: 

 & Michelle Pereira for The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name; published by Abrams/Abrams Books for Young Readers

 for When You Can Swim; published by Orchard Books/Scholastic

Illustration Finalists: 

 for Remembering; published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

 for Lucky Me; published by Orca Books