Courtney Sherkel

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Mary Hoffman

c/o Pat White 

Dear Ms. Mary Hoffman:

Congratulations! I am pleased to announce that your book, Amazing Grace,
has been chosen as the recipient of The Break-A-Leg Award for Excellence in
Children’s Literature about Theater, Acting, Singing, and/or Dancing.

This award was created in my children's literature education class at

Being a theater major and an elementary education major, I feel that it’s
important for children to learn about the beauty of the arts and your book
showcases this beauty. Having auditioned for many shows myself, I can relate to
the feelings that Grace has for wanting to play a particular role. Your book
also highlights a theme that many children can relate to. I am thankful that
you are one of the talented and caring authors in children's literature today.

Sincerely,

This book is about a girl named Susan. Susan is being described as doing activities such as laughing, swimming, running, etc...Then the last page of the book has Susan sitting in a wheelchair. This book describes the messge that special needs children can do the same activities as the normal children.  

Ashley Cribbs

124 Indiana Avenue

Vandergrift, Pa 15690

aac5024@psu.edu

March 4, 2008

Attention: Mrs. Jeanne Willis

Books for Young Readers
Henry Holt and Company
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Dear Mrs. Willis:

My name is Ashley Cribbs and I am a student at Penn State Altoona majoring in elementary education.  I am writing to inform you that your book, “Susan Laughs,” has won the Special Kids Award for Children Literature. It is a book about children who have special needs or exceptionalities. This award was created in my Language and Literacy Education block. I was to create an award for any topic in children literature. Then, the class had to nominate books for each of the awards that each student created. Once completed, the nominee of the award had to choose only one book that the student felt met the requirements of the award. That is how I chose your book for my Special Kids Award. 

I have dedicated my award to you because I felt that “Susan Laughs” is an excellent way to portray the message that even though children may have special needs they can still be accepted in society. I really love how the book was organized. All through the book up until the last page shows all the characteristics and activities that all children can do. Then the last page shows the picture of Susan in a wheelchair. This book sends a message to the children that even though Susan was in a wheelchair, she is still able to do all the other things that the other children can do as well. The books had to meet certain criteria to get chosen for this award. The criteria are to help special needs children deal with social and emotional situations with other children. Also, to prove to the special needs children that they can do anything that they set their mind to do.   

Your book met this criterion perfectly. Susan Laughs, sent the correct message to the readers of the book.  I really enjoyed reading the book. Congratulations for winning the Special Kids Award for Children Literature. I look forward to reading some of your other books.

Sincerely,

Ashley Cribbs

Enc. Award Certificate

This book is a wonderful book to address a major issue in
growing up, self-esteem. Curtis shows kids that feeling good means liking
yourself the way you are. I’m Gonna Like
Me celebrates kids differences such as, body type, missing teeth and
personal style choices. This book teaches children to love themselves even if
they make a mistake, don’t know the right answer or get picked last in gym
class. It encourages a healthy view of ones self, establishes a sense self worth
and a positive outlook on life.  This
book is an all around perfect book to teach self esteem, and the pictures make
it even better.

Dear Jamie Lee Curtis,

     Congratulations! My name is Brittney Ward, and I am pleased to inform you that your book, I'm Gonna Like Me, has been chosen as the recipient of the Kira Elizabeth Award for excellence in children's literature about growing up.

     This award was created as part of an assignment in the Elementary Education block courses at Penn State University - Altoona Campus. Each student's task was to create an award for some unique aspect of children's literature and then create the criteria for the award. Our fellow students then nominated books for our award following the specific criteria. After looking closely at several nominations, we were to pick a winner and notify the author of our winning book.

     The Kira Elizabeth Award was to be presented to a book that provided guidance to a child going through the trials and tribulations of growing up. In today's society, children are "growing up" much faster than in the past. Because growing up is a part of life, I wanted the book to be one a child could turn to when they wanted to learn about or take shelter in knowing the social and emotional obstacles that come along with growing up. Nominations had to include appropriate facts, reassurances, or guidance on how to deal with the social, emotional, and/or personal changes children age's 5-9 experience growing up, such as how to make friends, getting along with classmates, understanding their feelings, etc.

     This award is in honor of a little girl named Kira Elizabeth Angello. She is three years old and, in my opinion, is growing up entirely too fast. I watch her from time to time and she loves books. Her mother always wants to make sure that she has high self-esteem and that she loves who she is. Therefore, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to 'shop around' for books that deal with that issue. In the world of supermodels and high fashion, I wanted to find a book that shwed a child that it is important to stay true to yourself while growing up. Your book shows different changes children go through, such as losing teeth, yet still proud to be who they are.

     Thank you for your wonderful book, and I hope many other children can use it to learn to stay true to you!

                                                                                     Sincerely

Brittney Ward