Katherine Imler 1399 Lafayette Road New Enterprise, PA 16664 March 7, 2008 Robert Munsch 15 Sharon Place Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 7V2 Dear Mr. Munsch, I am pleased to announce that you have won the Susan B. Anthony Award for Celebrating Strong Female Characters for your book Stephanie's Ponytail. The award was created for a class project in my children's literature class. I am a junior at Penn State Altoona who is majoring in elementary and kindergarten education. I am in my language and literacy education block. Every student in my class created an award that dealt with an aspect of children's literature. Each student nominated books for the other students' awards. Each award had specific criteria that the nominated book had to meet. My award was to be given to a picture book that featured strong and empowered female characters. Many children's books show girls who are passive and dependent. Also, children's books usually show males as the problem solvers. This is disturbing considering the day and age we live in. Shirley B. Ernst author of the article "Gender Issues in Books for Children and Young Adults" said, "I would like to see more books with strong female characters who are active, inventive, and in charge of their own destinies." Nominations for this award had to show independent and non-stereotypical female characters. The book also had to be a picture book for children in kindergarten through second grade. I chose Stephanie's Ponytail for my award because the book features a strong female character that stands up to group conformity. She does not want to look like everyone else, but instead be her own individual person. Your book teaches children the importance of liking who they are. Another reason I picked your book is that its message is universal. The theme could be the same regardless of what time period or location the book was written about. Many children can relate to this book. Chi

This book is filled with contrasts of a new and old fairy tale. The book shows two girls who live next door to each other. One is Cinderella and the other is Cinder Edna. They both have a mean stepmother and stepsisters. But, Edna deals with her problems in stride. When the king has a ball, Cinderella wishes for a fairy godmother to help her get ready for the ball. But, Cinder Ella puts a dress on layaway. Cinderella takes a carriage to the ball, but Cinder Edna takes the bus. Randolph, the king's son, dances with Cinderella. Cinder Edna dances with Randolph's brother Rupert. Rupert runs a recycling plant and a home for orphaned kittens. When the clock strikes midnight, both Cinderella and Cinder Edna have to go home. Randolph did not even know Cinderella's name, but Rupert did know Cinder Edna's name. Cinderella left a glass slipper, but Cinder Edna left a loafer. The brothers find Cinderella and Cinder Edna. When they get married in a double ceremony, they change their names to Ella and Edna. Ella seems to have the perfect life, but she is bored by the ceremonies, speeches, and her perfect husband. Rupert and Edna are the ones who live happily ever after. They live in a cottage and enjoy each other's company. This book shows the superficiality of some fairy tales. The book also shows the importance of making the best of your circumstances in life. The book shows children that a happy couple does not need to be perfect. This would be an excellent book to start a discussion about concentrating on your personality and inner qualities and less on your superficial traits.

This award will be given to a picture book that features a strong and empowered female character. Many children's books show girls who are passive and dependent. Also, children's books usually show males as the problem solvers. This is disturbing considering the day and age we live in. Shirley B. Ernst author of the article "Gender Issues in Books for Children and Young Adults" said, " I would like, however, to see more books with strong female characters who are active, inventive, and in charge of their own destinies." This quotation is found on page 75 in the book Battling Dragons, which is edited by Susan Lehr. Nominations for this award must show independent and non-stereotypical female characters. The picture books will be for children in kindergarten through second grade. Nominations are due by February 19, 2007.