October 29, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University Libraries has selected the children’s picture book “The Dragonfly Door,” written by John Adams and illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson, as the winner of the second Evelyn Thurman Young Readers Book Award.
The national award was created to honor the memory of former WKU librarian Evelyn Thurman, who made significant contributions to children’s librarianship and literacy during her 25 years of service to the university and community.
Books eligible for the award must be written or illustrated by a Kentucky related author or illustrator or have a significant Kentucky related theme. Author John Adams grew up on a farm in Hopkinsville.
Adam’s debut picture book “The Dragonfly Door” follows two insect water nymphs, Lea and Nym, and the struggles Nym endures when her friend disappears. The book is a tender story about loss and change and uses the life cycle of a dragonfly to address the sensitive and difficult topic of death to young children. Barbara L. Gibson uses warm, emotional colors to illustrate the story, which concludes with an educational section on the real life cycle of nymphs and dragonflies.
The author and illustrator have been invited to attend an awards luncheon in their honor at the Kentucky Library & Museum on Nov. 21. Each will receive a $500 award and commemorative plaque. Gibson is unable to attend, but Adams, who lives in Minnesota, will be at the ceremony and will visit several area schools during his trip to Bowling Green.
Adams’ visit will serve as a finale for the Southern Kentucky Book Fest partners’ weeklong Fall into Books program, which brings noted authors to area schools and also provides free books by the visiting authors to children.
For information visit www.wku.edu/library/thurman/ or call (270) 745-6977.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Jennifer Wilson at (270) 745-6977.
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