When the Jenkins Group of Traverse City began their Moonbeam Awards program in 2007, I was awarded the Bronze Moonbeam Award for Children’s Picture Book, ages 4 to 7, for my book Little Angel’s Journey.
The inaugural Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards drew 863 entries from authors and publishers in 45 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces, and seven overseas countries. The award ceremony was held at the John Crerar Library (Marshall Building) in Chicago, Illinois. This library was established in 1894 and merged with the University of Chicago in 1984. The Moonbeam Awards have since awarded and promoted hundreds of incredible children’s books.
In 2023, I entered my book, Dzvinya’s Gift for Mama — A Ukrainian Story. This book was awarded the Silver Children’s Holiday Award. The book is the story of a little girl wanting to gift her mother something very special for Easter. After unsuccessfully trying to catch a bird, bunny, and kitten, she sadly walks home when she spies a speckled hen sitting on her eggs in a cozy nest. Dzvinya remembers how her grandmother would decorate eggs for Easter into pysanky. She carefully carries an egg home and, with great care, creates a beautiful pysanka for her mother. She is pleasantly surprised that her mother also has a gift for her. On the way home from the blessing of the basket filled with food and eggs, Dzvinya promises her mother that she will decorate not one but two eggs for her mother next year.
Due to unforeseen events, the 2023 ceremony did not take place that year to honor the awarded books. Still, an invitation was extended to all the 2023 winners to join the 2024 awards ceremony in Traverse City.
It was my great pleasure to attend and finally meet Amy Shamroe, whom I have been emailing with. It was nice to put a face to the person. I was amazed to find out that Amy is also the mayor of Traverse City. One could not ask for a friendlier and more helpful person to handle such a huge responsibility.
A delicious spread was part of the celebration, with speeches made by the awarded authors. It was a delightful event with many hugs and laughs. New friends were made, and contact information was shared. Being in a room full of like-minded and talented authors and illustrators was heartwarming.
So now I am a two-time Moonbeam Award winner. I accept this honor with pride. It validates the long hours, days, and months of pouring one’s heart into a book that hopefully others will like.
I am so grateful to the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards organizers. As promised, I will shoot for a third Moonbeam Award with a little bit of help from health and wealth.
Thank you for reading my blog.
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