We are pleased to announce the winners of the Simone Wood Award for 2009. The Simone Wood Award was put together by as a memorial for Simone Wood by her family, and is the first memorial award to be put together and hosted on our website. We were very excited when Simone Wood's family came to us with their idea for a memorial award that celebrated the things in life that Simone Wood loved, dance and children. The entire award has been generously donated by the family members, and Sharing Books has been honoured to be a part of this family legacy.

All the books submitted for the Simone Wood Award were children's books themed and focused on dance, dance culture, and the freedom of expression that comes with dance. Only books focused on dance and published through Sharing Books from April 3rd, 2009 to May 31st, 2009 were originally targeted for acceptance, but due to some server issues we extended the acceptance window to June 5, 2009. Award winners are determined by the highest number of downloads during the month of June, 2009. We thank all the authors, illustrators, and book creators who submitted dance themed work to the site.

Here, without further adieu, are the winners of the Simone Wood Award:

1. 1st Place: Zoo Dance, authored by JR Poulter and illustrated by Jade Potts.
2. 2nd Place: My Pretty Pointe Shoes, authored by Timothy Schenk and illustrated by Timothy Schenk.
3. 3rd Place: Whop Bop Menagiere, authored by JR Poulter and illustrated by Joy Steuerwald.

Congratulations to our award winners!

The first place award is $300, second place will recieve $200, and third place will recieve $100, to be split evenly between the authors and illustrators.

Labels: awards, contest, dance, Simone Wood

Now that the final entries for the Simone Wood Children's eBook Contest have been received, we are pleased to announce that there are five works for our readers to choose from:

• Whop Bop Menagerie is a series of three short stories, inviting readers to join in the rhythm of JR Poulter's rhyme as they whop-bop-about.
• August RoDent is another rhyming story about a sculptor of abundant talent, who finds love in the arms of a witty and dancing fan.
• Timothy Schenk creates a story about the magic each aspiring ballerina experiences when they see their first pair of satin covered pointe shoes in My Pretty Pointe Shoes.
• No Matter is a delightful poem that depicts the magic of a free spirit as it bursts through civilized conventions.
• Zoo Dance offers young readers an insider's look at the funky and fresh moves of the animal kingdom.

Each story adds depth to Sharing Books and we look forward to awarding three prizes to those with the most downloads. Be sure to log on and vote for your favourites!

Just a word of caution: don't be surprised if you find you and your young readers grooving and bopping, or as Simone Wood used to say, jiggering and pokering, on your front yard, in the kitchen or in the water. Indeed, wherever the moment strikes. Check out what these dancers did at the Antwerp Belgium train station. After all, dance is one of the most moving experiences you will ever have!

Labels: children's books, dance, ebooks, Simone Wood