The EEBMA Announces Winner Of The 35th Annual Jeremiah Ludington Memorial Award

The Educational Book and Media Association (EBMA) today announced that Brian Selznick is the recipient of the 2013 Jeremiah Ludington Award. The award, named after EBMA's founder, is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the educational book business. Recent past winners include Russell Friedman, Jon Scieszka, Kevin Henkes, Sharon Draper, and Mary Pope Osborne.

Mr. Selznick is an award winning illustrator and author whose most notable works include The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2008 Caldecott Medal), Wonderstruck (2012 Schneider Family book Award), and The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins (2002 Caldecott Honor). He will accept the award at EBMA's annual conference in San Diego, CA in January.

"The EBMA board and membership are thrilled to present this year's Ludington Award to Brian Selznick," said Gene Bahlman, EBMA President and Vice President of Follett School Solutions. "His contributions to children's literature are as unique and impactful as his illustrations." As part of the award, EBMA will present a $2,500 check to the charity of Mr. Selznick's choice.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Brian Selznick cannot remember a time when he was not drawing and making things. His mural of a dinosaur on his fifth grade classroom wall was a big hit, and he had a one-man show in junior high school.

He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with the intention of becoming a set designer for the theater, but a job designing window displays at Eeyore's Children's Bookstore in New York City changed his mind. Working at the store became a crash course in children's literature, and his first book was published while he worked there.

Soon he left to pursue a full-time career in children's book illustration. His first book, The Houdini Box, was inspired by a fascination with the famous magician and his secrets. He has illustrated both novels and picture books for other writers, including the Sibert Honor books, When Marian Sang by Pam Muoz Ryan and Walt Whitman: Words for America by Barbara Kerley.

EBMA is an association of over 30 wholesalers and 70 publishers who are reputable and authoritative suppliers of educational paperbacks, pre-bound books, and other materials to the school and library market. For more information about EBMA and the Ludington Award, visit www.edupaperback.org.

SOURCE Educational Book and Media Association (EBMA)

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