The Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Committee has released its list of nominees for the 2021 Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award.
The nominees are:
- “The Box Turtle” by Vanessa Roeder
- “Brown Baby Lullaby” by Tameka Fryer Brown
- “How Do You Dance?” by Thyra Heder
- “Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse” by Jane Godwin
- “Who Has Wiggle Waggle Toes?” by Vicky Shiefman.
In its seventh year, the literacy award recognizes picture books that serve an important role in the first years of a child’s life and encourages parents, caregivers and very young children to interact together with exceptional picture books.
Voting is limited to children who live in Indiana and who are under age 6 as of July 31. It is expected that most Indiana children will require help from a parent, caregiver or librarian. Children should circle their favorite Firefly nominee on their ballot and turn it in to their local voting location. This year, every public library system in Indiana will receive 15 print copies of the ballot and six sheets of Firefly stickers for marking nominees and winning titles.
Packets of printed materials should arrive by late February or early March. Tallies will be accepted through July 31 and the award winner will be announced on Aug. 9. Voting locations should tally the votes and send them in an email to the Indiana Center for the Book.
The Indiana Center for the Book will be releasing a program guide by March 1. The calendar year for the Firefly Award changed last year as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis. The award nomination period now runs through the summer, allowing librarians to do Firefly programs throughout the run of their summer reading programs.
Click here for a PDF version of the ballot. Click here to learn more about the award.
The committee would like to thank TeachingBooks who supported printing and who put together additional Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award book information.
Please contact Suzanne Walker, director of the Indiana Center for the Book, with any questions.
