Established in 1963, the Free Library of Philadelphia/Drexel University Children’s Literature Citation is awarded to authors, illustrators, publishers and others who have made outstanding contributions to the field of children’s literature. The recipient must hail from Philadelphia or have contributed significantly to literature for children in the Philadelphia area. Past recipients include:
- Authors: David Wiesner, Muriel Feelings, Jan, Stan & Michael Berenstain and Jerry Spinelli
- Illustrators: E.B. Lewis, Tana Hoban, Maurice Sendak and Jerry Pinkney
- Librarians: Carolyn Wicker Field, Helen Mae Mullen and Hedra Packman
- And publishers and editors: J.B. Lippincott Co. and Susan Hirschman.
The College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) is delighted to co-sponsor this citation with the Free Library of Philadelphia. CCI is deeply committed to collaborating with practicing librarians to promote children’s literature in the Greater Philadelphia region. The College recognizes that children’s authors, illustrators and librarians play an equal role in opening children’s eyes to the world of books and reading and are delighted to honor the contribution they make to our children.
This year’s winner is
Matt Phelan, an illustrator of many books for young readers, including
Flora’s Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall,
Always by Ann Stott,
Xander’s Panda Party by Linda Sue Park and
The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal. He is the author/illustrator of the graphic novel
The Storm in the Barn, which won the 2010 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. His second graphic novel
Around the World received the 2012 Carolyn W. Field Award from the Pennsylvania Library Association and two Eisner Award nominations. His latest graphic novel,
Bluffton, is about summertime, vaudeville and the young Buster Keaton. It has been nominated for three Eisner Awards including Best Graphic Album. His first picture book,
Druthers, arrives in September 2014. Matt lives in Ardmore, Pa.