Twenty-eight general bookstores and 11 children’s specialty bookstores have been nominated for the Women’s National Book Association’s 2019 WNBA Pannell Awards, which honor bookstores that enhance their communities by using exceptional creativity to foster a love of reading among their young patrons. Rediscovered Books of Boise, ID and Third Place Books of Lake Forest Park, WA are among the nominees. The two Pacific Northwest nominees are both general bookstores.
Each year since 1983, the WNBA, which celebrates its centennial anniversary this year, has bestowed the award for children’s bookselling upon one general bookstore and one children’s specialty bookstore. Nominations are submitted by customers, sales reps, store personnel, or anyone who has been impressed with the work of a particular independent bookstore.
The last Pacific Northwest bookstore to win a Pannell Award was Queen Anne Books of Seattle, WA in 2011.
The two winning stores to be selected by a panel of publishing professionals will each receive a $1,000 check and a framed, signed original piece of art by a children’s illustrator. The awards will be presented on Friday, May 31, at the Children’s Book & Author Breakfast at BookExpo at the Javits Convention Center in New York City. The Pannell Award winners will also be honored during WNBA’s centennial festivities in October.
The WNBA Pannell Award is co-sponsored by Penguin Young Readers Group.