The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators announced winners of the 2019 Crystal Kite Awards, which are peer-selected and voted on by SCBWI members from local regions. The prize recognizes excellence in the field of children's literature in 15 U.S. and international regions. This year's Crystal Kite regional division winners are:
Atlantic: Hawk Rising by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Brian Floca
Australia/N.Z.: At the End of Holyrood Lane by Dimity Powell, illustrated by Nicky Johnston
California/Hawaii: She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton
Canada: The Outlaw by Nancy Vo
Internationals (Other): The Night Lion by Sanne Dufft
Mid-South: A Hippy-Hoppy Toad by Peggy Archer
Middle East/India/Asia: The Clever Tailor by Srividhya Venkat; and All Eyes on Alexandra by Anna Levine
Midwest: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
New England: The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
New York: Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Southeast: Evangeline of the Bayou by Jan Eldredge
Southwest: The 11:11 Wish by Kim Tomsic
Texas/Oklahoma: The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast by Samantha Clark
U.K./Ireland: Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen
Western: Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Corinna Luyken
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Cathal Kelly won the C$15,000 (about US$11,285) Stephen Leacock Medal for Humor, which honors "the best Canadian book of literary humor published in the previous year," for Boy Wonders. The other finalists, who each received C$3,000 (about US$2,257), were Ali Bryan for The Figgs and Mark Critch for Son of a Critch.
"I honestly thought I had no chance, because I didn't think I was good enough," Kelly said. "I just think it's madness. I'm not sure how this happened, but it's lovely.... The best part about his experience has been meeting Ali and Mark."