Shoreline Arts Alliance Announces the 2024 Winners of the Tassy Walden Awards for New Voices in Children’s Literature

Connecticut – Shoreline Arts Alliance is happy to announce the finalists and award winners for the 24th Annual Tassy Walden Awards for New Voices in Children’s Literature. This program is one of a kind in the state of Connecticut, rewarding unpublished Connecticut based writers and illustrators for their hard work and dedication to their craft. Our professional judges have selected the following winners, honorees and finalists for 2024.

Picture Book Text

Winner:  Chaunell Feliciano, Wilton – All In A Name Honorable Mention:  Katherine Wilkes, Madison – You Are A Star

Finalists:  

Lisa Brown, East Haven – The Messy Hair Fairy

Victoria A. Reed, Southington – Popcorn Friday

Ruth Williams, Norwalk – Cell (The Origin of You)

Illustrated Picture Book Writer-Illustrator

Finalist: 

Cathy Grinfield, Colchester – Alphabetically

Middle Grade Novel

Winner:  John Parent, Clinton – Annabelle Blue

Honorable Mention:  John Alvaro, Hamden – The End of the StoryFinalists:  

Jacquelyn Licare, Quaker Hill – Reed and the Giant Crystal

George Shapiro-Weiss, Killingworth – Bobo and Podgie Know Everything There Is To Know

Young Adult Novel

Winner:  Patricia M. Carey, East Lyme – The Swan Maiden

Finalist:  

Lori Kase, Simsbury – The Accident

Illustrator Portfolio

Honorable Mention:  Moira Ratchford, Norwalk

This year’s honorees will be celebrated at an Awards Reception at the James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street in Branford on Wednesday, May 29 at 6 PM. The event, which is generously sponsored by Branford Community Foundation and Guilford Savings Bank, is free and open to the public.