The FOCAL Award was instituted by Janet McOuat, a founding member of the Friends of Children and Literature. The award, which is presented annually to children's books with California content, was first given to Leo Politi whose charming illustration of reading children has become the FOCAL logo.

Annotated FOCAL Award List on LAPL's KidsPath.

Each year a group of teachers, librarians, writers and others interested in children's literature meets to determine the new FOCAL winner. Winners are presented with their award -- a unique puppet representing a character from their award-winning book which has been created for them by artist Carol Onofrio.

Also present at the awards luncheon are children who have won the FOCAL essay contest.  (See below for links to the contest rules and application.)

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The 2011 FOCAL Award winner is...

Me, Frida

written by Amy Novesky
and illustrated by David Diaz, LAPL Call #x x 92 K12No

You can find it in the Children's Department of your local library.

To view the LAPL catalog page, click here.

Thank you to our hard-working award committee.

 

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FOCAL Award Committee 2011

Carol Raby, Chair

Carol Raby has worked in the library at Paseo Del Rey Elementary School in LAUSD for the last 12 years. She is a graduate of UCLA. For the past two years Paseo's Library has been the LAUSD Model Library. Carol is passionate about bringing authors, students and teachers together using the library as the setting. She is honored to participate in the FOCAL awards committee to recognize excellence in children's literature with a California focus.

Lesley Alexander-Roxas

Lesley Alexander-Roxas has been the Day School Librarian at Adat Ari El in Valley Village for the past 11 years.  She also has been working part time at the Beverly Hills Public Library as a children's librarian and as a reference librarian for the past 20 years.  She is thrilled to have been asked to be on the FOCALcommittee and is excited about reading some wonderful books with an emphasis on California.

Caroline Arnold

I have been writing since 1980 and am the author of more than 100 books for children.  I loved reading as a child, and began to write when my own children were young.  I mostly write nonfiction, but enjoy writing fiction as well. Recent titles include A Polar Bear’s World, illustrated with my own cut paper art, and Wiggle and Waggle, five stories about two hardworking worms.  I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, studied art and literature at Grinnell College in Iowa, and received my M.A. in art from the University of Iowa.  I teach part-time in the Writer’s Program at UCLA Extension.  I am honored to be part of the FOCAL awards committee.

Joanna Fabicon

Joanna Fabicon has been with Los Angeles Public Library since 2005.  She is currently a Children's Librarian at Central Library's Children's Literature Department.

Hilary George

Hilary George began her career in children's literature as a bookseller at Children's Book World before earning her MLIS from UCLA in 2007.  She quickly gallivanted to Europe for a short stint at the American Library in Paris.  For the past three years, she's worked as a children's librarian in the Hollywood area and for the Santa Monica Public Library.

Marlin More

Born in Hollywood and a product of LAUSD schools, I have always chosen reading as one of my favorite ways to spend time.  I graduated from the University of Oregon School of Librarianship and before returning to LA in 1986, worked in elementary, middle and high school libraries in Washington and Indiana.  Since returning I have worked for LAUSD at both the middle and high school level as well as being a member of the LAUSD Library Services staff for 11 years. I am currently the teacher librarian at Dana Middle School where I tell everyone about the annual FOCAL AWARD  and how proud I am to be a new member of this special committee.

Nancy Reich

A Los Angeles native and product of LAUSD schools, I have been a life-long reader of children's and young adult literature. After earning my MLIS from the University of Washington, I returned to the Los Angeles area where I served as a middle school librarian for 10 years and as a member of the LAUSD Library Services staff for the past 20 years where I am currently Specialist. I am honored to once again be a member of the FOCAL Awards Committee where I look forward to participating in lively discussions about the titles under consideration.

Non-voting Participants:

Teri Markson, Past Chair

Teri Markson has been working with children in libraries for over 18 years.   As a public librarian she has read to countless numbers of kids and developed dozens of programs connecting children with books including storytimes, craft & storytimes, book clubs and creative dramatics. While working as a school librarian Teri especially enjoyed talking to children about what they were reading and recommending new wonderful titles.   Teri has been a book reviewer for School Library Journal for many years, and is still delighted when a children's book makes her laugh, or cry, or both.   She is currently working as the Children's Librarian at the Fairfax Branch of LAPL.

Caroline Gill, President FOCAL Board

Caroline is a middle school teacher librarian in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  She was the FOCAL Board Treasurer for many years before becoming Board President.