Established in 2005, the Little d Award honors the author of the previous year’s most humorous children’s book as selected by the committee. This event, as well as funds raised through the event, is used to expand children’s literacy programs in our area and the Denise McCoy Scholarship Fund.

The award was established to honor the beloved local independent bookstore owner Denise (denise) McCoy who preferred to spell her name with a little “d” hence the award title. Denise was a strong advocate for children’s literacy and more than one third of her shop was allocated to children’s books. Denise was also involved in the literary portion of the 15-LOVE Program, the Book Power Club and is fondly remembered for her inspired readings to the children, particularly humorous books, which she adored, having an incredible sense of humor herself. Denise passed away suddenly in 2003. The Little d Award commemorates denise’s legacy for improving children’s literacy along with her fine humor.

The Little d Award ceremony coincides with National Children’s Book Week. Events include readings of the award-winning book at local schools, book signings at local independent bookstores, and the kickoff of the "Kids Read of the Little d Award Winning Book”.

Little d Mission

Our mission is to promote and improve children’s literacy and the love of reading, particularly in the inner city by engaging in the following activities:

1. Honoring an author of a humorous children’s book with the Little d Award in denise’s memory.

2. Sponsoring reading activities in partnership with 15- LOVE, schools, libraries, and bookstores.

3. Establish the “Kids Read of the Little d Award Winning Book”.

4. Contribute to the Denise McCoy Scholarship as well as other literacy programs.

Kids Read of the Little d Award Winning Book

This event is designed to broaden and deepen an appreciation of reading in grades 3-6 by engaging students in a shared reading experience with other students throughout the city. More events such as writing and poster exercises will be planned in the coming year to expand this program. Further activities will be planned based on the nature of the book chosen to make the event an interesting adventure for the kids.

Past Recipients of the Little d Award

		Jarrett J. Krosoczka
		Jarrett J. Krosoczka used to be a goofy kid that liked to draw. Now, he is an award winning published author/illustrator with many books to his credit. Growing up in Worcester, MA Jarrett drew relentlessly and always had a cast of characters that he wrote stories for. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Jarrett has been chosen by Print as one of their 20 top new visual artists under 30 and has had his work short listed by Newsweek, USA Today, The Boston Globe and The New York Times, among others. Jarrett's Lunch Lady series is currently in development as a feature film. Jarrett currently resides in Northampton, MA with his wife and daughter and their pug.
		Lois Lowry
		Lois Lowry is known for her versatility and invention as a writer. She was born in Hawaii and grew up in New York, Pennsylvania, and Japan. After several years at Brown University, she turned to her family and to writing. She is the author of more than thirty books for young adults, including the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader's Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, NUMBER THE STARS and THE GIVER. Her first novel, A SUMMER TO DIE, was awarded the International Reading Association's Children's Book Award. Ms. Lowry now divides her time between Cambridge and an 1840s farmhouse in Maine. To learn more about Lois Lowry, see her website at www.loislowry.com.
		Jeff Kinney
		Jeff Kinney tried his hand at being a cartoonist and writing a comic strip before becoming the author of a successful children's series. Born in Maryland Jeff attended the University of Maryland and after college began writing down ideas that would eventually lead to his book series. The first book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was released in 2007 and became a New York Times #1 bestseller and the winner of the 2008 Little d Award. In addition to being a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jeff also created Poptropica.com and works full time as the design director of an internet publishing company. Jeff lives in southern Massachusetts with his wife and two sons.
		Sara Pennypacker
		Sara Pennypacker was a painter before becoming a writer and many are grateful for that change in careers as Sara has created a new series with Clementine, one of the most amusing and original characters you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. The illustrations by Marla Frazee are an added bonus. Sara has two wonderful grown children and hales from Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
		Christopher Paul Curtis
		Christopher Paul Curtis won both a Newbery Honor and a Coretta Scott King Honor for his debut novel, The Watson’s Go to Birmingham. His novel Bud, Not Buddy won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Medal. Mr. Curtis grew up in Flint Michigan and worked on the assembly line at Fischer Body Flint Plant No. 1 while attending the Flint branch of the University of Michigan where he began writing both essays and fiction. Now a full-time writer, Mr. Curtis lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with his wife Kay and their two children.
		Bruce Hale
		Bruce Hale, author of the wildly popular Chet Geco Mysteries, has written and illustrated nearly 20 books for kids. Bruce also has appeared on television and loves to perform, as he is a gifted storyteller. A Fulbright Fellow, Mr. Hale lives in Santa Barbara California, with his wife, Janette.
Mr. Hale, Mr. Curtis, Ms. Pennypacker, Mr. Kinney, Ms. Lowry, and Mr. Krosoczka met and spoke with third grade classes from several Albany schools. All were inspirational in their individual readings and in the way they related with the children. Humor, creativity, knowledge, and respect were conveyed to the kids in a manner that will always be remembered. The goal to spread love of literature and reading will be enhanced with the addition of the Kids Read of the Little d Book Event.

Nomination/Selection Process

Mary Fellows, Manager of Youth and Family Services and Producer of Riverway Festival, heads up the nomination committee. Mary hails from the Upper Hudson Library System. The nomination committee consists of the Youth Services advisory Council of the Upper Hudson Library System. This group of librarians serving children, teens, and families in the public libraries of Albany and Rennselaer Counties use their extensive knowledge of children’s books to develop a short list of kids’ favorite books.

The members of the Little d committee then read the nominated books and a winner is chosen by consensus. This year there will also be a weighted vote from a panel of children from the program Creative Minds in Action program at North Albany Academy.

Denise McCoy "Little d" Memorial Scholarship

In 2004, the Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation (CRYTF), which operates the 15-LOVE Program, in cooperation with Kevin McCoy, Denise McCoy's husband, established a scholarship fund in her memory. 15-LOVE and Denise share a passion for education and the belief that anyone with the desire to attend an institution of higher education should be able to find resources available to help make that happen.

Each year, CRYTF seeks to award scholarships to deserving students who have participated in the 15-LOVE program at any point during their lives. The scholarship is generally given for four years, and typical awards are $1,000 per academic year (for a total of $4,000). Scholarship recipients are expected to maintain contact with 15-LOVE annually to report on their progress while in school, through a January progress report.

Students interested in applying for the 2012 scholarship should check back in December for application forms.