The book received an Honorable Mention in the Picture Books, Early Reader category
MINNEAPOLIS, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Free Spirit Publishing, the leading book publisher of learning tools that support children's social, emotional and academic needs, is pleased to announce Jayden's Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal and illustrated by Ken Daley has received an Honorable Mention for Picture Books, Early Reader in the 24th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.
Foreword Reviews, a book review journal focusing on independently published books, announced the winners of its INDIES Book of the Year Awards today. The INDIES recognize the best books published in 2021 from small, indie and university presses, as well as self-published authors. You can view the winners of the Picture Books, Early Reader, category here: https://go.freespirit.com/indies-picture-books
"This annual exercise in Indie excellence continues to surprise us both qualitatively and quantitatively—which makes the judging process for our editors that much more difficult because there's so many books deserving recognition," says Matt Sutherland, Foreword's Executive Editor. "You can be certain that this year's lineup of medal winners will thrill all readers."
"The resilience and adaptability of independent publishing continue to inspire us in our mission here at Foreword," says Danielle Ballantyne, Managing Editor of Foreword Reviews. "We are so grateful to the librarians and booksellers who volunteer their time to judge the INDIES entries so that we can give this special recognition to the independent authors and publishers going above and beyond."
"We're honored to have Jayden's Impossible Garden recognized as a Foreword INDIES award winner," says Kyra Ostendorf, Publisher of Free Spirit Publishing. "Author Mélina Mangal won our inaugural Black Voices in Children's Literature Writing Contest in 2019 with this story, and Ken Daley added to the story with his beautiful illustrations. We're grateful for the continued recognition the book is receiving, and we can't wait to see what Jayden does in his next story."
For this year's competition, over 2,700 entries were submitted in 55 categories, with Foreword's editors choosing the finalists. Those titles were then mailed to individual librarians and booksellers charged with picking the Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention winners.
About Foreword Magazine. Since 1998, Foreword Reviews has provided trade book reviews of the best titles from independent presses. In print, and online, its FOLIO award-winning design and editorial content makes the magazine a favorite among librarians, booksellers, and readers—an excellent resource when it comes to purchasing books. Foreword INDIES and the fee-for-review Clarion service complement our online content and print magazine, helping to showcase independent presses and their authors for over 24 years.
About Free Spirit Publishing. An imprint of Teacher Created Materials, Free Spirit is the leading publisher of learning tools that support young people's social, emotional, and educational needs. Free Spirit's mission is to help children and teens think for themselves, overcome challenges, and make a difference in the world.
About Jayden's Impossible Garden. Timeless and vibrant, this story highlights the beauty of intergenerational relationships and the power of imagination and perseverance in bringing the vision of a community garden to life. Jayden's love of nature will inspire readers to see their environment and surroundings as bursting with opportunities for growth and connection. At the back of the book, readers will find activities to make items found in the book, such as the milk jug bird feeder.
Learn more about Jayden's Impossible Garden and purchase copies here: https://go.freespirit.com/impossible-garden
Media Contact
Amanda Shofner, Free Spirit Publishing, 1 6127466848, [email protected]
SOURCE Free Spirit Publishing
Share this article