Shoreline Arts Alliance Announces the 2025 Honorees of the Tassy Walden Awards for New Voices in Children’s Literature

Connecticut – Shoreline Arts Alliance is excited to announce the finalists and honorees of the 25th 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 This program is one of a kind in the state of Connecticut, rewarding unpublished Connecticut based writers and illustrators for their hard work and dedication to their craft.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 honorees and finalists for 2025.

Picture Book Text

Winner:  Christine Palm, Chester – Five Senses of You 

Honorable Mention:  Ken Lazor, Madison – A is for Airplane

Finalists:  

Miriam Giskin, North Haven – Little Red Hen Says a Prayer

Susan Hackett, Old Saybrook – Cawcawphony

Bethany Jensen, Ledyard – Ballerhino

Katherine Wilkes, Madison - Weevil Ant Oak

Illustrated Picture Book Writer-Illustrator

Winner: Marcela Staudenmaier, New Haven – Sisters

Finalists:

Pamela Hanks, Portland – Just Like Dad

Katherine Williams, Guilford – The Wonderful Adventures of Miss Emmaline Pettigrew 

Middle Grade Novel

Winner:  Kristina Giliberto, Glastonbury – Hold Your Horses

Honorable Mention:  Corlis C. Fraga, Woodstock – The Chronicles of Noe

Finalist:  

Helene Grossman Weitz, West Hartford – Family Math

Young Adult Novel

Winner:  Jacqueline Licare, Quaker Hill – The Stardust Left Behind

Honorable Mention:  Elizabeth Donnelly, Bridgeport – Platform

Finalist:  

Karen Lindeborg, Pawcatuck – The Forevermore Games:  Royal Destiny

Illustrator Portfolio

Winner:  Marcus Fort, Branford

Honorable Mention: Ruth Williams, Norwalk

Finalist:

Julie Ryan, Durham

This year’s honorees will be celebrated at an Awards Reception at the James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street in Branford on Thursday, June 5 at 6 PM. The event, which is generously sponsored by Branford Community Foundation and Guilford Savings Bank, is free and open to the public.