Shoreline Arts Alliance Announces the 2026 Honorees of the Tassy Walden Awards for New Voices in Children’s Literature

Shoreline Arts Alliance is excited to announce the finalists and honorees of the 26^th 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 This program is one of a kind in the state of Connecticut, rewarding unpublished Connecticut based writers and illustrators for their hard work and dedication to their craft.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 2026.

Picture Book Text

Winner:  Jenny O’Leary, Chester – Be Glad You’re Not a Crocodile 

Honorable Mention:  Angela Antonelli, Canton – Pinocch-i/o:  Betty’s BFF

Finalists:  

Angela Antonelli, Canton – Operation Freeze

Susan Hackett, Old Saybrook – Clickety-Clack, Ding-Ding, Psssh

Nancy Kirwan-Hayden, Weston – Rufus Bumble Does Not Want a Haircut

Illustrated Picture Book Writer-Illustrator

Winner: Julie Ryan, Durham – Tika Finds Her Tune

Finalists:

Nicole Z. Flagge, Deep River – The Lonely Lilypad

Ruth Williams, Norwalk – A Little Blob of Molecules and Goo

Middle Grade Novel

Winner:  Rachel-Eve Galligan, Canton – Where’s Noonie

Finalists:  

John Hastings, Durham – Extraterrestrials on Vacation

Matt Talmadge, Madison – The Current Within

Nancy Kirwan-Hayden, Weston – Ozzy Good and Bad

Young Adult Novel

Winner:  Debbie McGinley, Westport – Surge

Honorable Mention:  Cliff Morton, Durham – Call Me Malik

Finalists:  

Manya Newton, Woodbridge – Some Visible Damage

Cliff Morton, Durham – Identified

Illustrator Portfolio

Winner: 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 Tuesday, June 9 at 6 PM. The event, which is generously sponsored by Branford Community Foundation and Ascend Bank, is free and open to the public.