Nominations are now open for the WNBA Pannell Award, which is co-sponsored by the Women's National Book Association and Penguin Young Readers Group. The award "recognizes bookstores that enhance their communities by bringing exceptional creativity to foster a love of reading and books in children and young adults." One Pannell Award is given to a general bookstore and one to a children's specialty bookstore.
Nominations can be made by customers, sales reps, bookstore personnel or anyone else either by completing the online nomination form or by sending an e-mail to WNBAPannell@gmail.com. Nominations need to include the name, e-mail address and phone number of the person making the nomination; that person's connection to the nominated store (such as customer, owner, employee, publisher); bookstore name, address and contact information for the bookstore owner/manager; and a brief statement outlining the reasons for nominating the store.
Nominations must be made by February 3, after which the WNBA Pannell Award chair will reach out to all nominated bookstores to request a formal electronic submission. Once the jurors have reviewed all submissions, the winning bookstores will be notified by phone; all submitting bookstores will also receive a call.
Each of the two winners receives a $1,000 check and a framed, signed original piece of art by a children's book illustrator during a presentation at BookExpo's Children's Book and Author Breakfast this May in New York City.