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Branford's Lasala to Judge National Principals' Award for Children's Literature

The committee comprises elementary school principals, educators and authors from across the country — including Eunice Lasala of Branford.

Panel  to help select outstanding books for elementary-age readers by independent authors

 The Children’s Literature Independently Published Principals’ Award, CLIPPA, has announced the judging committee for the 2014 prizes for independently published children’s books. The committee comprises elementary school principals, educators and authors from across the U.S., including Eunice Lasala of Branford, CT.

 “We are thrilled to have a panel of high-caliber judges like Eunice assessing the entries for the first-ever CLIPPA awards,” said Lisa Hayes, of Kabuki Helps, sponsor of the awards. “This roster of leading educators from across the U.S. will ensure we honor authors who are meeting the highest standards of originality, learning quality and language in their children’s literature.”

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Awards will be presented in two categories: children’s books for Grades K-2 and children’s books for Grades 3-4.  Entries will be accepted through July 31, 2014. For more information, official rules and an entry form, visit http://www.clippaward.com.

Eunice Lasala is a children’s reading advocate and volunteer literacy tutor in the greater New Haven CT area who believes that “reading to children is the best thing a parent can do.” Prior to retiring from her formal teaching career, Lasala taught elementary grades 1-3 in Virginia and Connecticut. She also is President of the Branford CT Community Foundation.

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The other judges are Ann Beccia, director of the Madison (CT) School for Young Children;

Susan Dillard Espiritu, principal of Pond Gap Elementary School in Knoxville, TN; Mary Beth Gaertner,  principal of Salem Lutheran School in Tomball, TX; Jessica Johnson, elementary school principal, Dodgeland, WI; Gail Kinsey, principal of Fairfax Villa (VA) Elementary School; Jon Konen, principal of Lincoln Elementary School, Great Falls, MT; Jean Marzollo, educator and author of the award-winning I SPY  children’s series( NY); and Alternate: Beth Kolehmainen, early childhood educator and children’s author, Grantham, NH.

About the CLIPPA

The Children’s Literature Independently Published Principals’ Award (CLIPPA) awards were created to recognize and encourage independent authors who self-publish outstanding children’s books that offer fun, learning and creativity. To be eligible, books must be self-published by the author between 2011 and 2014, in English, printed in hard copy and available for purchase in the U.S. Two awards will be presented: one each for children’s books for Grades K-2 and children’s books for Grades 3-4. Award winners will receive a cash prize of $250, a consultation session on promoting self-published books with brand-builder Mike Michalowicz, author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur (valued at $450) and other prizes.  For more information, official rules and an entry form, visit http://www.clippaward.com

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