We were delighted when School Library Journal proposed to co-sponsor a TOON BOOKS SWEEPSTAKES.
The entry form for the Sweepstakes ran from April 22, 2010 to June 22, 2010 and was open to both academic and public librarians, as well as teachers from all across the country.
We were even more thrilled when we learned of the overwhelming response: Over 2,300 teachers and librarians entered, all eager for a chance to win a visit by Geisel Award winning author Geoffrey Hayes, along with original artwork, or a FREE COLLECTION of all our prize-winning books.
And now that we’ve notified the winners, we’re pleased to pieces at seeing their explosion of joy:
The Grand Prize winner is Ann Niederkorn from Graham & Parks Alternative Public School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. When notified of her luck, she exclaimed, “HOLY MACKEREL, BATMAN!!! I am so stoked, I can’t even tell you! This is fabulous news!!! My little guys really love the TOON comics, and I’m sure they’ll be psyched to meet a real, live TOON author/artist.” We love the enthusiasm Ann, and Geoffrey can’t wait to meet the young readers in your school one-on-one.
Elizabeth Hester, Irondale Middle School, Birmingham AL
Kimberly McCloud, LRSD-Williams Magnet School, Little Rock AR
Mim Gottschalk, Rancho Mirage Public Library, Rancho Mirage CA
Joanna Ward, Temple City Library, Temple City CA
John Thomas, Spanish Peaks Library District, Walsenburg CO
Marcia Berbeza, Pulaski Elementary School, Wilmington DE
Casey LaPlante, East Windsor Middle School, Broad Brook CT
Roseanne Russo, Marion County Public Library System, Ocala FL
Margaret Troxler, The Epstein School Goldstein Media Center, Atlanta GA
Nicole Annis, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua , IA
Karen Burke, Naperville Public Library, Naperville IL
Katharine Fitzpatrick, Disney Magnet School, Chicago, IL
Mary Evans, Morgan Elementary, Hutchinson KS
Leslie Bahn, St. Martin’s Episcopal School, Metairie LA
Jayne Dudley, Kindercare, Canton MA
Janet Browning, Pointers Run Elementary School, Clarksville MD
Caryn Bartone, Salem-South Lyon District Library, South Lyon MI
Jackie Lannin, Hallie Q Brown Community Center, St. Paul MN
Anna Ruhs, Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library System, Starkville MS
Phyllis Danko, Wiggin Memorial Library, Stratham NH
Barbara Kreyling, North Plainfield High School/Middle School, North Plainfield NJ
Michele Beddow, Apshawa Elementary School, West Milford NJ
Nicola McDonald, Brooklyn Public Library Washington Irving Branch, Brooklyn NY
M.L. James, William B. Ward Elementary School, New Rochelle NY
Martha Alcott, Chappaqua Public Library, Chappaqua NY
Jean Berotti, Island Park Public Library, Island Park NY
Mildred Said, Queens Library/South Ozone Park, South Ozone Park NY
Brenda Ballinger, Adams County Public Library, West Union OH
Sally Klepper, Avon Lake Public Library, Avon Lake OH
Rhonda Hancock, Banks Elementary School, Banks OR
Elizabeth Davis, Lackawanna County Children’s Library, Scranton PA
Sharon Lux, St. Michael’s Country Day School, Newport RI
John Hewell, Oconee County (SC) Public Library, Walhalla SC
Lori Finger, Hilton Head Preparatory School, Hilton Head Island SC
Karen Wiechmann, Siouxland Libraries, Sioux Falls SD
Karen Cushing, Pleasant View School, Memphis TN
Kathleen Judd, Hazelwood Elementary School, Clarksville TN
Theresa Rogalski, Wilson Elementary School, Houston TX
Norma Martinez, East Point Elementary School, El Paso TX
Theresa Zelasko, Southwestern University A. Frank Smith Library Center, Georgetown TX
Martha Blackmon, Rusk High School, Rusk TX
Gene Nelson, Provo City Library, Provo UT
Dawn Pleet, Bennett Elementary School, Manassas VA
Angie Rachels, Rockbridge Regional Library, Lexington VA
Ellen Proefrock, Larrymore Elementary School, Norfolk VA
Sherry Clem, Van Wyck Branch Library, Norfolk VA
Mary Alice Powers, Windsor Middle/High School, Windsor VT
Terry Reeder, Cedar Way Elementary School, Mountlake Terrace WA
Jackie Parker, Lynnwood Library, Lynnwood WA
Jennifer Wharton, Matheson Memorial Library, Elkhorn, WI
And here’s a sampling of their reaction:
“This is wonderful. Thank you so much… With school out for the summer we get all the kids coming here more often than they do during the school year so the books will truly be appreciated. Again, thank you very much.”- John Thomas, Spanish Peaks Library District
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! We certainly shall enjoy the books. Our patrons are very excited about this series. They are on this year’s school summer suggested reading lists! We can’t thank you enough. This summer’s program is “Make A Splash-Read” You will indeed “make a BIG splash with our readers” ! Thank you for helping make our graphic novel collection a spectacular one for beginner reads.” – Phyllis Danko, Wiggin Memorial Library
“Wow! Wow! Whee hoo! Yippee- Thanks!!!!!! I am very excited to be a winner in your contest- we are mad hot for your older kid books also, so this is very wonderful.” – Jackie Lannin, Hallie Q Brown Community Center
“This is VERY exciting–thank you so much! I just spoke to the head of our Children’s Room and she is thrilled to add these to our collection.” – Martha Alcott, Chappaqua Public Library
“Wow!! Thank you so much and I am a lucky guy!” – Gene Nelson, Provo City Library
“My students will be thrilled when they come back to school next fall!” – Mary Evans, Morgan Elementary
“Thanks so much! … We have several titles in our collection and they are gaining in popularity as patrons discover them. I’m very excited to be able to add these titles! Thanks again.” – Mim Gottschalk, Rancho Mirage Public Library
“Thank you so much…I am thrilled! I can’t wait to share them with my students!” – Ellen Proefrock, Larrymore Elementary School
“Glad I checked my email today! How exciting to be a winner.” – Janet Browning, Pointers Run Elementary School
“Wow. I am really excited to be able to add these title to our collection.” - Karen Burke, Naperville Public Library
Jennifer Wharton and the Matheson Memorial Library even blogged their excitement on their library’s website! Check it out!
All winners will also be announced on the School Library Journal blog “Good Comics for Kids” by Brigid Alverson at http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids.
Congratulations to all our winners, thanks to all our entrants, and keep up the contagious reading enthusiasm!