Bresnahan Book Award
The Bresnahan Book Award was created in 2014 LCSD library media specialists present the Bresnahan Book Award in 2016.by the 色中色 Library Department in memory of our esteemed colleague, Lori Bresnahan.
Every other year, students in grades kindergarten through sixth-grade have the chance to read or have read to them the children’s books nominated for the Bresnahan Book Award. Children then have the opportunity to vote for the award winner.
Nominees are selected from the list created by the New York State Reading Association for the Charlotte Award, one of Lori’s favorite book awards.
The purpose of the award is to encourage LCSD students to read outstanding literature and evaluate books.
The 2025 Bresnahan Book Award Ceremony
The 色中色 and its library media specialists will celebrate the life of fellow library media specialist Lori Bresnahan during the semi-annual Bresnahan Book Award Ceremony.
The ceremony will be held April 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the 色中色 Public Library.
Winner
- How to Apologize - written by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Nominees
- Ten Beautiful Things - written by Molly Beth Griffin and illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
- Home is in Between - words by Mitali Perkins and illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
- I Wish You Knew - written by Jackie Azúa Kramer and illustrated by Magdalena Mora
- What’s in Your Pocket? Collecting Nature’s Treasures - written by Heather L. Montgomery and illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Winner:
Can I Be Your Dog? - written and illustrated by Troy Cummings
Nominees:
- Grumpy Monkey - written by Suzanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang
- Elmore - written and illustrated by Holly Hobbie
- The First Men Who Went to the Moon - written by Rhonda Gowler Greene and illustrated by Scott Brundage
- Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book - written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Winner:
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh written by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss
Nominees:
- Armstrong: The Adventurous Journey of a Mouse to the Moon written and illustrated by Torben Kuhlmann
- Be a Friend written and illustrated by Salina Yoon
- Job Wanted written by Teresa Bateman and illustrated by Chris Sheban
- Mother Bruce written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins
- Over in the Wetlands: A Hurricane-on-the-Bayou Story written by Caroline Starr Rose and illustrated by Rob Dunlavey
- Swap! written and illustrated by Steve Light
- The Bear and the Piano written and illustrated by David Litchfield
- The Bear Ate Your Sandwich written and illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach
- You Nest Here with Me written by Jane Yolen & Heidi Stemple and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Winner:
The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Nominees:
- Are the Dinosaurs Dead, Dad? written by Julie Middleton and illustrated by Russell Ayto
- Cowpoke Clyde and Dirty Dawg written by Lori Mortensen and illustrated by Michael Allen Austin
- Dirty Gert written and illustrtaed by Tedd Arnold
- Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas written by Lynne Cox and illustrated by Brian Floca
- Nugget & Fang: Friends Forever - or Snack Time? written by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Michael Slack
- On My Way to School written by Sarah Maizes and illustrated by Michael Paraskevas
- The Snatchbook: Who's Stealing All the Stories? written by Helen Docherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty
- Sparky! written by Jenny Offill and illustrated by Chris Appelhans
- Too Much Glue written by Jason Lefebvre and illustrated by Zac Retz
Winner:
Penguin and Pinecone written and illustrated by Salina Yoon
Nominees:
- Around One Log: Chipmunks, Spiders & Creepy Insiders written by Anthony D. Fredericks and illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio
- Because Amelia Smiled written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein
- Cloudette written and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
- Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships written and illustrated Catherine Thimmesh
- Goldilocks and Just One Bear written and illustrated by Leigh Hodgkinson
- I Need My Own Country! written by Rick Walton and illustrated Wes Hargis
- Jangles: A Big Fish Story written and illustrated by David Shannon
- Spike the Mixed Up Monster written by Susan Hood and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
- Who Has This Tail written by Laura Hulbert and illustrated by Erik Brooks
Lori Bresnahan (1966 – 2013)
It is with great respect and admiration for Lori’s work in the library field that the 色中色 Librarians present this award. Lori was a school librarian with the Oswego, Syracuse and 色中色 school districts. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego and her master’s degree from Syracuse University. In addition to teaching children, Lori taught children’s literature at the graduate level at SUNY Oswego. Beyond her professional work, she was involved in many educational, cultural and community groups. Lori’s love of children’s literature and her infectious enthusiasm for sharing it with children enriched the lives of many students throughout Central New York. This award was created to honor her memory and instill in children a love of beautiful picture books.