The Award

Antioch University Los Angeles Announces First Annual Horace Mann Upstanders Book Awards
New literature award to recognize authors whose work exemplifies social change

CULVER CITY, CA – December 20, 2007– Antioch University Los Angeles today announced the launch of their first annual Horace Mann Upstanders Book Awards for K-6 fiction.  An ‘upstander’ is a person who recognizes injustice and acts in a way to right the wrong. The award honors new children’s literature that best exemplifies the ideals of social action and in turn encourages young readers to become agents of change themselves.

“Being an Upstander is when an individual or a group chooses to take a positive stand and act on behalf of themselves and others“ added Dr. J. Cynthia McDermott, Chair of the Education program at Antioch University Los Angeles. “These awards honor literature that encourages readers to take that risk and stand up for something they believe in.”

The award committee will be comprised of Antioch University Los Angeles graduate students, faculty members, and local educational community leaders from the greater Los Angeles community. The panel will be looking for literature that is well developed, with sincere characters and a heartfelt story that promotes upstanding behavior and choices. Examples of literature works that would meet the criteria include The Araboolies of Liberty Street by Sam Swope, Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell and The Good Griselle by Jane Yolen.

“The Horace Mann Upstanders Book Awards are all about encouraging children to become civically engaged and to become active members in our democratic society” said Dr. Neal King, President of Antioch University Los Angeles. “At AULA we are passionate about social change and we believe there is no better way to encourage this behavior than through literature”

The awards are sponsored by the Antioch University Los Angeles graduate education program, in partnership with the Better World JL Institute, the South Bay Literacy Foundation and PEN USA.

Books submitted for consideration must have been published in North American in 2007/2008 and be targeted towards K-6 grade readers.  Submissions are being accepted through March 15, 2008 and the first annual Horace Mann Upstanders Book Award winner(s) will be announced in June, 2008.

For more information contact Joanna Gerber, Director of Communications & Public Relations, at (310) 578-1080 ext. 119 or joanna_gerber@antiochla.edu.

For more information on Antioch University Los Angeles, please visit www.antiochla.edu.

For more information on AULA’s Teacher Education Program, please visit www.antiochla.edu/TeacherEd