For Immediate ReleaseContact: Jeanne Brown

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Environmental Books Win Green Earth Book Award

Books Honored at the Read Green Festival

March 27, 2012 -- McLean, Va. --The Newton Marasco Foundation (NMF) announced the winners of its2012 Green Earth Book Award, a nationally recognized literature award given to authors and illustrators whose books best inspire young readers to appreciate and care for the environment.

In support of the award and its message of environmental stewardship, Senator Barbara Milkulski (D-MD) serves as the Honorary Chair of the 2012 Read Green Festival.

"I invite everyone to join us in telling the story of the natural world and the importance of taking care of our planet. These Green Earth Award winning books spark imaginations and inspire a lifetime of wonder that will set our youth on the path to become responsible environmental stewards, now and throughout their lives,” said Amy Marasco Newton, president and founder of NMF.

The four winners to receive the 8th Annual Green Earth Book Award:

Picture Book
Arthur Turns Green
written and illustrated by Marc Brown (published by Little, Brown and Company)
Arthur comes home from school and begins sneaking around the house, taking notes and talking about a Big Green Machine. D.W. is suspicious of her brother's weird behavior, but when Arthur shows up late for dinner with green hands, she really gets the creeps! But it turns out Arthur is making a poster listing all the ways to save energy at home--and go green! /
Children’s Nonfiction
The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families
written by Cindy Trumbore and Susan L. Roth and illustrated by Susan L. Roth (published by Lee & Low Books)
For a long time, the people of Hargigo, a village in the tiny African country of Eritrea were living without enough food until Dr. Gordon Satochanged their lives for the better with his mangrove tree-planting project.
Children’s Fiction

Wild Wings
written by Gill Lewis and illustrated by Yuta Onoda (published by Simon and Schuster)
The majestic osprey is an endangered bird that hasn’t been seen in Scotland for years, so when Iona McNair locates an osprey nest, she’s desperate to keep the bird safe from poachers. /
Young Adult Non Fiction
Gaia Warriors
written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by James Lovelock (published by Candlewick Press)
This book takes a clear look at how and why Earth’s climate is changing and the ways we can deal with it. At once comprehensive and accessible, this galvanizing call to arms includes web links and resources that make it easy to join the cause.

In addition, seven books received Honor Awards:

Honor Book Winners
101 Ways to Save the Planet
written by Deborah Underwood (published by Raintree)
Extraordinary Endangered Animals
written by Sandrine Silhol and Gaëlle Guérive and illustrated by Marie Doucedame (published by Abrams Books for Young Readers)
Global Warming: A Personal Guide to Causes and Solutions
written by Sneed B. Collard III (published by Lifelong Learning, Inc., DBA Project CRISS)
Human Footprint: Everything You Will Eat, Use, Wear, Buy, and Throw Out in Your Lifetime
written by Ellen Kirk (published by National Geographic Books)
Luz Sees The Light
written and illustrated by Claudia Davila (published by Kids Can Press)
Nowhere Else on Earth: Standing Tall for the Great Bear Rainforest
written by Caitlyn Vernon (published by Orca Book Publishers)
Riparia's River
written by Michael J. Caduto and illustrated by Olga Pastuchiv (published by Tilbury House)

The Green Earth Book Award is the nation’s first environmental stewardship book award for children and young adult literature.

Over 120 books were nominated in five categories: Picture Book, for children from pre-school to age eight where the pictures and illustrations are as important as the text; Children’s Fiction, which encompasses novels for young readers up to age 12; Young Adult Nonfiction for readers from age 13 to 21; and Young Adult Fiction for readers from age 13 to 21 (no winners were selected in this category for 2012).

Panels of literary and environmental professionals chose the winning books for their emphasis on environmental stewardship. Since 2005, NMF has honored 27 books with the Green Earth Book Award and recognized 54 Honor Books.

NMF presents the awards April 11, 2012, at the Salisbury University Read Green Festival in Maryland. Author presentations and book signings at university seminars and local elementary schools are scheduled for the week. Each award includes $2,000 to the winning author and illustrator, as well as the contribution of winning books to schools and youth organizations in the Greater Washington DC area.

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NMF is an environmental non-profit that inspires and empowers youth to make a difference. We reach our nation’s youth through innovative environmental stewardship programs in literature, science and the arts.

The official sponsors of the 2012 Green Earth Book Award Festival are Salisbury University, the Salisbury University Foundation, Booz Allen Hamilton, SRA International, and S.L. Bassford & Associates.