Glen Ellyn Teacher Wins National Writing Award for Children's Book

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Submitted press release

P.J. Hartenaus has been named winner of the 2014 Children’s Literature Independently Published Principals’ Award (CLIPPA) in the Grades 3-4 category for her book My Sometimes Pal.

The CLIPPA honors outstanding children’s books that offer fun, learning and creativity and were self-published by independent authors. Entries were judged by elementary school principals, educators and children’s authors for originality, learning quality and use of language standards.

The award-winning books were selected from five finalists in each category.

My Sometimes Pal, which was inspired by Hartenaus’ visit to the Belden School, an abandoned one-room schoolhouse built in 1859, teaches young readers about life in the late 1800s, while also addressing the topic of bullying. The judges said the book “…paints a picture for the reader of what life was like in the mid-1800s” and it offers “Good lessons about friendships, communication, family roles and standing up for yourself and your values.”

Hartenaus, who lives in Glen Ellyn and is a fifth grade teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, will receive a cash prize of $250, a consultation session on promoting self-published books with brand-builder Mike Michalowicz, author of Profit First, and 100 gold foil CLIPP award stickers for her books.

In addition, My Sometimes Pal will receive feature placement for a month on the Kabuki Helps website (www.kabukihelps.com). Kabuki Helps, sponsor of the awards, is a community of parents and teachers committed to making learning fun.

The CLIPPA judging committee comprised 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; Eunice Lasala, retired teacher and children’s reading advocate, Branford, CT; and Jean Marzollo, educator and author of the award-winning I SPY children’s series.

For more information, visit http://www.clippaward.com.