Illustrator Jennifer Bricking, Dayton, Ky., Honored with a Christopher Award

Dayton, Ky. illustrator Jennifer Bricking has been honored with a Christopher Award for “The Memory Cake.” (Holiday House, Ages 8 and up). It is one of 10 winning books for adults and young people as the Christopher Awards program marks its 77^th year. The author is Caroline L. Perry.

The Awards celebrate authors, illustrators, writers, producers and directors, whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit” and reflect the Christopher motto, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness” which also guides the organization’s publishing and radio programs. Christopher Awards were also given to creators of nine TV/Cable shows and feature films.

The book: While baking a special cake for the feast of Santa Marija with her granddaughter, a Maltese grandmother revisits her memories of survival, hope, and life under siege during World War II.

Jen Bricking is an award-winning artist whose work spans the worlds of children's publishing, video games, animation, and fine art. She has contributed to video games for Disney and Microsoft, and her illustrations have brought numerous picture books, middle-grade novels, and editorial pieces to life.

Growing up, she spent summers alongside her loving grandmother at their family restaurant, where she not only learned to prepare her homemade recipes, including a personal favorite, Shirley's Famous Baked Mostaccioli, but also gained invaluable life lessons and perspectives from her wisdom and guidance.

She has illustrated numerous children's books, including Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate, Jane Goodall's Jane and Me series, and the New York Times bestseller Wish by Barbara O'Connor. She enjoys working on many different kinds of books, exploring emotional depth and whimsical themes that connect with readers of all ages.

Outside the studio, Jen loves spending time browsing bookshops, cycling, skateboarding, and munching on desserts. She divides her time between a quaint town overlooking the Ohio River and the Occitanie region of France.

Tony Rossi, The Christophers’ Director of Communications, said, “Mother Teresa once observed, ‘If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.’ That sense of ‘belonging to each other’ is reflected in our award-winning stories of selflessness, sacrifice, faith, and kindness that can lead us to a better, more peaceful tomorrow.”

The Christophers, a nonprofit founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity.More information about The Christophers is available at www.christophers.org.Social media: #ChristopherAwards, Facebook: The Christophers / X: @ChristophersInc