2018 Winners Announced!
Picture Book Award
"The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin" by Julia Finley Mosca
Illustrated by Daniel Rieley
CONGRATULATIONS to our 2018 winners for promoting high-quality literature for children and youth that authentically characterize individuals with developmental disabilities.
The 2018 Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award was presented January 17 in Clearwater Beach, Florida, at the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities' (CEC-DADD) 19th International Conference.
Description of the Award
The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award recognizes authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that authentically portray individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and Down syndrome.
The award is a collaborative work by members of the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Special Needs Project (a distributor of books related to disability issues). Every even year, an award is presented to an author and illustrator (if appropriate) of a children's picture book, an intermediate, and/or a young adult book that includes appropriate portrayals of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Impact of the Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award
The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award is making an impact toward the general public’s recognition of the positive societal contributions of individuals with developmental disabilities, greater understanding and acceptance of teachers and school-aged peers of students with developmental disabilities, and encouragement of authors and illustrators to publish quality literature including characters with developmental disabilities.
Expression of Thanks
This award is made possible through the dedicated work and creative insight of many individuals. Special thanks are insufficient to express our deep gratitude to those who have served in various capacities, and to those who will continue to make this award significant in the field: the DADD Executive Board, DADD Publications Chair, and DADD Dolly Gray Award Chairs and Reviewers; the Special Needs Project; Brigham Young University's McKay School of Education and Harold B. Lee Library; the authors, illustrators, and publishers of the eligible and award-winning books; Dolly Gray; and individuals with developmental disabilities and their families worldwide.
Radio Interview with Worlds Awaiting
Join Rachel Wadham, Education and Juvenile Literature Librarian, and Tina Dyches, from the McKay School of Education at Brigham Young University as they discuss children’s literature that includes characters with disabilities and the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award on the Worlds Awaiting radio program. Worlds Awaiting is a weekly program for grownups who care about children, with topics that will help the rising generation discover literature and experience the world around them.
This broadcast aired live Saturday, August 5, 2017. You can listen to the interview on the Worlds Awaiting website at http://www.byuradio.org/show/afc8b335-4272-4bf4-a192-9f850d0fe390/worlds-awaiting
Past Years
Rain Reign
Presented at the CEC-DADD's annual conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, January, 2016. Access the award presentation here and read Ann Martin's acceptance speech here.
Disability: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
Available for purchase here.
My Friend Suhana
by Shaila Abdullah and Aanyah Abdullah
Presented at the CEC-DADD's annual conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, January, 2016. Access the award presentation here, view Aanya's acceptance speech here, and view KVUE TV's spotlight here.
Disability: Cerebral Palsy
Publisher: Loving Healing Press Books
Available for purchase here.
Remember Dippy
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida in January, 2014.
Disability: Autism
Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press
Available for purchase here.
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida in January, 2014. Access presentation here.
Disability: Asperger's Syndrome
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Available for purchase here.
Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award Handout — lists all elligible books considered for the 2014 award.
Waiting for No One
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida, January, 2012. Access award presentation here.
Disability: Asperger syndrome
Publisher: Red Deer Press
Available for purchase here.
Mockingbird
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida, January, 2012. Access presentation here.
Disability: Asperger Syndrome
Publisher: Penguin
Available for purchase here.
My Brother Charlie
by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete (authors) and Shane W. Evans (illustrator)
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida, January, 2012. Access presentation here.
Disability: Autism
Publisher: Scholastic
Available for purchase here.
Just Because
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida, January, 2012. Access presentation here.
Disability: Multiple Disabilities
Publisher: Lion Children's
Available for purchase here.
Related Articles:
Dyches, T. T.. (2012). Seventh biennial Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award winners announced. DADD Express, 23(2),5. http://www.daddcec.org/Portals/0/CEC/Autism_Disabilities/Newsletters/DADD_12summerWeb.pdf
The London Mystery
by Siobhan Dowd
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Maui, Hawaii in January, 2010. Access award presentation here.
Disability: Asperger syndrome
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Available for purchase here.
Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
by Clarabelle van Niekerk & Liezl Venter
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Maui, Hawaii in January, 2010. Access presentation here.
Disability: Asperger Syndrome
Publisher: Skeezel Press (distributed by Independent Publishers Group)
Available for purchase here.
Clarabelle van Niekerk's Acceptance Speech
Related Articles:
Dyches, T. T. & Murray, J. (2010). Sixth biennial Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award. DADD Express, 21(2), 3.
A Small White Scar
by K. A. Nuzum
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in San Diego, California in October, 2008. Access award presentation here.
Disability: Down Syndrome
Publisher: HarperCollins
Available for purchase here.
K. A. Nuzum's Acceptance Speech
Related Articles:
Dyches, T. T. & Prater, M. A. (2009). Fifth Biennial Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award. DDD Express, 20(1), 6.
Dyches, T. T., Prater, M. A., & Leininger, M. (2009). Juvenile literature and the portrayal of developmental disabilities. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 44, 304–317.
So B. It
by Sarah Weeks
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Kona, Hawaii in February, 2007.
Disability: Intellectual Disability
Publisher: HarperCollins
Available for purchase here.
Keeping up with Roo
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Kona, Hawaii in February, 2007.
Disability: Intellectual Disability
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Available for purchase here.
Sharlee Glenn's Acceptance Speech
Related Articles:
Dyches, T. T. & Prater, M. A. (2006). Fourth biennial Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award. DDD Express, 18(2), 3.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in February, 2004.
Disability: Autism
Publisher: Doubleday
Available for purchase here.
Mark Haddon's Acceptance Speech
Related Articles:
Dyches, T. T., & Prater, M. A. (2005). Third Biennial Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award. DDD Express, 16(1), 5.
Dyches, T. T., & Prater, M. A. (2005). Characterization of developmental disabilities in children’s fiction. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 40(3), 202-216.
Me and Rupert Goody
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Kauai, Hawaii in February, 2003.
Disability: Intellectual Disability
Publisher: Frances Foster Books
Available for purchase here
My Brother Sammy
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Kauai, Hawaii in February, 2003.
Disability: Autism
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Available for purchase here
Related Articles:
Dyches, T. T. (2003). Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award recipients. DDD Express 13(3), 4.
Dyches, T. T. (2002). Second biennial Dolly Gray Award Announced. DDD Express, 13(2), 3.
Tru Confessions
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Baltimore, Maryland in October, 2000.
Disability: Intellectual Disability
Publisher: Macmillan
Available for purchase here
Ian's Walk
by Laurie Lears
Presented at the CEC-DADD's biennial conference in Baltimore, Maryland in October, 2000.
Disability: Autism
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Available for purchase here
Related Articles:
Dyches, T. T., Prater, M. A., & Cramer, S. F. (2001). Characterization of mental retardation and autism in children’s books. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 36(3), 230–243.