December 2015

Grants for public programs to highlight the 350th anniversary of the State of New Jersey. In cooperation with the New Jersey State Library, the New Jersey Center for the Book sponsored a 2014 grant initiative to help public libraries support the yearlong statewide celebration of the 350th anniversary of the founding of the State of New Jersey. The grant program read more

The NJ Center for the Book may provide grant opportunities for libraries, organizations, or individuals in the state for programs, events, and/or activities that support the Center’s broad mission to “celebrate books, reading, libraries, and the diverse literary heritage of New Jersey." All opportunities for such grants will be posted on this website, as will the reports of previous awards.

First Place: Simona Vigodner, Grade 8, Lewis F. Cole Middle School, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 Teacher: Cean Spahn Letter written to Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray Dear Ruta Sepetys, I’ve come to think of life as a crooked pate, sometimes with sunlight and flowers while at other times with thorns and brambles. Some people are able to read more

Grants for public programs to highlight the 350th anniversary of the State of New Jersey. In cooperation with the New Jersey State Library, the New Jersey Center for the Book sponsored a 2014 grant initiative to help public libraries support the yearlong statewide celebration of the 350th anniversary of the founding of the State of New Jersey. The grant program read more

In  2015, the Miss Rumphius Award, given to a person who develops creative activities to enhance learning and literacy, was awarded to Ms. Lisa O'Shaughnessy of the East Orange Public Library for her work with tweens in the Invention Lab at her library. The presentation took place at the New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference at Harrah's Convention Center during read more

The 2014 Miss Rumphius Award was presented to Jennifer Jamison, School Librarian at the Atlantic City High School. Fondly referred to as “Mediamama,” by her students and teachers, Ms. Jamison’s winning project was a creative way to “fight the ‘fixed” schedule beast.” Her program promotes flexibility in library scheduling to accommodate access to materials and adequate instruction time, and encourages read more

New Jersey Center for the Book’s exhibit at the National Book Festival 2014 brought the theme of birds and bird conservation to the public as we celebrated NJCFB’s recent designation of New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) a New Jersey Literary Landmark. Our book selection this year was Bayshore Summer: Finding Eden in a Most Unlikely Place by Pete read more

In anticipation of NJCFB’s year-long celebration of the 350th Anniversary of the State of New Jersey throughout the coming year, this year’s book for our exhibit in the Pavilion of States was The Scarlet Stocking Spy: A Revolutionary War Tale by New Jersey author and illustrator Trinka Hakes Noble. A heartfelt tale of a young girl whose brother is serving in read more

First Place: Simona Vigodner, Grade 8, Lewis F. Cole Middle School, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 Teacher: Cean Spahn Letter written to Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray Dear Ruta Sepetys, I’ve come to think of life as a crooked pate, sometimes with sunlight and flowers while at other times with thorns and brambles. Some people are able to read more

New Jersey’s Letters about Literature Winners and Honorable Mentions Level I Grade 4-6 First Place:  Saffie Payne,Grade 6, South Orange Middle School Second Place: Arielle Nogueira, Grade 6, Deerfield School, Mountainside Level 2 Grade 7-8 First Place:  Simona Vigodner, Grade 8, Lewis F. Cole Middle School, Fort Lee Second Place: Sophie Kambour, Grade 8, Medford Memorial Middle School, Medford Level read more