Julie: I introduced you as an award-winning author. The list of your awards and honors is lengthy! Please brag on yourself a bit, and tell us about the most treasured awards you’ve received.
Judy: It is always exciting, and humbling, to receive recognition for one’s writing, and I have been so honored for many of my books. Awards for two of my books, however, are the most cherished. My second book, R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet, has received several awards, including the Mom’s
Educator’s Choice Gold Award.
However, the most awesome
thing that has ever happened
to me as an author is R is for
Rhyme was selected by the
University of Utah’s Tanner Creative Dance and Children’s Theatre for their fifty-eighth annual performance. Watching my words set to music and dance was incredibly emotional and exciting for me.
The other recognition that I am most proud of was that A Book for Black-Eyed Susan was one of two finalists The WILLA Literary Award
named after Willa Cather, a favorite author of mine. Although I didn’t win the top award, having my book chosen as a finalist by an organization
comprised of other authors
called “Women Writing the West” was such an honor. A Book for Black-Eyed Susan was also the second place winner of the 2013-2014 MO Show Me Reader Award, which is a child-choice award. A second book, A Pet for Miss Wright was a finalist for that same award. Having two books in the same year, as well as two other books in previous years chosen as a finalist by children in my home state is really awesome!
Julie: The first book of yours I purchased for my collection was S is for Show Me. This book was unique to me because of what you called a mixed format. I enjoyed the poetic flow of the ABC book, but truly loved the side bars for teaching my former first-grade students while simultaneously extending my own knowledge. I then purchased Show Me the Number to add to my Missouri collection. I know you have done several more, so please tell us about all of your Missouri books.
Judy: I have four books that are about Missouri. Both S is for Show Me, A Missouri Alphabet and its companion book, Show Me the Number, A Missouri Number Book, were special because
they were both illustrated by my husband, Ross B. Young. I also wrote The Missouri Reader, which has a mixture of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and even a play. For grades K-4, it has a little something for everyone. The fourth book about my home state is Little Missouri, a board book of colorful pictures and little riddles for the youngest readers.
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"Having two books in the same year, as well as two other books in previous years chosen as a finalist by children in my home state is really awesome!"