The Schneider Family Book Award from the American Library Association honors "an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences." This award, which was first given in 2004, has always struck us as being on the recent leading edge of nudging children's publishing towards more diversity—making us all conscious of a population (1 in 7 Americans!) that is often underrepresented in books.

Unlike other ALA Awards, the Schneider doesn't give medals and then honor books; instead, it honors books in three categories: teen, middle school, and younger children. This year, four books were honored, with a tie in the middle school category. We couldn't be happier to have EMLA books count as half the Schneider Awards for this year!

Honored are Lynda Mullaly Hunt's FISH IN A TREE in the middle school category (published by Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin), and Laurie Thompson's EMMANUEL'S DREAM in the younger children category (illustrated by Sean Qualls, published by Schwartz & Wade/Random House). Both books are so deserving of this recognition, and we couldn't be prouder of Lynda and Laurie for bringing these stories to readers!

Huge congratulations, Lynda and Laurie!

—Erin and Joan