Nominations are now open for the 2017Pannell Awards! The Pannell Award was established in 1981 to laud booksellers who encourage and increase children’s interest in books. Named after Lucile Micheels Pannell, who was a founding member of one of the WNBA chapters, the award is now co-sponsored by the Penguin Young Readers Group.
Two bookstores receive the award every year: one children’s specialty bookstore and one general bookstore. The awards, which include a cash prize as well as art by a children’s book illustrator, is presented at BookExpo America.
Nominate a bookstore here! Nominations are open until April 10, 2017th. No books in the NYC area have won since 1991, when now-closed A Child’s Story in Teaneck, NJ, won, so if you have a store you think does great work at promoting reading for children, nominate it for one of the 2017 Pannell Awards!
You’ll find a list of past award winners with links to their sites below. You may notice that a number of the bookstores don’t have links. Unfortunately, many of these bookstores have closed their doors (check out this Publishers Weekly article on children’s bookstores closing or you could always watch You’ve Got Mail). Either way, support independent bookstores! A great place to start is by nominating one you know and love for the 2017 Pannell Awards so you can help get the bookstore’s name out.
2016
Wild Rumpus Books
Courtesy of Wild Rumpus
Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MD
Wild Rumpus Books, Minneapolis, MN
2015
Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville, IL
Once Upon a Time Bookstore, Montrose, CA
2014
Devany, Doak, and Garrett Booksellers, Farmington, ME
4 Kids Books and Toys, Zionsville, IN
2013
Nicola’s Books, Ann Arbor, MI
The Bookbug, Kalamazoo, MI
The Book Beat
Courtesy of The Book Beat
2012
The Book Beat, Oak Park, MI
Monkey See, Monkey Do, Clarence, NY
2011
Queen Anne Books, Seattle, WA
Fairytales Bookstore, Nashville, TN
2010
Green Toad Bookstore
Courtesy of Green Toad
Green Toad Bookstore, Oneonta, NY
Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
2009
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
Mrs. Nelson’s Toy and Book Shop, LaVerne, CA
2008
Kepler’s Books and Magazines, Menlo Park, CA
The Flying Pig Bookstore, Shelburne, VT
2007
Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL
Wonderland Books, Rockford, IL
2006
Kepler’s Books and Magazines
Courtesy of Kepler’s
Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
A Likely Story Children’s Bookstore, Alexandria, VA
2005
BookPeople, Austin, TX
Reading Reptile Books and Toys for Young Mammals, Kansas City, MO
2004
UConn Co-op, Storrs, CT
Hicklebee’s Children’s Books, San Jose, CA
2003
Queen Anne Book Company
Courtesy of Queen Anne
Dutton’s Brentwood Bookstore, Los Angeles, CA
Halfway Down the Stairs Children’s Book Shop, Rochester, MI
2002
Anderson’s Bookshops, Naperville, IL
Eight Cousins Children’s Books, Falmouth, MA
2001
Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
Whale of a Tale, Irvine, CA
2000
Fairytales Bookstore
Courtesy of Fairytales
McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petosky, MI
Children’s Bookshop, Brookline, MA
1999
All for Kids Books, Seattle, WA
1998
Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island, WA
Toad Hall Children’s Bookstore, Austin, TX
Flying Pig Bookstore
Courtesy of Flying Pig
1997
R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
Enchanted Forest Books for Children, Dallas, TX
1996
Edward T. Rabbit & Co., Richmond, VA
Barron’s Books, Longview, TX
1994
Compass Rose Bookshop, Orleans, MA
Adventures for Kids, Ventura, CA
Joseph-Beth Booksellers Courtesy of Joseph-Beth
1993
Barron’s Books, Longview, TX
1992
Skippack Children’s Books, Skippack, PA
Red & Black Books, Seattle, WA
1991
A Child’s Story, Teaneck, NJ
Little Professor Book Center, La Vista, NE
The team at Little Shop of Stories
Courtesy of Little Shop of Stories
1990
Rabbit Hill Children’s Bookstore, Hewlett, NY
The Kids’ Place, Marshall, MI
1989
Children’s Book & Gift Market, Atlanta, GA
Judi’s Bookstore, Twin Falls, ID
1988
A Likely Story Children’s Bookstore, Alexandria, VA
1987
The Children’s Bookstore, Chicago, IL
1986
The Children’s Hour, Salt Lake City, UT
1985
Toad Hall Children’s Bookstore, Austin, TX
1984
R.M. Mills Bookstore, Nashville, TN
1983
OxCart Bookshop, Rochester, NY
