Kate Messner, Medina native and author, wins literature award, will visit hometown on May 24

Press Release, Author’s Note

Provided photo: Kate (Schirmer) Messner recently was honored with the Empire State Award for Excellence In Literature for Young People.

MEDINA – Acclaimed children’s author and Medina native Kate (Schirmer) Messner has won the prestigious Empire State Award for Excellence In Literature for Young People presented by the New York Library Association.

The Empire State Award is given annually and was first presented in 1990. It is a one-time award presented to a living author or illustrator currently residing in New York State.

The award honors a body of work that represents excellence in children’s or young adult literature and that has made a significant contribution to literature for young people. Youth Services librarians throughout the state submit nominations to an awards committee. The committee makes a decision that is then approved by the YSS Executive Board.

Messner, who lives on Lake Champlain with her family, will visit Medina on May 24 at 7 p.m. for an in-person signing and discussion at the Author’s Note bookstore, 519 Main St. In advance of her visit, she has provided free recorded school visits for students in grades PreK-3 and grades 4-8 which schools may utilize to share Messner’s presentations with their students.

The author grew up in Medina and graduated from Medina High School in 1988. She has penned many titles for young readers including award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Pond, The Brilliant Deep, and Rolling Thunder; novels that tackle real-world issues like Chirp, Breakout, and The Seventh Wish; mysteries and thrillers like Capture the Flag, Eye of the Storm, and Waking Up Missing; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series; and the popular chapter book series Ranger in Time about a time-traveling search and rescue dog and History Smashers, books with fun, well-researched fast history for kids who wants the truth in an engaging and entertaining way.

Messner’s books are often selected for community-wide reads like the One School, One Book Program. Her books are often included on prestigious notable and best lists such as the New York Times Notable, Junior Library Guild, IndieBound, and Bank Street College of Education Best Books. Her novel The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. won the E.B. White Read Aloud Medal and her science picture books have been finalists for the American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences/Subaru SB&F prize for excellence in science writing.