Maple Named 2015 MLA Mitten Award Winner

The Michigan Library Association (MLA) is pleased to announce that Maple by Lori Nichols, published 2014 by Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books, is the winner of the 2015 MLA Mitten Award. The presentation of the award will take place at the Spring Institute 2016 Conference, April 14-15, in East Lansing, Michigan.

Lori began illustrating in the 2nd grade when her poster for the Humane Society awed some pretty tough judges and she took first place. Needless to say, it was a pivotal milestone.

She now looks to nature and her family for much of her inspiration. As a child she studied everything from acorns to frogs and marveled. Lori’s three girls have reminded her of those days, and she finds herself building on their own perceptions, ideas and drawings. Her creations manifest themselves in illustrations, stories, and overflow in the Spring to her garden. Her hobbies include building terrariums, collecting acorn tops and kickball. Lori won the SCBWI New York Winter conference portfolio award in 2014, as well as first runner up the two years prior.

This year’s honor books include:

• Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond Between a Soldier and His Service Dog by Luis Carols Montalvàn and Bret Witter, published by Roaring Brook Press
• Maddi's Fridge by Lois Brandt, published by Flashlight Press
• Nest by Jorey Hurley, published by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
• 100 Things That Make Me Happy by Amy Schwartz, published by Abrams Appleseed

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