For the first time in the history of the Nene Award, two winners will share this year's Award, the result of a tie vote! "The Invention of HugoCabret" by Brian Selznick and "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies each received 483 votes, and are declared co-winners of the 2012 Nene Award. The Nene Honor Book Award (runner-up) is ""How to Steal a Dog" by Barbara O'Connor.
The annual Nene Award is presented to the favorite fiction book based on a vote by the children of Hawaii in grades 4 through 6. This year, a total of 6,519 students from 80 public libraries, private and public schools statewide voted.
Best-selling children's book author Michael Buckley, the 2011 Nene Award winner for "NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society," the first book of a three-part series, was a special guest and made the announcement this morning before an audience of more than 700 invited dignitaries, students, teachers, and other guests at the 47th Annual Nene Award Presentation Ceremony, conducted this year at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. Buckley is also author of the popular "Sisters Grimm" series.
Buckley will also be featured in a "Meet the Author" event for the public at Pearl City Public Library this afternoon (April 12) at 3 p.m. He will discuss his book "NERDS" and there will be a Question-and-Answer session.
"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is the story of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. When Hugo encounters a broken machine, an eccentric girl, and the cold, reserved man who runs the toy shop, he is caught up in a magical, mysterious adventure that could put all of his secrets in jeopardy. "Hugo," the 2011 movie that won five Academy Awards and the Golden Globes' Best Director award (Martin Scorsese), is based on this book.
In "The Lemonade War," Evan and his younger sister Jesse react very differently to the news that they will be in the same fourth grade class. As the end of summer approaches, they battle it out through lemonade stands, each trying to be the first to earn $100.00.
Student contest winners of digital works, essays, creative writing, and posters celebrating "NERDS" were honored at the ceremony. Here are the winners and honorable mentions of five categories:
Interpretive Category – Digital Media: 5th Grade Winners: Jacob Roose, Rudy Gaylord-Benigno, Ryugen Kobayashi of Maryknoll School; 5th Grade Honorable Mention: Wyatt Coke of Salt Lake Elementary; Jessica Seuh, Kacie Tomoyasu of Pearl Ridge Elementary; Ashley Sim, Krystn Adachi, Ian Chin of Maryknoll School; Colby Rhinelander, Winston Ako, August Chang-Stroman of Maryknoll School; Amanda-Joy Lee, Kealohi Young, Jenna Tanna of Sacred Hearts Academy.
Persuasive Category – Digital Media: 5th Grade Winners: Paris Oliveira, Kyra Pila, Bianca Atienza of Maryknoll School; 5th Grade Honorable Mention: Doulton Chinen, Cole Caberto, Nicholas Ashimine of Maryknoll School; Brayden Bella, Bryce Otsuka of Maryknoll School.
Interpretive Category – Essay: 4th Grade Winner: Siya Kumar of Salt Lake Elementary; 4th Grade Honorable Mention: Severino Bulagay, Caleb Kaulukukui-Palisbo, Billy Hashimoto of Salt Lake Elementary; 5th Grade Winner: Michael Voss of Salt Lake Elementary; 5th Grade Honorable Mention: Aiyana Arnobit of Sacred Hearts Academy; 6th Grade Winner: Allyson Pang of Maryknoll School; 6th Grade Honorable Mention: Cady-Bree Abe of Maryknoll School; Molly Boggs, Megan Boggs, Realani Rulona of Holomua Elementary.
Persuasive Category – Essay: 4th Grade Winner: Keaouli Ross of Kaneohe Elementary; 4th Grade Honorable Mention: Aisha Yamamoto of Kaneohe Elementary; Hunter Park of Kaneohe Elementary; 5th Grade Winner: Rainie Wong of Kaneohe Elementary; 5th Grade Honorable Mention: Skyler Chun of Mililani `Ike Elementary; 6th Grade Winner: Sara Emma Kay of Punahou School; 6th Grade Honorable Mention: Kira Ricci of Maryknoll School.
Persuasive Category – Poster: 4th Grade Winner: Lane Hirata of Mililani `Ike Elementary; 4th Grade Honorable Mention: Tauni dela Cruz of Mililani `Ike Elementary; Reese Yamamoto of Mililani `Ike Elementary; 5th Grade Winner: Sheri Ann Tengan of Mililani `Ike Elementary; 5th Grade Honorable Mention: Madison Chang of Mililani `Ike Elementary; Chloe Kalani of Mililani `Ike Elementary; 6th Grade Winner: Ariel Villanueva, Jr. of Kapolei Middle School; 6th Grade Honorable Mention: Rachel Nakasone of Maryknoll School; Kapri Tulang-DeSilva of Maryknoll School; Chelsea Michel of Maryknoll School.
Perma-Bound Books will donate a copy of the 2012 award-winning titles to each participating public library and school.
The annual Nene Award is supported by the Hawaii State Public Library System and State Department of Education. Sponsors include Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Association of School Librarians, Hawaii Library Association, Perma-Bound Books, Scholastic Book Fairs, Friends of the Library of Hawaii, and Follett Library Resources.
Above is a photo of student contest winners and distinguished guests at today's Nene Award Ceremony (2nd row, l-r) Stewart Chun, HLA past-President; Alana Deppe-Mariota, Follett Library Resources; Cheryl Kauhane Lupenui, Board of Education member; author Michael Buckley; State Librarian Richard Burns; Mysti LePage, Nene Award Chairperson; and Tamar Nite, Scholastic Book Fairs. Photo is courtesy of HSPLS.