Kidsmomo

Monday is not usually anyone’s favorite day of the week. But this past Monday was EPIC. At least for Karen and Nancy. Why?

Well, on Monday evening, we both raced out of our respective offices in a big hurry — but not before posting this online status: On the way to Children’s Choice Book Awards! So excited!!!!! And another ! for good measure! That’s right, we were invited to attend the Children’s Choice Book Awards Gala!

If you recall from Nancy’s post about the nominees, the Children’s Choice Book Awards ask YOU to vote on your favorite books, authors, and illustrators. What Nancy didn’t tell you was that the winners are announced at a fantastic party, attended by all manner of amazing authors! But we promise, we weren’t intentionally withholding information. We just didn’t know about the gala until a few days before. And then you can bet your sweet potatoes that we got ourselves on the guest list pronto!

Who else was on the guest list? Glad you asked! We got autographs and pictures with a few of the esteemed authors in attendance (Nancy was so excited to stand next to them, we had to Photoshop in a more accurate representation of her joy).

Click on the photos below to see larger images:

Master of horror R.L. Stine
Author of the Goosebumps series, the Mostly Ghostly books, and many other stories that scare our socks off

All-powerful Rick Riordan
Author of the Percy Jackson books, the Camp Half-Blood series, and the Kane Chronicles

Artist extraordinaire Raina Telgemeier
Author of Smile and illustrative force behind the Baby-sitter’s Club graphic novels

Life of the party Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Author/illustrator of the Lunch Lady graphic novels (AND the host for the awards gala!)

Also, a big-name celebrity author made an appearance… You may have heard of Snooki, from MTV’s ridonkulous TV show Jersey Shore. But did you know she’s written a novel?

Okay, that’s not really Snooki. It’s actually Jon Scieszka, author of The Stinky Cheese Man, the Time Warp Trio series, and many other amazing books — not to mention the first-ever National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature! Nancy’s online announcement: A very orange Jon Scieszka… as Snookie. awesome! @_@

(Snooki’s book is NOT for kids, btw. We’re not sure it’s really for anyone… except perhaps those who hate the English language and want to see it butchered. Heh heh.)

So, that was one fake author to grace the stage. But there were plenty other true superstar authors and illustrators who presented awards:

• Current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Katherine Paterson
• Living legend, Walter Dean Myers
• Eloise co-creator, Hilary Knight
• 2011 Newbery Award winner, Clare Vanderpool
• 2011 Caldecott Medal winner, Erin Stead
• YA big cheese, Laurie Halse Anderson

Speaking of presenting awards, you may be asking, “Are you FINALLY going to talk about the winners?! Took you long enough. Grumble grumble.”

Yes, we’ve kept you in suspense long enough. And the winners are…

• Grades K-2: Little Pink Pup by Johanna Kerby
• Grades 3-4: Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
• Grades 5-6: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
• Teen Choice: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

And we can’t forget the 2011 Author and Illustrator of the Year…

Rick Riordan and David Wiesner

WOO HOO! YAAAAAAAAAAAAY! HOORAY! Clap clap clap applause!

And so ended an incredible night of — oh, wait!

There was actually one more highlight of the evening that maybe we should mention… a sing-along! And not just any sing-along, but a sing-along with a purpose! Because Jarrett J. Krosoczka led the audience in belting out the theme song for the beloved TV show Reading Rainbow — to introduce special guest LeVar Burton!

And so ended an incredible night of — just kidding!

You didn’t honestly think we’d leave you hanging, did you? OF COURSE we got video footage of the sing-along. Believe us, it’s definitely worth watching:

And so ended an incredible night of awesome children’s book, all-star authors and illustrators, glitz, glamor, and even a tasty dessert buffet. AND we also got some rockin’ tote bags to take home as party favors — with one of the 2011 finalists inside each bag!

Our bags contain Finally by Wendy Mass and Big Nate: In a Class By Himself by Lincoln Peirce — and we know you’re totally jealous… so we’re giving away our bags (and books) to two lucky Kidsmomo readers! Stay tuned for details on how to enter for a chance to win!

Okay, and THAT really was the end of the night. Like we said: books, authors, illustrators, glitz, glamor, dessert bar, tote bags. Amazing.

— Congrats to all the 2011 Children’s Choice Book Award winners from Nancy and Karen!