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The Blueberry Awards Bear Fruitful Leads on Nature-Focused Kids' Lit

  • Writer: Bob Benenson
    Bob Benenson
  • Apr 6, 2025
  • 4 min read

The Honors Issued By Evanston Public Library Cover Wide Range of Genres


Books honored by Evanston Public Library's The Blueberry Awards were on display at a luncheon briefing held March 21, 2025 at suburban Chicago's Prairie Grass Cafe. Photo by Bob Benenson
Books honored by Evanston Public Library's The Blueberry Awards were on display at a luncheon briefing held March 21, 2025 at suburban Chicago's Prairie Grass Cafe. Photo by Bob Benenson

Since 2021, Evanston Public Library in suburban Chicago has annually given out The Blueberry Awards to honor children’s literature that strengthens the connections of children with nature and fosters action for the planet. 


To me, this is complementary to the efforts in the local food sector by forward-looking non-profits such as Pilot Light and The Evolved Network to instill Good Food values and use food as a teaching tool across schools’ curriculums. 


I had the pleasure recently to attend a briefing on the Blueberry Awards for books published in 2024, which were publicly announced on March 21. The luncheon event was hosted by Chef Sarah Stegner at her Prairie Grass Cafe in suburban Northbrook. 


The following is a list of the books cited by the awards committee, with photos of Blueberry Awards Committee members who led the briefing event. There is a brief description of the top award winner, and each book’s title is linked to its page on its publisher’s website. 


You can also click the button below to access the program for the 2024 Blueberry Awards, which has capsule descriptions of each book.



Keep scrolling after the rundown for an overview of the delicious lunch we all enjoyed. 


Photo by Bob Benenson
Photo by Bob Benenson

2024 Blueberry Award Winner 


by Barb Rosenstock/Illustrated by Jamey Christoph 

A deep dive (literally!) into the Great Lakes, their history, present, and future. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about their six quadrillion gallons of freshwater and how vital they are to the world. Best for ages 4 -8 years. 



Photo by Bob Benenson
Photo by Bob Benenson

Board Books 


By Isabel Otter 

 

By Brenda Z. Guiberson 

 

By Laura Gehl 



Martha Meyer, Evanston Public Library assistant and founder of The Blueberry Awards. Photo by Bob Benenson
Martha Meyer, Evanston Public Library assistant and founder of The Blueberry Awards. Photo by Bob Benenson

 

Picture Books 


By Cynthia Harmony 

 

By Uma Krishnaswami 

 

By Toni Yuly 

 

By Sara Levine 

 

By Micha Archer 

 

Poetry 


By Curtis Manley 

 

By Helen Frost 



Betsy Bird, Evanston Public Library collection development manager and School Library Journal blogger. Photo by Bob Benenson
Betsy Bird, Evanston Public Library collection development manager and School Library Journal blogger. Photo by Bob Benenson

 

Fiction 

 

 

 

 

Graphics 




Julie Rand, retired adult librarian, master gardener and international birder. Photo by Bob Benenson
Julie Rand, retired adult librarian, master gardener and international birder. Photo by Bob Benenson

 

Nonfiction Picture Books 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Bessie Mbadugha, freelance writer and educator. Photo by Bob Benenson.
Bessie Mbadugha, freelance writer and educator. Photo by Bob Benenson.

Nonfiction for Older Readers 


 



Photo by Bob Benenson
Photo by Bob Benenson


 

Potato-Spring Green Garlic Soup (green garlic and wood sorrel garnish from Three Sisters Garden, Kankakee, Illinois).



Vegan entrée with local black beans; salad of mango, cilantro, cucumber, jicama & avocado; plaintain croquette


And blueberry pie, a most appropriate dessert for The Blueberry Awards event.


4th Birthday Campaign: 20% of New Subscriptions Go To Farmers Rising

Help Local Food Forum Grow While We Help This Farmer Education Non-Profit



Local Food Forum is marking its 4th anniversary (April 1) by asking you to become a paid subscriber and help make this unique, mission-driven publication more self-sustaining. It is the honor of a lifetime to be of service to the community of people working to build a better food system.


But this isn’t just a subscription campaign. It’s a fundraiser: 20 percent of the proceeds from all subscriptions initiated through April 30 will go to Farmers Rising, the farmer education non-profit based in the north-central Illinois community of Caledonia.


For each new $50 Local Food Forum subscription, Farmers Rising receives $10


For each new $100 premier subscription, Farmers Rising receives $20


For each new $5 monthly subscription, we will multiply by 12 to assume a $60 full-year commitment and send $12 to Farmers Rising


Want to get even more involved with Local Food Forum while providing greater benefits to Farmers Rising? There’s a link in the article to contact me to discuss.


I am a longtime admirer of Farmers Rising (known as Angelic Organics Learning Center until its 2023 rebranding), which plays such an important role in helping new and early-stage small farms build their businesses and grow. I have been happy to support its efforts in many ways.


Naturally Chicago and Farmers Rising will truly appreciate any and all support. Please join us in standing for small farmers and working together to build a better food system.


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