Press Release: April 14, 2015
Brattle’s The Silver Rings Wins IBPA 2015 Ben Franklin Gold Award
DALLAS, Tx., April 14, 2015 – Dallas-based Brattle Publishing Group announced today that its young-reader fantasy, The Silver Rings, has won an Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) 2015 Benjamin Franklin Gold Award. The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, which recognize excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. According to the IBPA’s website “Prestige as a publisher is one of the many benefits of receiving this distinguished award.”
The prestigious recognition is the fifth award a Brattle Publishing Group title has received and the second top honor for The Silver Rings, which won a Moonbeam Children’s Book Gold Award in October 2014. “Brattle Publishing Group is proud to receive this honor,” said Richard A. Lena, President and Founder of Brattle Publishing Group. “Our mission is to create products that motivate and encourage enthusiastic learning, and we are pleased to be recognized by one of the most prestigious organizations for independent publishers.”
The IBPA announced its selection on Friday, April 10, 2015, at the association’s annual Publishing University in Austin, Texas. Valentino was present to receive the award. “As an author and illustrator, I am truly honored by the IBPA’s recognition of The Silver Rings, and beyond grateful for the countless supporters who have helped make receiving the IBPA’s 2015 Benjamin Franklin Gold Award a reality,” said Valentino.
The Silver Rings is Valentino’s first book as an author. He illustrated The Last Akaway, another Brattle Publishing Group title, which was awarded a 2014 eLit Award and 2013 Moonbeam Children’s Book Bronze Award.
Valentino and his 7-year old daughter are currently crowdfunding The Silver Rings and his newly published The Early Readers” Fairy Tale Collection in an effort to support the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.
For more information, please visit Brattle Publishing Group at brattlepublishing.com, and follow BPG on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.
About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Founded in 1983, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) is the largest not-for-profit trade organization for publishers in the United States. IBPA’s mission is to lead and serve the independent publishing community by providing advocacy, education, and tools for success.
About Sam Valentino
Samuel Valentino has a love for telling children’s tales. For almost 10 years, he has created his unique books as personalized gifts for each of his children. These books were his inspiration in writing The Silver Rings, a full-length children’s fairy tale—which he also illustrated.
Valentino is the author and illustrator of the upcoming Early Readers’ Fairy Tale Collection and the illustrator of the award-winning title, The Last Akaway, by Gary Karton. Valentino lives in the Greater Boston Area with his wife and their three children.
About Brattle Publishing Group
Brattle Publishing Group (BPG) is a provider of innovative educational and entertainment products and services. Led by experts with decades of experience in education and literacy, BPG creates products that encourage enthusiastic learning. BPG publishes children’s books by award-winning authors and illustrators.
BPG also creates educational programs, designed to motivate preK–12 students through inspired learning, and provides professional development for preK–12 educators.
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Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Author: Patrick Kobler