June 02, 2000 Book Sense Book of the Year Winner Press Release For Release June 2, 2000 Contact ABA Michael Hoynes 914-591-2665 ext.1204 Kratz & Jensen, Inc. Madelaine Miller 212-979-2700 ext. 240   BARBARA KINGSOLVER AND JEFF BRUMBEAU WIN INAUGURAL BOOK SENSE BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD AT BOOKEXPO AMERICA   Chicago, Illinois (June 2, 2000) -- The winners of the first Book Sense Book of the Year Awards were announced by the American Booksellers Association today. THE POISONWOOD BIBLE, by Barbara Kingsolver, was this year's winner in the adult category, and THE QUILTMAKER'S GIFT, Jeff Brumbeau took top honors in the children's category. The Awards were enshrouded in secrecy until the moment that the winners were announced at two separate events at BookExpo. Eight of the ten nominated authors were present for the events, adding further to the suspense and prestige of the occasion. The winners were chosen based on balloting by hundreds of independent booksellers across the country. The votes were tabulated in absolute secrecy by KPMG llp and the results were sealed until the announcements today. The winners are: THE POISONWOOD BIBLE, published by HarperPerennial � Long-time booksellers' favorite Kingsolver writes so beautifully about one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in post-colonial Africa. Independent booksellers were � and still are � passionate about this book, and it has been the #1 bestseller on the Book Sense Bestseller List for many, many weeks. Barbara Kingsolver's books include poetry, nonfiction, a short story collection, several award-winning novels and a collection of essays. She lives near Tucson, Arizona. THE QUILTMAKER'S GIFT, published by Pfeiffer-Hamilton, illustrated by Gail de Marcken - This is a beautiful � in words, pictures and message � book about giving vs. greed that every parent and child should read together. An old quiltmaker teaches a rich king the real meaning of wealth and happiness. This book grew from bookseller-to-bookseller by word-of-mouth as the publisher mailed out copies urging it be read, until sales exceeded 100,000 copies, making it one of Book Sense's first big handselling bestsellers. Jeff Brumbeau lives in Chicago and Taos. Gail de Marcken's first children's book, Born to Pull, was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award and winner of a Benjamin Franklin award. "We are thrilled to present the first Book Sense Book of the Year Award to these outstanding authors," said Avin Mark Domnitz, CEO of the American Booksellers Association. "These books and authors are representative of what independent booksellers do best - recommend and handsell wonderful books to their customers. This is an especially festive and landmark event as the ABA is celebrating its centennial at this year's Celebration of Bookselling at BookExpo, and Book Sense, the national branding campaign for independent booksellers, is celebrating its first anniversary," Domnitz continued. The two winners of the Book Sense Book of the Year Award each receive a $5,000 cash prize and an engraved Steuben crystal prism on a base. The eight finalists will receive an engraved Tiffany crystal paperweight prism. Barbara Kingsolver received her award at the Celebration of Bookselling at BookExpo America this evening. Jeff Brumbeau received his award at the Children's Book & Author Breakfast this morning. The Celebration of Bookselling is the event at the end of the first day of Book Expo America where all independent booksellers, publishers and media in attendance gather to toast the new spirit of independent bookselling in America. BookExpo America is the nation's largest annual book industry trade show, held this year at McCormick Place in Chicago. The eight finalists are as follows: ADULT AHAB'S WIFE, Sena Jeter Naslund (Morrow) GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE, Susan Vreeland (MacMurray & Beck) ISAAC'S STORM, Erik Larson (Crown) PLAINSONG, Kent Haruf (Knopf) CHILDREN'S AMELIA AND ELEANOR GO FOR A RIDE, Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic) BUD, NOT BUDDY, Christopher Paul Curtis (Delacorte) SECTOR 7, David Wiesner (Houghton) THE 20TH CENTURY CHILDREN'S POETRY TREASURY, edited by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Meilo So (Knopf) About the Book Sense Book of the Year Award The Book Sense Book of the Year Award, formerly known as the "ABBY Award" was inaugurated at Book Expo 2000. The American Booksellers Association re-named the award in recognition of both a new era in bookselling, heralded by the Book Sense program, as well as the important role that the Book Sense 76 List has played for independent booksellers in discovering and spreading the word to all stores about books of quality. Independent booksellers nominated the books that they most enjoyed handselling to their customers throughout the year. Some of the nominated books were selected from "Book Sense 76", a monthly list of 76 books selected by over 1,100 Book Sense independent booksellers across the country. Independent booksellers have a long tradition of "handselling" books and of displaying staff favorites with personal notes. The 76 list represents a combined national and local staff pick selection of booksellers' favorites from a wide variety of Book Sense independent bookstores. About the American Booksellers Association Founded in 1900, the American Booksellers Association is a not-for-profit trade organization devoted to meeting the needs of its core members � independently owned bookstores with retail storefront locations � through advocacy, education, research, and information dissemination. The ABA actively supports free speech, literacy, and programs that encourage children to read. The association is headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, and on the World Wide Web at www.bookweb.org.   # # #