Pajama Press is proud to announce that Birds on Wishbone Street by Suzanna Del Rizzo has won the 2022 IODE Jean Throop Book Award.
Established in 1975, the IODE Jean Throop Book Award is awarded to children’s books for creators that reside in Ontario. Of all the books submitted to the IODE Jean Throop Book Award, Pajama Press had two books selected for the short list, with Birds on Wishbone Street winning the award. Suzanna Del Rizzo accepted the award on April 23rd at the IODE Jean Throop Book Award Provincial Annual Meeting.
In Birds on Wishbone Street, Del Rizzo demonstrates the power that small acts of kindness can have and the importance of making everyone feel at home. Published in 2021, Birds on Wishbone Street received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, saying “Del Rizzo illustrates with elaborate clay modeling combined with other media; the three-dimensional look ignites interest and gives the pictures a special warmth. The story centers care for others and nature as well as focusing on people’s shared humanity.” Del Rizzo also received glowing reviews from Publishers Weekly, The Horn Book Magazine, and many more.
Suzanne Del Rizzo traded her job in scientific research for a career in children’s illustration. My Beautiful Birds was a SCBWI Crystal Kite winner, as well as a Malka Penn Award winner, a Marilyn Bailie Picture Book Award finalist, and a New York Times Notable Children’s Books selection. Suzanne’s dimensional illustrations use polymer clay, acrylic glaze, and other mixed media to bring rich texture and imagination to her books.