Each year at the Annual Conference of the Massachusetts Reading Association (MRA), an award is presented to an author or illustrator who has made a significant contribution to children’s literature.  This year, Peter H. Reynolds will be accepting MRA Children’s Literature Award at the 46th Annual Conference on Monday, April 9, 2018 in Quincy, MA.

In 2005, the MRA established the Massachusetts Reading Association Children’s Literature Award.  This honor is awarded annually to recognize an author or illustrator whose complete works have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.  Peter's reputation for writing books about protecting and nurturing the creative spirit, in addition to numerous awards, highlights his commitment to literacy and supports the 2018 theme, "Literacy Ignited."  The quality, popularity, and volume of Peter's work fulfill the formal criteria for the CLA award as follows:

• The recipient must have won at least one major award.
•  His/her books are exceptionally notable and leading examples of the genre to which they belong.
• The nominee’s books have been available to children for at least ten years.

This award will be presented during the Monday afternoon closing session of the spring 2018 conference. Peter will deliver the keynote address prior to accepting the award. Previous recipients include: Marc Brown, Rosemary Wells, Patricia MacLachlan, Jane Yolen, Tomie DePaola, Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Lois Lowry, Katherine Paterson, and the Pinkney family.

Massachusetts Reading Association will host an early Monday evening reception entitled “Authors and Appetizers.”  This reception, held from 5 to 7 p.m., highlights the work of both the award recipient and rising local authors. Book sales and autographing take place as part of the reception, as well as throughout the conference.