Celebrating Children’s Literature and Community Connection: Charlotte Zolotow Award at UW–Madison

This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Charlotte Zolotow Award event at the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) at UW–Madison. This meaningful gathering celebrates outstanding writing in children’s literature—work that thoughtfully centers the emotional lives, experiences, and voices of children.

Congratulations to Angie Kang, author of Our Lake, for receiving this year’s award and for sharing such heartfelt reflections. Moments like these remind us of the powerful role stories play in nurturing connection, empathy, and understanding—values that are foundational in early childhood and across our communities.

I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the members of the Charlotte Zolotow Award committee for their dedication to this important work. We are especially proud that an Eagle’s Wing teacher, Kristin Pape, serves on the committee, contributing her time, expertise, and perspective to the thoughtful selection process. Her commitment reflects the strength and engagement of our early childhood educator community.

Events like this highlight the deep connection between high-quality children’s literature and the work happening every day in our child care centers and classrooms. Books are not just tools for learning—they are pathways for children to see themselves, understand others, and make sense of the world around them

At OCCFR, we see this connection every day—how meaningful stories support children’s development, strengthen relationships, and enrich learning environments. In support of this work, OCCFR will be purchasing award-winning books to share across UW–Madison Child Care and Education System programs, helping bring these impactful stories directly into classrooms.

We are grateful to be part of a campus and broader community that recognizes and invests in the importance of children’s literature and its lasting impact on children, families, and educators.

If you’re interested in exploring past award-winning books, we encourage you to visit this curated list:

To learn more about the Charlotte Zolotow Award, please visit: