EBMA Names Russell Freedman Winner Of The 34th Annual Jeremiah Ludington Memorial Award

WARRENTON, Va., Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Educational Book and Media Association (EBMA) today announced that Russell Freedman is the recipient of the 2012 Jeremiah Ludington Memorial Award. The Award, named after EBMA's founder, is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the educational book business. Past winners have included Steven Kellogg, Jon Scieszka, Kevin Henkes, Mary Pope Osborne, Judy Blume, Tomie dePaola, Richard Peck, Lois Lowry, and Sharon Draper.

Mr. Freedman is a popular author of over fifty biographies and other nonfiction books, including a Newbery Medal winner.   He lives in New York City and travels the globe to gather material for his works.  Russell Freedman will accept the award at EBMA's annual meeting in Orlando, FL in January 2013. 

As part of the Award, EBMA will present a $2,500 check to the charity of Mr. Freedman's choice.  He has designated that the donation go to the San Francisco Public Library which has been serving the city for 133 years, and has over 25 branches and other outreach services.  Mr. Freedman grew up in San Francisco, graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and was a frequent visitor to the Richmond/Senator Milton Marks Library Branch during his childhood. 

"The EBMA board and membership are thrilled to present this year's Ludington Award to Russell Freedman," said Gene Bahlman, EBMA President and Vice President of Follett Library Resources, Inc.  "His contributions to children's nonfiction literature spanning over 50 years is unmatched and truly impressive."  Mr. Freedman has garnered numerous awards including a Newbery Medal for Lincoln: A Photobiography, three Newbery Honors, the Regina Medal, the May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture Award, the Orbis Pictus Award, the Sibert Medal, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for "a lasting and substantial contribution to children's books."

In 2007 the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded Mr. Freedman the National Humanities Medal.  This medal is presented by the President of the United States to "honor individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation's understanding of the humanities, broadened our citizens' engagement with the humanities, or helped preserve and expand Americans' access to important resources in the humanities."

The Educational Book and Media Association, or EBMA, formerly known as the Educational Paperback Association, or EPA, is an association of over 30 wholesalers and 70 publishers who are reputable and authoritative suppliers of educational paperbacks, prebound books, and other materials to the school and library markets. For more information about the EBMA and the Ludington Award, visit www.edupaperback.org.

SOURCE Educational Book and Media Association (EBMA)