The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators give this award annual to great books from the fifteen regional SCBWI divisions around the world.  Each member of the organization is allowed to vote for their favorite book from a nominated author in their region that was published in the previous year.

Here are the 2012 Crystal Kite Winners:

  

AFRICA

Finding Aunt Joan by Jenny Hatton, illustrated by Joan Rankin

AUSTRALIA

The Last Viking by Norman Jorgensen

CALIFORNIA/HAWAII

Won Ton: A Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

  

FLORIDA/GEORGIA

Cleopatra’s Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter

KANSAS/LOUISIANA

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

MINNESOTA/IOWA

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz

  

NEVADA

Black & White by Larry Brimner

NEW ENGLAND

Pearl by Jo Knowles

NEW YORK

Thelonious Mouse by Orel Protopopescu

  

PENNSYLVANIA/DELAWARE/NEW JERSEY

The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA

Mine! by Patrice Barton

AMERICAS

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

  

UK/EUROPE

Dark Parties by Sara Grant

MIDDLE EAST/ASIA

Orchards by Holly Thompson

WASHINGTON

The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson