Ohioana Alice Louise Wood Memorial Children's Literature Award: 2010
Sharon Draper
Cleveland and Cincinnati OH
For her contributions to children’s literature in Ohio
Cleveland native Sharon Draper is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults.
A National Teacher of the Year, Draper has been honored at the White House six times. In 2009
Draper received her Doctor of Laws Degree from Pepperdine University. Her literary recognition began when,
as a challenge from one of her students, she entered and won first prize in a literary contest.
Since then, she has been the recipient of five Coretta Scott King Literary Awards, and is a New York Times bestselling author.
Her book Copper Sun was selected by the U.S. State Department and the International Reading Association as the
United States’ novel for the international reading project called Reading Across Continents and also
won a 2007 Ohioana Book Award. She has published numerous poems, articles, and short stories in a variety of literary journals.
A few of Draper’s awards include: Duncanson Artist-in-Residence for the Taft Museum, YWCA Career Woman of Achievement,
the Pepperdine University Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Marva Collins Education Excellence Award, and
the Governor’s Educational Leadership Award.
Sharon Draper's website
