The Independent Publishers Association has just named a Stephens Press title as a finalist in the prestigious Moonbeam Awards for 2009. The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are designed to honor the best children’s books, authors and illustrators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Jorge Betancourt Polanco’s first book, Dreamygirl’s Field of Wishes/Esonacion y el Jardin de Suenos is one of five finalists for the Spanish Language category. The gold, silver, and bronze winners will be announced in January at the American Library Association’s annual conference in Denver, with a gala reception at the venerable Tattered Cover, one of America’s largest independent book retailers. Dreamygirl is a lyrical tale of hopes and dreams featuring Jorge
’s unqiue and fanciful illustrations. Art director for Stephens Media’s El Tiempo newspaper, Jorge’s paintings are on exhibition in local Las Vegas art galleries. He also illustrated Granny McFanny, another popular children’s book from Stephens Press.