2005 Book Sense Book of the Year Winner: Chasing Vermeer

April 21, 2005

"What a fun book this was to read," said Kimberly A. Hughes of Village Bookstore in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, of Chasing Vermeer. "Two sixth-graders, a creative teacher, stolen art, letters written in secret code, and a lot of seemingly unrelated clues had me guessing all along the way." --from the 2004 Book Sense Summer Kids' Picks

On April 12, the American Booksellers Association announced that Chasing Vermeer, by Blue Balliett, illustrated by Brett Helquist (Scholastic Press), was the winner of the 2005 Book Sense Book of the Year in Children's Literature. The award honors independent booksellers' handselling favorite during the past year, as voted by the owners and staff of ABA member bookstores. All BookExpo America attendees are invited to come and applaud Blue Balliett and Brett Helquist as they are honored with other 2005 Book Sense Book of the Year winners at ABA's annual Celebration of Bookselling at BookExpo America (BEA) on Friday, June 3, in New York City.

About the Children's Literature Winners

Blue Balliett, who lives in Chicago with her family, was born in New York City, where she grew up visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frick Museum, both of which have several Vermeer paintings. "So Vermeer and I have been friends for many years," Balliett wrote in an essay.

After graduating from Brown University with an art degree, Balliet moved to Nantucket, where she wrote two books of ghosts stories: The Ghosts of Nantucket: 23 True Accounts and Nantucket Hauntings (both Down East Books).

She eventually moved with her husband and children to Chicago, where she worked as a teacher while writing Chasing Vermeer. She has said that during her years of teaching, she discovered "that kids really do learn best when they are tackling 'real-world' problems, issues that don't necessarily have an easy answer and that also concern adults. That idea is at the heart of this book."

Illustrator Brett Helquist

Chasing Vermeer illustrator Brett Helquist lives in New York City with his wife, Mary Jane Callister. Helquist is also the illustrator of the first five titles in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (HarperCollins), which consistently fill top slots on the Book Sense Bestseller List. Helquist's illustrations have also appeared in various magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times.

Balliett and Helquist will also be recognized at the Book Sense Author Luncheon on Friday at BEA. The luncheon, which is only open to stores with Book Sense, requires an e-mail confirmation of reservation for admittance. Confirmations will be sent to registered booksellers by May 16. Reservations are still open, but space is limited. Booksellers should contact Book Sense Marketing Director Mark Nichols at mark@booksense.com if they are interested in attending.

Balliett will also be one of four featured authors at the Book Sense Reading Room from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at BEA. This wonderful convention tradition is open to all BEA attendees.

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