Lin Oliver and Stephen Mooser
Lin Oliver and Stephen Mooser are the founders of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an organization that, under their guidance, has nurtured and inspired many of the creators of literature for children for over 30 years. Today, the organization is international in 70 regions and has approximately 18,000 members. The organization produces several publications, sponsors two international conferences and several regional conferences each year and is also active in presenting awards and grants to writers, illustrators, and organizations such as libraries and schools that promote children's literature. Because of their love of children's literature, Ms. Oliver and Mr. Mooser have helped hundreds of writers and illustrators achieve their potential.

Sandy Schuckett
"I knew early on that there had to be a librarian in every school. . . I somehow knew instinctively that kids needed this. . .I drew on my own experiences in libraries (since age three), and I felt that if kids could experience the joy and fun learning that happens in libraries it would definitely be to their advantage.

I began questioning people - first in my own school district - as to why there wasn't a librarian in every school. This became my "mission". . .I used to say, "Before I die or retire - whichever comes first - I want to see a librarian in every single K-12 school in L.A." Then I enlarged my scope to California, and now I believe that there should be a credentialed librarian in every K-12 school in the U.S.!

I got involved in the CSLA (them CMLEA) Governmental Relations Committee in 1981 or 1982. . . basically because I opened my big mouth and said, "Why don't they. . . . whatever?" I made that statement to Edna Sewill, who I consider my CSLA "mother," and her response was, "Why don't YOU get involved in the Governmental Relations Committee?" The rest, as they say, is history. It developed that I became Chair of the committee, which I did for a few years, and then I was asked to run for VP/Legislation in 1994. I am now serving my third 2-year term. And I have gotten really good at nagging!"

Peggy Miller
In Dr. Marilyn Robertson's presentation of this award to Peggy, she said and was later quoted in The Sampler:"Peggy is a trailblazer - a leader - a one-woman network. She was instrumental in establishing libraries in the elementary schools in the LAUSD. She worked with the district staff to convert a space, get shelving put in, and purchase a core collection in school after school over an eighteen-year period. She was also instrumental in making sure that library media centers were included as part of the basic design of any new schools. Today, (1993), Los Angeles's over 400 elementary schools all have school library media centers.

Barbara Karlin
Children's book author and book reviewer for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, L.A. Parent and more. With James Marshall she wrote "Cinderella" but may be best known for her lengthy tenure as manager of children's books at Dutton's Book Store in Brentwood where she was a valued consultant to many area writers and parents. Barbara died in 1991.

Betty Takeuchi
A co-founder of the Southern California Project for the Year of the Young Reader. Betty is also the owner of the San Marino Toy and Book Co. and president of the Assn. of Booksellers for Children.

Betsy Brown
Betsy Brown, an artist and storyteller taught through the use of puppets. She taught puppetry in grade schools, at Cal State Northridge and at Los Angeles Valley College. She presented workshops on puppetry at UC and Cal State campuses and produced interactive puppet shows. In 1997 she received the annual Professional Artists in Schools Award. She was recognized by the Los Angeles Public Library and Mayors Tom Bradley and Richard Riordan for her artistic teaching. The Betsy Brown Puppetry Collection is housed at the UC Santa Barbara. Betsy died in 2001.

Terry Dunnahoo
Terry Dunnahoo is a published author of children's books and young adult books. Some of the published credits of Terry Dunnahoo include The United States Mint, How to Survive High School: A Student's Guide, Boston's Freedom Trail (Places in American History).

Carolyn Johnson
Carolyn Johnson served as Children’s Director of the Fullerton library for 22 years and then spent 10 years as the library director. Now the Children’s Library in Fullerton bears her name. When she served as President of SCCLCYP in 1981, Carolyn Johnson wrote to the Secretary of Education, urging that the Department advocate adequate funding for libraries and professional librarians in the nation’s school districts.

Clifton Fadiman
Fadiman was a writer, critic, editor, and moderator of the top-10 radio hit "Information Please" from 1938 to 1952. "He took great pride in A World Treasury of Children's Literature, an anthology he compiled in 1985. He put together more than 20 other anthologies during his career and wrote introductions to about 65 classics, including War and Peace and Moby Dick .He died June 20, 1999,

Winifred Ragsdale
Winifred Ragsdale was active in many different professional realms.
She taught at USC, served as an acting children’s librarian for the
San Bernardino County Library and was branch and regional
librarian for the Los Angeles County Public Library. She consulted
for various cooperative library systems. Winifred was the Director of
the George G. Stone Center for Children’s book at Claremont
Graduate School. She also edited the Council’s publication The
Sampler.

Michael Cart
Former Director of the Beverly Hills Public Library, Michael Cart is now a full-time writer, lecturer and consultant. The author or editor of eleven books, he is a columnist for "Booklist" magazine, teaches at UCLA and Texas Woman's University, and is the recipient of the 2000 Grolier Foundation Award for distinguished service to young people and reading. He is the Founding Editor of RUSH HOUR, a new literary journal for older young adults that will be published by Random House, beginning in April 2004.

Ruth and Edward Radlauer
The Radlauers coauthored informational books for reluctant readers that focus on topics like motorcycles, minibikes, horses and surfing.

Miriam Cox
Miriam Cox was an associate Professor of English specializing in children’s literature and mythology at California State College at Fullerton and a lecturer in English at UC Irvine. She was an author who published articles and poetry for children and adults. She believed that the greatest gift parents and teachers can give children is a love of good literature.

Sue Alexander
The author of more than twenty well-received books for young readers, Sue Alexander enjoys putting librarians and teachers in contact with authors, illustrators and others involved with young people and books. Her wide array of friends throughout the publishing industry as well as her involvement in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - and her love of books and libraries -- provides the impetus to be a "matchmaker." The late John Donovan, in the introduction to the 1992 Children's Book Council volume "Children's Books: Awards and Prizes, refers to Sue as "…children's book promoter extraordinaire." Sue joined the Council the year her first book, "Small Plays for You and a Friend" was published, at the insistence of Dorothy C. McKenzie, and has been active in the organization ever since.

Nettie Frishman
Nettie Frishman served as the West Valley Regional Children’s Librarian for Los Angeles Public Library, and worked with LAPL for 33 years. She served on the Boards of the California Library Association and the American Library Association. She represented Los Angeles at the New York World’s Fair Library of the Future in 1966 and later served on the Newbery and Caldecott Committee. She was active in the Association of Jewish Librarians and was instrumental in renaming their award the Sydney Taylor Award. She also served as SCCLCYP’s The Sampler editor and introduced the feature “An Author Speaks” and the “Wet Print” column which lists recently published books by Southern California Authors and Illustrators.

Helen Fuller
Helen Fuller was a librarian for Long Beach.

Sylvia Ziskind
Sylvia was an associate professor of library science at Immaculate Heart College and USC. She has served as president of the Southern District of the California Library Association, and was a volunteer for Reading is Fundamental. Sylvia also wrote the book Telling Stories to Children.

Helen Hinckley Jones
Helen Hinckley Jones is the author of many books including Over the Mormon Trail, and Rails of the West. She also taught writing classes at Pasadena City College and through the PCC Community Services program and was the general chairperson and impetus behind Writer’s Week, an event where authors gathered to share secrets of writing.

Edith Wynn Horton
Edith Wynn Horton and the dedicated and ongoing efforts of RIF (Reading is Fundamental). Their goal is to bring books into the lives of children who have never had books of their own before.

Betty Kalagian
Betty Kalagian worked hard to serve blind children through the anthology Expectations, published annually by the Braille Institute.

Lloyd Severe
Lloyd Severe was the manager of Brown’s Bookstore in Pasadena and served on the community advisory board to the Friends of the Flintridge Library. He also served on the Council’s board.

Laramee Haynes
A storyteller from San Marino, Laramee Haynes received this award for his outstanding community service in his storytelling. "Anyone who can talk can tell a story. But first he must be moved or touched by the story and feel an urge to communicate. The storyteller needs only to learn the hinges of the story. He can tell it in his own words pretty much, leaving his listeners to weave out of their own imaginations such details as they like." (Pasadena Union, November, 1971)

Dorothy C. McKenzie
One of the founders of the Council, Dorothy met with nine fellow faculty and staff members of the California State College at Los Angeles and with invited representatives of libraries, schools, booksellers, and the Los Angeles Times. Their purpose was to promote greater interest in literature for children and young people and to help in developing standards of excellence in the field. In this year (1964) the Dorothy C. McKenzie Award was given to its founder.