The two winners of the NAESP Foundation’s First Annual National Children’s Book of the Year Award Contest have been selected: Mary Jo Amani of Swannanoa, North Carolina, and Frank McMillan of Corpus Christi, Texas. Both winners will receive a contract to publish their books.

Amani won for her book, Excuse Me I’m Trying to Read, in the picture book category, and McMillan’s book, The Young Healer, was selected from the chapter book category. These books were chosen among more than 1,000 manuscript entries submitted in this year’s contest. Manuscripts were reviewed and selected by a committee of editors and educators who judged submissions based on content, originality, and age-appropriateness.

The winning authors’ books will be published by Charlesbridge Publishing (a nationally known children’s book publisher), endorsed by the NAESP Foundation, and feature the NAESP Foundation Children’s Book Award emblem.

Applications for the 2011 contest are now available. The deadline for entries is Feb. 1, 2012.