Children’s author honored with literature award

Written by Eric Tiansay

Thursday, 20 August 2009 02:29 PM America/New_York

Dandi Daley Mackall, author of the "Winnie the Horse Gentler" and the "Starlight Animal Rescue" series as well as other juvenile fiction from Tyndale House Publishers, recently received the Helen Keating Ott Award from the Church & Synagogue Library Association (CSLA).

During the association's annual conference held last month in Canton, Ohio, Mackall was honored for her significant contribution in promoting high moral and ethical values through children's literature. In presenting the award, CSLA awards chairperson Jeri Baker noted that Mackall was "specifically sensitive to the challenges experienced by special-needs children and to the plight of the economically depressed."

"We were pleased to nominate Dandi for this well-deserved and prestigious award," said Katara Patton, Tyndale's acquisitions director for children and youth books. "Dandi is a phenomenal writer with a true passion for youth. Her writing combines humor, reality, and the Word of God in such a seamless manner that readers of all ages enjoy her work. We are committed to publishing more of Dandi's quality work so that even more children and young people can be touched by her special talent."

Tyndale House will publish Mackall's The One Year Devos for Animal Lovers: Cool Things Animals Show Us About Our Creator in 2010. The 365-day devotional, featuring Tyndale's "One Year Bible" line, is designed for children ages 8-12.

The award Mackall won is named for Helen Keating Ott, who had a lifelong interest in children's literature, libraries and library work.