The 20th Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature will be presented to author Kelly DiPucchio and illustrator Stephanie Graegin on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 10:30 a.m., in the Mullen Communication Center at Neumann University.

The duo won the 2019 award for their book, Super Manny Cleans Up!

In the book, Super Manny and his pal Gertie team up to fight threats to the environment.

According to School Library Journal, “A plastic six-pack ring around a real turtle’s neck spurs Manny and Gertie into action, fighting their worst foes yet: litterbugs.  Despite not understanding why no one else seems to care, the awesome duo get to work. Soon their hard work inspires others to be heroes and help clean up, too.”

University faculty and library staff has selected the winning entry since the award was established in 2000. According to Tiffany McGregor, director of the library, the selection committee receives up to 120 submissions a year for the award.

Graegin will read the book to youngsters from the campus Child Development Center. After the reading, the book will be on sale to the public.

The award acknowledges Franciscan values in children’s books. Each year’s winner receives $750, a plaque, and a gold emblem to use on printed copies.

Criteria for the award include text that is values-oriented, interesting, and stimulating for ages 3-8 years.

The illustrations should provide support for interpreting the story and instill reverence and compassion for creation.

Both the text and illustrations should promote a moral attitude or action.

Previous winners include books that won additional awards: Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey by Robert Byrd (2013 Robert Sibert Informational Book award winner) and Zen Ties by Jon Muth (2008 New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Associations award winner).

“There is just joy in this event. It has continued to grow and grow across campus,” McGregor explained. “The children’s collection is an essential part of our library collection. The education students use it for their class experiences and field experiences.”

Wesley Bock was co-owner of Kilner’s, a store in Philadelphia that provided equipment, clothing, and supplies to religious institutions.

As a sales representative to the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, he grew to know them well and began making contributions to the order, which founded Neumann University in 1965.

When Wesley and his wife Frances passed away, their estate went to their nephew, William Gagliardi, who was then a Neumann staff member.

In consultation with the university library, Gagliardi established the Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature in their memory.

“I wanted to do something for the library. We were one big family and they were childless. I was like their adopted son,” Gagliardi said of his aunt and uncle.

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