Starry Kalahari

Deep in the Kalahari Desert, beneath the starry still of night, nocturnal creatures awake and begin their evening escapades. This story guides the reader through a journey of poetry, facts and fascination from the deepest of night, to the first glint of dawn in the beautiful setting of Africa.

Starry Kalahari is an ward-winning 275-word nonfiction picture book manuscript.

Starry Kalahari Wins Again

WOW!!! STARRY KALAHARI WON the 2012 SCBWI Promising Picture Book Award!!! Thank you SCBWI!

"Selected from manuscripts submitted for individual critique at the SCBWI Annual Conference in Los Angeles, the Promising Picture Book Award is given to a picture book manuscript deemed most promising for publication. Critiquers at the Los Angeles conference nominate the finalists. A three-member panel of writers make the final selection after the conference. The winner receives $500 to help them finish their manuscript and submit it to publishers."

Expert Review of Starry Kalahari ~ "Wonderful!"

I contacted Professor Simon Bearder at Oxford Brookes University in the UK who is one of the worlds leading authorities on nocturnal primates.  I asked if he would mind reviewing Starry Kalahari for accuracy and he graciously agreed. I can't thank him enough for his review:

"You have clearly researched each species and it all seems quite accurate. I look forward to seeing the finished product. It evokes a feeling of the night in the Kalahari - wonderful!" 
~ Simon K. Bearder, BSc MSc PhD ~

SCBWI Barbara Karlin Grant

I just found out that Starry Kalahari won the SCBWI 2010 Barbara Karlin Runner-Up Grant. What an honor! Thank you to the SCBWI Barbara Karlin Grant Committee and a special thanks to Ann Whitford Paul for making the Runner-Up Grant possible.

Starry Kalahari wins First Place

Jenni's manuscript, Starry Kalahari won the nonfiction category at the SCBWI-LA Writers Day.