Local Author Wins Children’s Book Award
Moonbeam book award winners, including local author Francine Dingeman, pose with their medals.
Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On November 9, Saratoga Springs-based author Francine Dingeman was awarded the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award silver medal in the category of Learning Order (Alphabet/Counting Books) by the Jenkins Group of Traverse City, Michigan for her book “The Animal Menagerie.”
The book, written by Dingeman and illustrated by Marta Maszkiewicz, is an A to Z picture book filled with characters from the animal kingdom. It was written to entertain and educate children ages 4-7 by introducing dozens of new words into their vocabulary. Each letter of the alphabet comes to life with illustrations and story vignettes.
Since receiving the award, Dingeman’s book has gone into a First Edition, Second Printing and is available in a variety of local Saratoga shops such as Saratoga Outdoors, G. Willikers, Celtic Treasures, Impressions of Saratoga, The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Gift Shop, Accents at Allerdice in Malta, and Play Hollow in Ballston Spa. “The Animal Menagerie” can also be found online at FrancineDingeman.com.