The June Franklin Naylor Award for the Best Book for Children on Texas History,
endowed by the family of June Franklin Naylor and sponsored by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas
Library, is given annually to the author/illustrator of the most distinguished book for children and
young adults, grades K-12, that accurately portrays the history of Texas, whether fiction or nonfiction.
A former schoolteacher and long-time resident of Odessa, Mrs. Naylor served as President General
of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Inc., from 1989-1991.
Valerie Riefenstahl, third from left, is shown
with the 2006 Naylor Award winner, The Lady in the Blue Cloak by Eric Kimmel and
illustrated by Susan Guevara. Others pictured are, left to right, Elaine Davis, DRT Library Director,
Ed Riefenstahl, Mrs. Riefenstahl, and Laura Beavers, DRT Library Committee Chairman.
The 2006 award
went to Eric Kimmel, author, and Susan Guevara, illustrator, for their book The Lady in
the Blue Cloak: Legends from the Texas Missions, published in 2006 by Holiday House, New York.
The 2006 committee included its chairman Dr. Barbara Immroth, professor in the School of
Information, the University of Texas at Austin, and committee members Dr. Viki Ash, Coordinator
of Children's Services, San Antonio Public Library, and Linda Plevak, Library Director,
Bulverde/Spring Branch Public Library.
2005 Recipient
Dr. Anne Bustard, far right, is shown accepting the 2005 June
Franklin Naylor Award for the Best Book for Children on Texas History for Buddy: The Story of
Buddy Holly. Illustrator Kurt Cyrus shared the honors but was unable to be present. Also shown in the photo with DRT Library Committee Chairman Laura Beavers, who is second from left, are Mrs. Naylor's son-in-law Ed Riefenstahl and her daughter Valerie Naylor Riefenstahl, fund benefactors.
The 2005 award
was presented to Dr. Anne Bustard, author, and Kurt Cyrus, illustrator for their book Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly, at the 115th Convention of the Daughters of
the Republic of Texas in Arlington, Texas. The 2005 Naylor Award Committee included its chairman
Dora Elizondo Guerra, historian and Spanish translator; Lucie Olson, independent library consultant,
and Lucy Podmore, educator.
2004 Recipient
Sally Senzell Isaacs is shown accepting the 2004 June Franklin Naylor
Award for the Best Book for Children on Texas History from Naylor Committee Chairman
Madge Thornall Roberts.
The 2004 award was presented to Sally Senzell Isaacs, author of Cattle
Trails and Cowboys, 1840-1890, at the 114th Convention of the Daughters of
the Republic of Texas in Midland, Texas, on May 13, 2005. The 2004
Naylor Award Committee included its chairman Madge Thornall Roberts,
author, historian, and Alamo Committee Chairman; Dr. Richard Bruce Winders,
Historian/Curator at the Alamo; and Lucie Olson, independent library
consultant.
Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
P.O. Box 1401
San Antonio, Texas 78295-1401
