TCCL Celebrates: Children's Literature with Books to Treasure

The Books To Treasure program celebrates the beauty and power of children’s literature. Sponsored by the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation since 2003, Books To Treasure has grown into a Tulsa tradition for all second-grade students in Tulsa County. These youngsters receive a free copy of a treasured illustrator's book, the chance to get their very own library card, and an opportunity to see the illustrator in person or, this year, online.

Learn more about the annual program here on our website.

Artwork is a hugely important part of children's books. For many kids, the illustrations are what immerse them in the story. Encourage your child to explore their world and imagination through art! We have dozens of physical and digital, instantly available items for children and adults about learning to draw. Find children's items in this list, and adult items in this one. 

The 2020 Books to Treasure illustrator is Zachariah OHora, and the featured books is "Horrible Bear" by OHora and Ame Dyckman. We challenge you to draw your best Horrible Bear and share it with us on any social media! Just tag our account or use the hashtags #tulsalibrary #horriblebear. 

If you are the parent or guardian of a Tulsa County second grader, they are eligible for a free copy of "Horrible Bear." Learn more here.

Zachariah OHora will join us LIVE on YouTube for a freewheeling talk that will include an art demonstration and examples of artwork from when OHora was a kid! This event will be streamed on TCCL's YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/tulsalibrary, this Friday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. 

In addition to "Horrible Bear," works illustrated by OHora include the New York Times bestseller “Wolfie and Bunny,” also written by Ame Dyckman; “The Teacher’s Pet” by Anica Mrose Rissi; “If Your Monster Won’t Go to Bed” by Denise Vega; “Bikes for Sale” by Carter Higgins; and more.

OHora made his debut as an author with “Stop Snoring Bernard!” which received the 2011 Society of Illustrators Founder’s Award and was the official selection for the 2012 Pennsylvania One Book, Every Young Child program. Other titles written and illustrated by OHora include “No Fits Nilson,” “The Not So Quiet Library,” “My Cousin Momo” and most recently “Niblet & Ralph.”

OHora’s award-winning work has appeared on posters and record covers as well as in publications like the New York Times, The Atlantic and others. He remains busy writing, illustrating and co-parenting two children at his home in Pennsylvania. Find titles by OHora right HERE in our catalog.

To enhance the author’s virtual presentation, TCCL’s children’s librarians have developed specific lesson plans using OHora’s books focusing on curriculum areas such as anger, stress management, adjective study, maps and earth, arctic facts, exploring animals and more. Find them at www.tulsalibrary.org/kids/books-to-treasure.

Previous recipients of the Book to Treasure award include: Christian Robinson (2019), Shadra Strickland (2018), Hannah E. Harrison (2017), Rafael Lopez (2016), Derek Anderson (2015); Philip C. Stead (2014), Peter Brown (2013), Mo Willems (2012), Grace Lin (2011), Steve Jenkins (2010), Brad Sneed (2009), Jim Arnosky (2008), Floyd Cooper (2007), Lisa Campbell Ernst (2006), Janet Stevens (2005), Arthur Howard (2004) and Marla Frazee (2003).

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