Winner of the 2011 Children’s Literature Assembly Research Award
Ms. Lori Ann Laster
Lori Ann Laster is currently a doctoral student in Critical Literacy and English Education at the University of Minnesota. She holds an MFA from Brooklyn College. Her background includes extensive work as an arts writer, playwright, educator and theater practitioner. She served as the Educational Program Director for the Off-Broadway theatre company Urban Stages from 2005-2010, and her young adult fairy/fantasy play The Blue Bird (co-written with Stanton Wood), was produced by that company on their mainstage in 2007. Lori has an ongoing interest in the universal themes of young adult fantastic literature and its power to bridge cultures and facilitate connectedness. She is grateful for the ongoing support and guidance of both Dr. Lee Galda and Dr. Cynthia Lewis.

Description
The Children's Literature Assembly Research Award provides grants of $1,000 for original research addressing significant questions related to the field of children's literature. Contingent upon available funds, as many as two grants may be awarded. Projects may be carried out using any research method or approach so long as the focus of the project is related to the field of children's literature.

Guidelines
Applicants must be current members of the Children's Literature Assembly. Members of the CLA Endowment Fund Committee are not eligible to apply for funds. Successful applicants may reapply every three years.

Applications for funding must be submitted to the Chair of the Endowment Fund Committee by June 1 of each year for review by the Endowment Committee members. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review by September 1; the winner will be announced at NCTE in November.

Applications for the award should be submitted via email by June 1 to Patricia Scharer at scharer.1@osu.edu.

Projects must be completed within two years. Grant recipients must submit a progress report by September 1 following receipt of the grant and a summary of the completed project by the following September. Adjustments in report deadlines may be made at the discretion of the Chair of the Endowment Fund Committee.

CLA's Journal of Children's Literature will be honored to review manuscripts based on funded research. [ Research Award Application ]