2016 CDA Book Award Winners
The recipients are:
The CDA Book Awards Committee led by Chair, Past President General Audrey Svensson has named the winners:
AWARD
Title:
SHE CAN BRING US HOME: Dr. Dorothy Boulding Ferebee, Civil Rights Pioneer
Author:
Diane Kiesel
About
Dorothy Ferebee (1898–1980), a trailblazing African American obstetrician and civil rights activist, rose to prominence in an era of segregation and inequality. A descendant of distinguished professionals, she became a national figure through her leadership in the Mississippi Health Project, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the National Council of Negro Women. Ferebee advised presidents, championed public health, and challenged injustice with fearless resolve. Though gifted and charismatic, she battled personal flaws and public contradictions. Once a household name in Black America, her legacy faded over time. She Can Bring Us Home revives her powerful, complex story for a new generation.
CITATION
Title:
The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery
Author:
Rick Beyer and Elizazbeth Sayles
About
In 1944, a secret U.S. Army unit known as the Ghost Army—1,100 artists, designers, and sound engineers—landed in France to wage war with deception. Among them were future icons like Bill Blass and Ellsworth Kelly. Using inflatable tanks, fake radio transmissions, and elaborate visual illusions, they misled the Germans about American troop movements from Normandy to the Rhine. Kept classified for decades, their incredible story is brought to life with personal accounts, rare photographs, and stunning original artwork. The Ghost Army of World War II unveils this bold, creative mission that helped win the war—and went unrecognized for years.
YOUNG READER
Title:
The Nutcracker Comes to America: How Three Ballet-Loving Brothers Created a Holiday Tradition
Author:
Chris Barton
Illustrator:
Cathy Gendron
About
Meet Willam, Harold, and Lew Christensen, three small-town Utah boys who caught the ballet bug from an uncle in the early 1900s. They performed alongside elephants and clowns on vaudeville, immersed themselves in the New York City dance scene, and even put on a ballet featuring gangsters at a gas station. Russian immigrants shared the story of The Nutcracker with them, and during World War II―on a shoestring budget and in need of a hit―they staged their own Christmastime production in San Francisco. It was America’s first full-length version and the beginning of a delightful holiday tradition.