Bronze winner of Moonbeam awards Best First Picture Book
Small Giants Publishing (SGP) was founded in 2020 with the goal of inspiring young girls to pursue STEM focused careers through imaginative and beautiful children’s books. This ambitious goal is built on SGP’s mission to blend the possibility of story with what’s real. With 200 copies sold since the launch in 2022, Ouva’s story has found its home on the bookshelves of many curious and adventurous young girls and boys, inching closer and closer to achieving that mission.
Ouva Hugs a Star wins bronze of the Moonbeam awards for Best First Picture Book
In Ouva’s first entry to a book award, Ouva Hugs a Star has won bronze placement of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards in the category of Best First Book, for picture books. Other winners include Snowy Prints by Catherine Nevin-Pike, Sophie Won't Sleep by Dr Danielle Camer, and Would a Petrified Wood? by Edward Peppernickle (Gold (tie) and silver placements respectively). Ouva Hugs a Star is proud of this distinction and to be part of this group.
About Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards
From Moonbeam’s website: “Publishing services company Jenkins Group and IndependentPublisher.com created the Moonbeam contest in 2006 as a way to open up awards in children’s publishing to all types of publishers and genres. By developing a contest that would recognize winners in each of the nuanced categories of children’s publishing, IP hoped to bring attention to the under-sung children’s books and their creators who fell between the cracks in larger, more general contests. Twelve years later, we’ve been lucky enough to award and promote hundreds of incredible children’s books, and the Moonbeam Awards contest is now open for its 17th cycle!”
About Ouva Hugs a Star and Small Giants Publishing
Ouva Hugs a Star is a STEM children’s book for girls and toddlers ages 3-6 years old, published by Small Giants Publishing. Ouva Hugs a Star’s story focuses on a young girl who dreams of seeing the stars & exploring all that space has to offer. Ouva Hugs a Star is written and illustrated by creative director, and first time author & illustrator, Mike Puglielli. Ouva Hugs a Star offers 32 fully illustrated pages in hardcover, about space, becoming an astronaut, and encouraging other girls to think big. Featured in the local paper prior to book launch, Ouva Hugs a Star has sold nearly 200 copies across in-person events, online, and local bookstores and is in 5 bookstores across Massachusetts. Before Ouva’s book release, Ouva Hugs a Star launched on kickstarter in April 19, 2021 to great fanfare— achieving its 30 day campaign goal by closing at 103% with $5,896 in funding. Small Giants Publishing is an independent publishing company founded in 2020 and is a registered LLC in Massachusetts by Mike Puglielli and focuses on early childhood learning development through the creation of STEM children’s books for girls and toddlers.