Community Corner

Alpharetta Illustrator's Book Wins Christopher Award

Thomas Gonzalez worked with author Jo S. Kittinger to create "The House on Dirty-Third Street."

Thomas Gonzalez of Alpharetta is the illustrator for a book that won a 2013 Christopher Award.

Gonzalez and and Hoover, AL-based author Jo S. Kittinger, won a 2013 Christopher Award for "The House on Dirty-Third Street" (Peachtree Publishers)

The book is one of 11 for adults and young people that The Christophers will honor on May 23 in New York City, according to a release from the non-profit organization. The books join eight feature films and TV/cable programs also slated to win a Christopher Award this year.

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“The House on Dirty-Third Street is part of a trend we notice among the winning books for young people in the 64th year for the Award: They deal with grownup, sophisticated subjects," the release said. "Between weather, fire and economic reversals, too many children have had to face the issues covered in this book: The trauma of losing a home, and a child and her mom who must move on and fix up another home that’s far from their dream."

The author and illustrator touch the hearts of readers ages 6 to 8 about a community coming together to help a discouraged mother and daughter rebuild their rundown old house while helping them get over the house they left behind.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Created in 1949, these awards are presented to writers, producers, directors and illustrators whose work affirms the highest values of the human spirit. The Christophers, a nonprofit organization founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb—“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”— guides its publishing, radio, leadership and awards programs.

Find Thomas Gonzalez on Facebook for more news about his work, including new books he's illustrated.

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