Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - February 2, 2009

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Congratulates Winners of Prestigious Literary Honors and Celebrates New York Times Best Seller List Debut

BOSTON — February 2, 2009 — In an advertisement appearing in today’s New York Times, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt congratulates its illustrators and authors on winning a series of prestigious literary awards. Separately, the Company also celebrated the debut of David Colbert’s book Michelle Obama: An American Story at #10 on the New York Times Best Seller List this month.

The American Library Association announced the following awards on January 26 at its Midwinter Meeting in Denver, Colorado:

• The prestigious Caldecott Medal was awarded to Beth Krommes, illustrator of The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson (Houghton Mifflin). 
• A Caldecott Honor was given to Marla Frazee, illustrator and author of A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever (Harcourt). 
• Francisco Jimenez was awarded the Pura Belpre Author Honor for Reaching Out (Houghton Mifflin). 
• Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and Rediscovery of the Past by James M. Deem (Houghton Mifflin) received the Robert F. Sibert Honor.
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Houghton Mifflin) was awarded the William C. Morris Young Adult Debut Award Honor.
• Finding Nouf by Zoe Farraris (Houghton Mifflin) won the Alex Award.

"This inclusion of so many Houghton Mifflin Harcourt titles on the ALA's list of honors marks an exciting start to 2009," said Gary Gentel, president of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade and Reference Publishers. "It is a privilege to publish the works of such fine and talented authors and illustrators. We are grateful to the entire ALA community for recognizing these remarkable talents."

Michelle Obama: An American Story joins other notable Houghton Mifflin Harcourt books on the Best Seller list: Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox on the Children’s list and Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin, Beautiful Boy by David Sheff, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, and Runner by Thomas Perry on the Adult list.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is a global education leader and the world's largest publisher of educational materials for pre-K–12 schools. The Company publishes a comprehensive set of best-in-class educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for students and educators. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, visit www.hmhpub.com.