The art of children’s literature is strong throughout Cape Ann where Virginia Lee Burton wrote and illustrated her classic, The Little House. The 75th anniversary of its Caldecott Medal prompted Cape Ann’s libraries (Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library, TOHP Burnham Public Library in Essex, and Rockport Public Library) to launch a joint initiative with partners in each community. Known as Cape Ann Reads, the initiative included a picture book contest for the Cape’s residents. Pat Lowery Collins, Giles Laroche, and Anna Vojtech joined librarians as judges together with a separate panel of children that provided a child’s point of view. The Grand Prize? A first edition hardcover publication of more than 1,000 books!   Cape Ann Reads