Plano Author Nancy Churnin Wins 2026 Christopher Award

Churnin's children's book 'A Teddy Bear for Emily – and President Roosevelt, Too' honored for affirming 'highest values of the human spirit'

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:43pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a teddy bear toy repeated in a grid pattern, rendered in a bold, neon color palette that transforms the everyday object into modern pop art.The iconic teddy bear, a symbol of compassion and kindness, is reimagined through the lens of pop art in celebration of a children's book that honors the toy's origins.Plano Today

Nancy Churnin, a children's book author based in Plano, Texas, has been awarded a 2026 Christopher Award for her book 'A Teddy Bear for Emily – and President Roosevelt, Too.' The award celebrates works that 'affirm the highest values of the human spirit' and reflect the Christopher motto of 'It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.'

Why it matters

The Christopher Awards honor authors, illustrators, writers, producers and directors whose work inspires audiences and promotes compassion, kindness and service to others. Churnin's award-winning book tells the story of how the teddy bear was created, connecting it to President Theodore Roosevelt's act of sparing a bear on a hunting trip, which inspired the creation of the iconic toy.

The details

Churnin's book 'A Teddy Bear for Emily – and President Roosevelt, Too' (illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe) is one of 10 winning works recognized by the 77-year-old Christopher Awards program. The awards celebrate creators whose work 'affirms the highest values of the human spirit' and reflects the Christopher motto of 'It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.' Churnin is an award-winning children's book author known for writing about people who have made the world a better place and inspired children to be 'heroes and heroines' themselves.

  • The 77th annual Christopher Awards ceremony took place in 2026.

The players

Nancy Churnin

An award-winning children's book author based in Plano, Texas, who writes about people who have made the world a better place and inspire children to be 'heroes and heroines' themselves.

Bethany Stancliffe

The illustrator of Churnin's award-winning book 'A Teddy Bear for Emily – and President Roosevelt, Too.'

Theodore Roosevelt

The former U.S. president whose act of sparing a bear on a hunting trip inspired the creation of the iconic teddy bear toy.

Rose Katz and Morris Michtom

The couple who emigrated from Russia to the U.S. and opened a candy shop, where they created the first teddy bear in 1902 after reading about Roosevelt's bear-sparing act.

Tony Rossi

The Director of Communications for The Christophers, the nonprofit organization that presents the Christopher Awards.

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What they’re saying

“Mother Teresa once observed, 'If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.' That sense of 'belonging to each other' is reflected in our award-winning stories of selflessness, sacrifice, faith, and kindness that can lead us to a better, more peaceful tomorrow.”

— Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers

The takeaway

The Christopher Awards recognize works that inspire audiences and promote compassion, kindness, and service to others, reflecting the organization's mission to 'light one candle' and make the world a better place. Churnin's award-winning book about the origins of the teddy bear connects to this ethos, celebrating an act of presidential compassion that led to the creation of an iconic children's toy.