Olney, MD — April 22, 2005 — An article published in the Winter 2004/05 issue of Childhood Education, the official journal of the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), has been selected as a finalist for a 2005 Distinguished Achievement Award, in the Learned Article category, from the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP/Ed Press). "Weighing In on the Issue of Childhood Obesity," by Cynthia Lynn-Garbe, a doctoral student in early childhood education, and James L. Hoot, Early Childhood Education Professor and Director, Early Childhood Research Center, Department of Learning and Instruction, State University of New York at Buffalo, focuses on overweight children and how educators (and schools) might be actually supporting and reinforcing this unhealthful lifestyle.

"Being selected as a finalist for the Distinguished Achievement Award is a great honor for both ACEI and the authors, Cynthia Lynn-Garbe and James Hoot. Notification of the award reached ACEI just days before the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the new food guide "MyPyramid." Very timely and informative, the article helps to draw international attention to the rapidly emerging obesity epidemic in children and the significant threat obesity poses to the health of children worldwide" says Gerald Odland, Executive Director, ACEI.

Authors Lynn-Garbe and Hoot emphasize that teachers should be aware of the causes of the rapidly emerging obesity epidemic and they should understand their role in stemming this major threat. Clearly, the problems that overweight children encounter go beyond the physical. They also may suffer discrimination and ridicule. In "Weighing In," Lynn-Garbe and Hoot conclude that while school environments can have a powerful influence on children's behaviors, families and the community are equally significant. Schools should find ways to work with the families and communities to promote healthful eating and activity patterns.

"The significance of the AEP Awards has become twofold," said Charlene Gaynor, Executive Director of AEP. "Not only do they reward publishers with the recognition they deserve, more importantly they help parents and teachers identify the best educational products and publications available."

Childhood Education articles won Distinguished Achievement Awards in 1992 and 2000, and were finalists in 2001, 2003, and 2004. The rigorous selection process makes being a finalist a noteworthy honor. A two-tiered judging panel selects no more than four finalists in each category. Winners will be selected on June 8 at the Association of Educational Publishers Annual Awards Banquet & Gala in Washington, DC.

About ACEI:
The Association for Childhood Education International is the oldest professional organization in the world dedicated to the development of the whole child, from birth to early adolescence. Founded in 1892, ACEI is an organization of teachers, teacher educators, teacher interns and parents whose primary purpose is to promote the inherent rights, education, and well being of children in the home, school, and community. ACEI publishes the award-winning publication Childhood Education, as well as the Journal of Research in Childhood Education.