Ponte Vedra Beach author Krista Keating-Joseph won the top Royal Palm Literary Award in the Children’s Picture Book category for her book, “Big-Hearted Charlie Runs The Mile,” at the recent Florida Writers Association’s annual conference.
The book is based on a true story about a little boy (Keating-Joseph’s son Charles Keating IV) who joins a track team and works hard to overcome his small size as he runs against boys who are much bigger. At first, he never wins a race. But Charlie doesn’t give up, and his hard work pays off. He becomes a champion on the track and later a true hero in real life as a U.S. Navy SEAL.
Charlie’s grandmother Phyllis Holmes illustrated the book.
“Big-Hearted Charlie Runs The Mile” is book No. 1 in the Big-Hearted Charlie Series. It was published April 12, 2017. Book No. 2, “Big-Hearted Charlie Never Gives Up: Fun Adventures,” is scheduled to be published this month.
Both books are published by Legacies & Memories in St. Augustine.
They can be purchased online at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, booksamillion.com and other online retailers.
