Miss Dorothy’s Garden Wins 2024 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award

June 5, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gwen Witherspoon, [email protected]

San Francisco, California—Miss Dorothy’s Garden: 9 BEE Attitudes to Grow By has been named a WINNER in the 27th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in the Children’s Picture Book, Early Reader category.

Published as part of the Miss Dorothy’s Garden Legacy Project, this defacto guide to kindness honors Dorothy Witherspoon's century of service in San Francisco, the State of California, and the nation. At 100 years old, her work as a psychiatric emergency room night shift nurse for nearly 40 years, community volunteer, and faith leader demonstrates that kindness is a frontline defense against the growing mental health crisis among children. The book equips children with 9 BEE Attitudes as they face life’s challenges, cultivating a garden we all get to grow in.

Foreword Reviews, a journal devoted to independent publishing, announced the 2024 winners today, honoring books that exemplify excellence across 55 categories. With over 2,400 entries from small and university presses, Miss Dorothy’s Garden stood out in a competitive field.

“What started as a family tribute and children's book idea has become a global movement,” said author Gwendolyn Faye. “This award from Foreword affirms the power of a seed, and I am so grateful that Dorothy Witherspoon gets to literally receive her flowers while she is still here.”

Through the Miss Dorothy’s Garden Legacy Project, children around the world are being enlisted as BEE Buddies with Miss Dorothy and her faithful BEE helpers. As they learn and live the BEE Attitudes, they discover that together, we grow a beautiful garden in every neighborhood.

Explore all the winners here:
👉 https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/winners/2024/

Since 1998, Foreword Reviews has provided trade reviews of independently published books. Its INDIES Book of the Year Awards celebrate the best of what small presses offer, spotlighting stories that might otherwise go unseen. With trusted librarians and booksellers as judges, the awards have become a mark of both creative distinction and cultural significance.