150 Award Genres
Children
- Children - Action
- Children - Adventure
- Children - Animals
- Children - Audiobook
- Children - Christian
- Children - Coming of Age
- Children - Concept
- Children - Educational
- Children - Fable
- Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Children - General
- Children - Grade 4th-6th
- Children - Grade K-3rd
- Children - Mystery
- Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Children - Non-Fiction
- Children - Picture Book
- Children - Preschool
- Children - Preteen
- Children - Religious Theme
- Children - Social Issues
Christian
- Christian - Amish
- Christian - Biblical Counseling
- Christian - Devotion/Study
- Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Christian - Fiction
- Christian - General
- Christian - Historical Fiction
- Christian - Living
- Christian - Non-Fiction
- Christian - Romance - Contemporary
- Christian - Romance - General
- Christian - Romance - Historical
- Christian - Thriller
Fiction
- Fiction - Action
- Fiction - Adventure
- Fiction - Animals
- Fiction - Anthology
- Fiction - Audiobook
- Fiction - Chick Lit
- Fiction - Crime
- Fiction - Cultural
- Fiction - Drama
- Fiction - Dystopia
- Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
- Fiction - Fantasy - General
- Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
- Fiction - General
- Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
- Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
- Fiction - Historical - Personage
- Fiction - Holiday
- Fiction - Horror
- Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Fiction - Inspirational
- Fiction - Intrigue
- Fiction - LGBTQ
- Fiction - Literary
- Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
- Fiction - Military
- Fiction - Mystery - General
- Fiction - Mystery - Historical
- Fiction - Mystery - Legal
- Fiction - Mystery - Murder
- Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
- Fiction - Mythology
- Fiction - New Adult
- Fiction - Paranormal
- Fiction - Realistic
- Fiction - Religious Theme
- Fiction - Science Fiction
- Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Fiction - Social Issues
- Fiction - Southern
- Fiction - Sports
- Fiction - Supernatural
- Fiction - Suspense
- Fiction - Tall Tale
- Fiction - Thriller - Conspiracy
- Fiction - Thriller - Environmental
- Fiction - Thriller - Espionage
- Fiction - Thriller - General
- Fiction - Thriller - Legal
- Fiction - Thriller - Medical
- Fiction - Thriller - Political
- Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
- Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist
- Fiction - Time Travel
- Fiction - Urban
- Fiction - Visionary
- Fiction - Western
- Fiction - Womens
Non-Fiction
- Non-Fiction - Adventure
- Non-Fiction - Animals
- Non-Fiction - Anthology
- Non-Fiction - Art/Photography
- Non-Fiction - Audiobook
- Non-Fiction - Autobiography
- Non-Fiction - Biography
- Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
- Non-Fiction - Cooking/Food
- Non-Fiction - Cultural
- Non-Fiction - Drama
- Non-Fiction - Education
- Non-Fiction - Environment
- Non-Fiction - Genealogy
- Non-Fiction - General
- Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
- Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
- Non-Fiction - Health - Fitness
- Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
- Non-Fiction - Historical
- Non-Fiction - Hobby
- Non-Fiction - Home/Crafts
- Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Non-Fiction - Inspirational
- Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
- Non-Fiction - Marketing
- Non-Fiction - Memoir
- Non-Fiction - Military
- Non-Fiction - Motivational
- Non-Fiction - Music/Entertainment
- Non-Fiction - New Age
- Non-Fiction - Occupational
- Non-Fiction - Parenting
- Non-Fiction - Relationships
- Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy
- Non-Fiction - Retirement
- Non-Fiction - Self Help
- Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Non-Fiction - Social Issues
- Non-Fiction - Spiritual/Supernatural
- Non-Fiction - Sports
- Non-Fiction - Travel
- Non-Fiction - True Crime
- Non-Fiction - Womens
- Non-Fiction - Writing/Publishing
Poetry
Romance
Young Adult
- Young Adult - Action
- Young Adult - Adventure
- Young Adult - Coming of Age
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
- Young Adult - Fantasy - General
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
- Young Adult - General
- Young Adult - Horror
- Young Adult - Mystery
- Young Adult - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Young Adult - Non-Fiction
- Young Adult - Paranormal
- Young Adult - Religious Theme
- Young Adult - Romance
- Young Adult - Sci-Fi
- Young Adult - Social Issues
- Young Adult - Thriller
Illustration Award
Recommend this book:
Catterfly is Born
Alma Hammond
2019 Gold Medal
38 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
Catterfly is Born, written by Alma Hammond and illustrated by Emily Hercock, is an adorable story of a caterpillar that comes out of her cocoon as a cat with butterfly wings and antennae. Even though Catterfly is very different than the other butterflies, she explains to her friends how she is the same in so many ways and how the fact that she is a cat and a butterfly allows her to help and protect them better. Catterfly tells a story that teaches the life cycle of a butterfly with coloring pages at the end along with some fun facts that kids can learn.
Catterfly is Born is a wonderful educational story with a plot that unfolds as it teaches kids the life cycle of a butterfly and encourages kids to understand that everyone is different. I love the characters in Catterfly and how they are brought to vibrant and colorful life in the illustrations by Emily Hercock. I love how Hammond explained the life cycle of a butterfly in such a creative way and pointed out that differences are what make everyone special and unique individuals in a way that kids can easily understand. I recommend Catterfly to anyone with children ready to learn fundamental lessons in a fun story. Hammond also added bonus pages at the end of the book that show the life cycle of a butterfly, pages for kids to color, and some fun facts that will reinforce what was learned in the previous pages.
Recommend this book:
Sweet T and the Turtle Team
Book 3 of the Sweet T Tales
Cat Michaels
2019 Silver Medal
86 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
Sweet T and the Turtle Team: Book 3 of the Sweet T Tales by Cat Michaels is a charming story that revolves around Tara, or Sweet T as she is called by her family, and the adventure and mystery that surround her during her time at Gull Island. Tara is feeling lonely sitting on her Great-Aunt Mae’s porch and she misses her older sister, Kristen, who stayed behind with their father. Her younger sister, Jenna, and her mother, and Jenna’s stuffed rabbit, Fuzzy, are there with her. She finds the children on the North Carolina island polite but different from her pals at home. Mama knows life is different on the island. Her Great-Aunt Mae lives a hop and a skip away from the beach. The girls' mother is involved in a special project with the Gull Island Aquarium and that is the reason why they are all there.
The story has mystery, excitement, wildlife, adventure, turtles, pelicans, family, and friendship. The topic of conservation of turtles and their nests has been knitted in very well, helping readers understand more about turtles, their nests, eggs, and hatching. Texts from Kristen are educational and informative and make the story attractive, and the manner in which these are shared with readers is unique. All the characters - Billy, Tara, Jenna, Great-Aunt Mae, and Mama - are fun and well sketched, making them memorable to readers. The watercolor illustrations are bright and summery and they make the story, scenes, and characters vivid. It is a good story for read aloud sessions in classrooms because of its contents and the social causes it deals with. The story has layers to it and not only addresses ocean conservation, environmental issues, and wildlife, but also overcoming dyslexia and bullying. The author does an excellent job weaving in social issues and life lessons through this story.
Recommend this book:
Pippin and the River of Wonders
A Voice for Wildlife
Stacey Gerhart
2019 Silver Medal
102 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
Pippin's family lived on the river and she had been kayaking since the age of five. Now at nine, she could name all the animals on the river. She knew many of the turtles by species. When her next-door neighbor, Tommy, tried to take a protected turtle from the river, illegally, Pippin stopped him. She also knew it was illegal to cut protected water plants in the wetlands. The cove was Pippin's favorite place in the whole world and she loved sitting there with her dog, Noble. Pippin understood the languages of wildlife species and not many people knew about it.
Pippin and the River of Wonders: A Voice for Wildlife by Stacey Gerhart, DVM tackles the topic of protecting wildlife and the environment. The story is fun and interesting and the author makes it vivid and tangible with the help of some wonderful pictures. The other characters in the book are as interesting as Pippin and will encourage all readers to join the cause, keeping the beauty of nature intact and protecting the planet. It is a beautiful story that will appeal to readers of all age groups and it is a must-have in school libraries to encourage children to be more aware of the natural beauty of the planet and to protect it. It is a good book for parents to help their children become responsible for protecting nature and the animals that live in it.
Recommend this book:
My Name Is Curly
Andi Kryszak
2019 Honorable Mention
42 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
My Name Is Curly by Andi Kryszak is a children’s animal book that would appeal most to an audience of toddlers, young children learning to read, and young school-aged children. Curly had a wonderful life that began when he was born to two loving doggie parents, but a moment of boredom causes Curly to wander off into the woods where he quickly becomes lost. Thankfully, a kind raccoon finds him and tries to help. As Curly tries to find his way home, he learns the value of true friendship and that friends can become family. Will Curly find his way back to the barn or will he find a new forever family?
My Name Is Curly by Andi Kryszak is a wonderfully written children’s book with beautiful age appropriate illustrations that truly make the story come alive on each page. The language of the book was clearly well chosen to be appropriate for young children learning to read, and understandable by children who are read to from this book. The story itself was a very sweet tale of friendship, forever homes, and the value of family. I personally really liked the ending of this book as I thought it was very sweet and it was also realistic about what can happen to lost dogs. I also really liked the fact that the author donates a portion of the proceeds to a program that educates children about rescue animals. Overall, this is simply a very cute children’s book that is a must-read for all youngsters who love animals!
Recommend this book:
Margot Gets an Unexpected Visit
The fanciful adventures of a groundhog (Nature in Quebec, Pictures of Astonishing Wildlife Book 1)
Lieve Snellings
2019 Finalist
40 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
Margot Gets An Unexpected Visit is a charming work of nature storytelling and photography composed and compiled by author-photographer Lieve Snellings. In this story of nature in Quebec, aimed at ages 5 to 9 years old, the central character Margot is a groundhog. Also known as woodchucks, these typically solitary creatures may sometimes surprise you, and this is just the story which the author has captured and recorded for her tale. When Margot the groundhog meets two human girls with a passion for nature, an interesting and heart-warming story develops between them. Filled with real-life photos of their little adventure together, the book sends a message of how nature and humans can live in harmony together.
Author-photographer Lieve Snellings does a great job staging and capturing fantastic images to convey her story, and bringing other woodland creatures into the tale to enrich the educational value of the work. Marie and Lowieske are adorable sisters who clearly respect and are excited by interacting with nature, which is really inspiring for other youngsters reading this book to see. There’s also plenty of cultural quality and the humor of Canada present in the work, as well as European influences which again make the overall reading experience all the richer for learners. I can see this book being utilized in schools for the many lessons it can teach, as well as its high entertainment value. Overall, Margot Gets An Unexpected Visit is a recommended read for anyone with youngsters curious about the natural world.
Recommend this book:
Super Rooster and Wonder Cat
Travel with Me, Book One
Alma Hammond
2018 Silver Medal
48 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
Super Rooster and Wonder Cat is a cute little story with a big concept that can help young children as it is read to them or as they use this book as a starter reader. The colorful illustrations of Hugh Keiser help bring to life the concept of discovering your own inner strengths or super powers presented by author Alma Hammond. There is a rhythmical pattern to the story that is typical of young children's books. This writing style further ingrains the idea of having inner strength and it being different from the inner strength or "super powers" of others. Super Rooster and Wonder Cat also supports the important lesson of practicing what you do - even what you're already quite good at it.
Alma Hammond doesn't leave parents, teachers or children hanging at the end with just a final "cock-a-doodle-doo". Instead, the author shares three powerful "Ask Yourself" questions, a few facts on Bora Bora - where the story is based - and some fun facts about the various different animals in the book. Cats and roosters are more commonly known, but by bringing in marine life, via the crab, the stingray, and the shark, Super Rooster and Wonder Cat offers opportunities for children to realize that these very unique animals are not necessarily something to fear. Instead, Hammond's Super Rooster and Wonder Cat shows young readers the importance of talking to those that are different from you and learning what makes them special and unique and honoring them. Alma Hammond's Super Rooster and Wonder Cat deserves space on any children's library shelf.
Recommend this book:
I Am a Butterfly
A Story About Big, Beautiful Changes
Sally Stone
2018 Bronze Medal
52 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
I Am a Butterfly: A Story About Big, Beautiful Changes is a nonfiction educational picture book for children written by Sally Stone. The main character is a beautiful monarch butterfly, but she didn’t always look like she does now. At first, she was a tiny egg that was attached to a milkweed leaf. Then, she became a plain little caterpillar who ate milkweed leaves and gradually turned into a larger, yellow, white and black striped caterpillar. I Am a Butterfly follows the stages of development of a Monarch butterfly using full-color photographs, including ones that use a penny as comparison to help the reader visualize the size of Monarch eggs and growing caterpillars. Stone includes a factoid page filled with interesting information about the Monarch, its migration patterns and its dependency on the milkweed plant. She also provides a chart of the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle as well as a Monarch Resource page and useful tips on how to help Monarchs thrive in your area.
Sally Stone’s nonfiction educational picture book for children, I Am a Butterfly: A Story About Big, Beautiful Changes, is a fascinating look at the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. I loved the author’s photographs, especially those which gave me a sense of the sizes of the eggs and the developing caterpillars. Each picture is a gem, allowing the reader to see the light filtering through the butterfly’s wings and to clearly differentiate their legs, mouth-parts and antennae. This book is both educational and entertaining, and it got me enthused enough to seriously consider setting up my own Monarch butterfly habitat. I suspect that young readers will get as excited about butterflies as I did after reading this informative and well-presented book. The vocabulary is perfect for new readers to work through, and I Am a Butterfly is also a great selection for story time. It even gives advice on how to get butterflies to land on your clothing! I Am a Butterfly: A Story About Big, Beautiful Changes is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Franky The Finicky Flamingo
The Cure for a Picky Eater
Wanda Luthman
2018 Honorable Mention
15 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
Franky the Finicky Flamingo by Wanda Luthman is a preschool picture book about Franky the Flamingo who tries many different foods to eat. But each time they are not right for him. As he watches the other birds and what they eat, he tries their diet out for himself, but his pink is beginning to fade. And those foods either make his tummy hurt or don’t go down so well. Finally, a wise owl tells Franky that he needs to eat special pink foods like shellfish and shrimp to keep his feathers nice and pink and, of course, healthy. Franky is grateful to the owl for helping him find the perfect food. As it turns out, Franky is really not finicky at all; he just requires special food that fits his personal diet. As he eats the right foods, his feathers turn beautiful once again.
This is an exceptionally cute story for toddlers and kids of the preschool age as well as an appropriate beginner reader book for early readers. I actually read this story to my three preschoolers and they were very interested in the story line. It kept them engaged and wanting to know more about Franky the Finicky Flamingo. This is a great picture book to teach young children about the different diets of various birds as well as entertain them with the sing-song rhyme of the story. Great job to Wanda Luthman for a super entertaining story and colorful illustrations. I loved the question at the end. What in the world am I going to drink?
Recommend this book:
The Dog at the Gate
How a Throwaway Dog Becomes Special
Sunny Weber
2018 Finalist
246 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
Max, the Australian Shepherd dog, is adopted into a family with two children. Although he loves his boy and his girl, the master and mistress don’t seem to like him much. Never washed, never brushed, Max spends the next two years of his life pacing his small, barren yard and longing to play with his boy. His nights are fraught with the danger of raccoons while his days are lonely. When Max is hurt after defending himself against a vicious dog, the master takes him away. Max gets his first bath at the shelter, and eventually is taken into a home with a kind mistress, two other dogs, three cats and a pair of parakeets. As Max slowly regains his health and trust in humans, he learns that this loving home might be just another temporary stop in his life.
The Dog at the Gate: How a Throwaway Dog Becomes Special is a modern, canine version of Black Beauty that’s also reminiscent of Nop’s Trials and The Call of the Wild. This book is a gut-wrenching combination of sadness and triumph and you may want to keep the tissues handy. As with many books in this genre, The Dog at the Gate reveals the unjust and careless manner in which humans so often treat their animals. This novel focuses more on purposeful neglect and cruelty than that born of ignorance, while also hinting at the association that people who are cruel to animals tend to be cruel to each other too. Author Sunny Weber writes with a clean, uncomplicated style. Every chapter has a charming illustration at the beginning that highlights a scene from the following chapter. The Dog at the Gate is an addictive and emotional adventure that will appeal to readers of all ages. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys books told from an animal’s point of view.
Recommend this book:
Wings and Feet
Lisa Reinicke
2018 Gold Medal
32 Pages
Check current price
Children - Animals
Wings and Feet by author Lisa Reinicke and illustrator Scot McDonald is a children's book that focuses on the friendship of a boy and a butterfly. It has a delightful rhyming quality, hitting you at all levels of emotion, from happy, to anxious, to a touching ending. The illustrations on every page are simple in style, but have a wonderful core of perfection to them. There are warm tones in areas and then there is one area that is darker, that really pops out at you, and nearly takes you into a whole other world in itself.
I don't know if this will be true of everyone, but I burst into tears at the end of Lisa Reinicke's Wings and Feet. I'm not sure how a short children's book was able to bring me to tears so quickly, but it was definitely a cathartic experience. The circle of life was touched upon, and I'm a lover of all creatures great and small, so maybe that's why. I remember helping caterpillars into trees so that they wouldn't get squashed on the driveway. There was something about this book that made me think of The Last Unicorn and of The Land Before Time, but I don't want to give everything away about it. You'll have to find out for yourself just how heartwarming it is.
This book is perfect for children. They will be delighted by Scot McDonald's illustrations and will hopefully understand the message inside this book, which is plainly understandable. Depending on their age, it might be something that an adult needs to explain to them. It was one of the best children's books I've ever read. Your little one will want you to read it night after night.