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:
Corinne's Fin
Dayle Dabney
2016 Honorable Mention
32 Pages
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Children - Concept
Corinne’s Fin is a children’s book written by Dayle Dabney and illustrated by Ashley Teets. Corinne is a goldfish who swims well in Lavender Lake, where fishing is strictly forbidden. Her bulletin board at home is covered in gold medals, as she wins every swimming tournament. One day while practicing her swimming, not long after mentoring a group of tiny fans, one of Corinne’s fins was badly damaged when it snagged and tore off on a fishing hook; somebody had broken the law and was fishing in a no-fishing pond! Without her fin, Corinne was only able to swim in circles, leaving her very sad. While some of her friends cried with her, seeing only what Corinne had lost, her one optimistic friend taught her some new skills to build up her confidence once again. Seeking out things she could do rather than focusing on things that she couldn’t, Corinne finds not just one, but two more things she is great at and uses those skills to help others.
Corinne’s Fin touched close to home for me in so many ways, as I had faced the same dilemma when a head injury stripped me of my hearing and most of my eyesight. The illustrations in Corinne’s Fin are vivid and stunning, complementing this incredible story of greatness, tragedy, sorrow, acceptance, and finding a new path. Dayle Dabney’s message that we are not one-trick-ponies, and have many qualities which we can fall back on if we just look, is a great one. Corinne’s Fin is a tale of courage and determination, and while it is aimed at children, I could not help but smile at the way it was presented. I recommend this book to children of all ages, as well as to those who have suffered a life-altering event and need a little guidance. Great job!
Recommend this book:
The Pancake Menu
Menu & Cookbook Hands-on Math Fun (Kids Menu Books 1)
Lucy Ravitch
2016 Bronze Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Concept
I confess, I am a mom and I do not know how to make pancakes. So when I saw Lucy Ravitch’s book, The Pancake Menu: Menu & Cookbook Hands-on Math Fun, I grabbed it in hopes of learning. I was not disappointed and am happy to say I have a better idea of how to make pancakes now.
The Pancake Menu starts off with colorful pictures of all the recipes in the book. On these pictures are also prices that you can use to teach your children math when you order the pancakes. In the back of the book are the cooking tips and actual recipes for each item that was pictured. Ravitch has a bunch of pancake recipes in this book that I have never heard of. Such as Flying Saucer Pancakes and Overstuffed Pancakes. One thing is that they all look fun to make. The recipe I look forward to trying the most is the Alphabet Pancakes. Making letters and names would be fun. The hardest part of this recipe looks to be learning how to write mirror image. But thanks to Ravitch’s helpful tip about writing the letters out on paper, she makes me feel confident that I could do it.
The Pancake Menu is the first book in the Kids Menu Book series. I think a cookbook for kids is a great idea. It would even be helpful to adults like me who are still earning how to cook. I look forward to reading more books in the Kids Menu Book series.
Recommend this book:
Suzie Snowflake
One beautiful flake (a self-esteem story)
Crystaline Rose
2016 Silver Medal
36 Pages
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Children - Concept
Suzie Snowflake by Crystaline Rose is a poetic story for children about a snowflake who is afraid to be different. Suzie Snowflake struggles daily because she has what she thought was a flaw. Her mother explains to her that it is not a flaw; she has her own unique design. I chose to read Suzie Snowflake with my 4-year-old daughter. We both enjoyed the story. The message in the story is a good one. It is all right to be different because that is what makes you unique. I think that a lot of people can relate to Suzie Snowflake and her insecurities. The wording in the book was a little difficult for my child to read by herself. That is why I will recommend this book for ages 6 and up.
The illustrations in the book were absolutely beautiful. I would never have imagined a snowflake to look like that. My daughter especially liked the rainbows. She spent over an hour staring at them. I really liked that Rose included information on how a snowflake is formed at the end of the book. At the back of the book there is also a snowflake that your child can color.
Overall, I think this is a great book for children. The message is something that everyone, including adults, needs to hear. There isn't a single person in this world who is not insecure about something in themselves. This book reminds people that it is okay to look different. This is the type of book that belongs in schools.
Recommend this book:
The City Kittens and the Old House Cat
Mrs D.
2016 Gold Medal
34 Pages
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Children - Concept
The City Kittens and the Old House Cat is a story written with a Christmas backdrop. Nyda, the cat, is happy in the family where she is living and she has settled into a comfortable routine. Her life changes when the eldest daughter of the family brings in two new kittens, Mickey and Jack. There is a lot of activity in the house and Nyda feels a little irritated with all the noise and happenings, and she resents their presence in the family.
The story is a beautiful story of love and compassion. The way Nyda changes from a selfish and self-centered cat is truly amazing. It is a message for all of us that we need to change and a positive change is good for anyone. The book also speaks about how we get comfortable with our mundane lives and we do not want it to change for fear of losing comfort and the security we are used to.
The City Kittens and the Old House Cat is an inspiring story written from a cat's point of view. The story can be understood by all pet lovers. The book has some beautiful and colorful illustrations. That makes the book very attractive and visually appealing, something which all the kids love. Children's books should be colorful and bright. The message of tolerance is very important in the current living situation. The book has a nice moral which can be explained to children and they can be asked to practice it too.
Recommend this book:
Christmas 'Lilly'
Starlette Universe
Kathy Johnson
2015 Finalist
39 Pages
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Children - Concept
Christmas 'Lilly' is a cute little fiction tale for small kids by Kathy Johnson. Lilly is excited because it is the festive season in Starlette town and she cannot wait to unwrap her presents. The animals are a big part of the festivities. Fraidy Cat is posing as “Mrs. Claws,” and Blossom the Cow, dressed as a reindeer, wants everyone to have a “Moo’rry Christmas.” She even gave Lilly an advent “cow’lender” for a gift. Lilly likes to "cele’bake" with fruitcake and milk, and is a big fan of gingerbread cookies. The only thing that ruins the festive spirit is having “Eva’nezer Scrooge” around. Eva hates Christmas and would do anything to have “NO’tivity seen”, so she gets coal in her stocking, but “Eva’nezer” isn't going to stop Lilly from having a good time.
Christmas 'Lilly' is “cow’nting” down the days to Christmas, and Kathy Johnson has a good imagination that brings these characters to life on each of the festive days in her fun book. Her writing content combines with lovely pictures to tell the story (piction), and she has the adorable animals interact with clever remarks that are so much “pun.” Puns play a major part in the author’s book, and reading the content shows how creative she can be. You will meet wonderful characters, and learn why Frosty the Snowman had a meltdown. Kathy Johnson writes humorously and although her book Christmas 'Lilly' is extremely short, it’s nicely written and is sure to delight young readers.
Recommend this book:
Everybody Wake Up!!
Daniel Jude Miller
2015 Finalist
52 Pages
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Children - Concept
When you’re wide awake and you see someone sleeping, do you ever just want to scream to wake him or her up? Well, that’s what Sunny does in Everybody Wake Up!! by Daniel Jude Miller. Sunny is a blonde, curly-haired little girl who loves to be awake, and she wants everyone around her to be awake and enjoy the day right along with her. But she keeps running into very sleepy people today, so she decides to wake them all up by screaming, “Everybody wake up!!” And she always does it with a huge smile on her face.
I absolutely loved this book. It was such a cute story. This is definitely not a book to read in the library or at bedtime. This is a fun book that kids will enjoy being silly and loud with. They’ll be laughing and screaming right along with Sunny. I’m a grown adult, and I found myself giggling with a huge smile on my face and wanting to scream with Sunny throughout the entire book. Plus, the illustrations are AMAZING; they complemented the story perfectly. They made it and the characters come alive. I can’t imagine any kid not enjoying this book. Doing both the creative writing and the incredible illustrations, Daniel Jude Miller is clearly very talented. I would purchase a hard copy of Everybody Wake Up!! in a heartbeat. Not only will I read this to my daughter, but I will also read it to elementary students I substitute teach for. I guarantee they will all adore it and beg for me to read it again and again.
Recommend this book:
A Little Goes a Long Way
Ashley Mills Monaghan
2015 Honorable Mention
44 Pages
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Children - Concept
In A Little Goes a Long Way, written by Ashley Mills Monaghan and illustrated by Vivian Nguyen, Fin, along with his adorable dog, Sausages, tries his best to help his family out by doing some chores. From giving the dog way too much food to putting way too much laundry detergent in the washer, Fin quickly realizes, with the help of his parents and grandparents, that a little goes a long way.
I have read quite a few children’s books recently, and I have to say that this book is the cutest so far. There was something about it that just had me smiling from ear to ear throughout the whole story. It could be the fact that it is written in a perfectly simplistic way that children will understand and relate to. It could most certainly be the fact that the illustrations were absolutely adorable, unique, and incomparable. It could also be the fact that even though presented in a simple way, this story teaches a valuable lesson of conservation and love. Then again, it could be all of the above. I just absolutely loved this book, and I don’t have one single negative thing to say about it.
I read this book on my computer, but I will definitely be purchasing a paperback copy for my daughter, who needs to learn the lessons taught and who will completely love the illustrations. With a super cute story and fantastic images, A Little Goes a Long Way is a must-read. Ashley Mills Monaghan and Vivian Nguyen make the perfect team, and I hope to see more from them both. I will gladly add this book and any others created by them to my daughter’s growing library.
Recommend this book:
A Brand New Day
A Banana Split Story
A.S. Chung
2015 Bronze Medal
34 Pages
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Children - Concept
A Brand New Day: A Banana Split Story, written by A.S. Chung and illustrated by Paula Bossio, addresses the lives of children of separation and divorce as they spend some days with their mothers and other days with their fathers. The main character of this story is a girl who is loved by her mother and father. She loves her days with each of them as she spends some days with her mum and some with her dad because they have separate homes. The girl shares what she enjoys doing with her parents. With her father, she enjoys cooking and camping, and on days with her mother she enjoys gardening, playing with her step-brother and having tea parties. The girl knows that she is loved by both her mother and father, and she loves them both and enjoys spending time with both.
A.S. Chung shares a story of a girl who has two homes in A Brand New Day: A Banana Split Story. This story is great as it will help children of separation and divorce learn that they are not alone in their family situation and also it can be reassuring for children to know that it is okay to enjoy both homes and not feel as if they have to pick a favorite home and/or parent. This book would be an excellent resource to use in a counseling group for elementary students in similar situations.
Recommend this book:
Runaway Clothes
Mrs.D
2015 Silver Medal
44 Pages
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Children - Concept
Runaway Clothes by Mrs. D joins this author’s growing list of good quality children’s books. The illustrations in this volume are superbly drawn by the very talented Chanoa, making this a delight to read, regardless of your age. Young Nika awakens one morning to discover all her clothes are missing from her closet. She asks the hangers what they did with her clothes, but only manages to anger them, so the hangers run away, too. After pouting for a bit, Nika realizes she did not treat her clothes very nicely, so it’s her own fault they ran away. This epiphany makes her realize that her toys might also become sufficiently disenchanted to run away, and then how would she cope? To prevent such an eventuality, Nika decides to clean up her room like never before. She puts everything very neatly in its proper place, but is that enough to encourage her clothes to return to her closet?
Runaway Clothes is richly illustrated, with a hint of Anime influencing the drawings. The text of the story meshes perfectly with the illustrations; so much so, that you will find yourself pausing on each page to carefully peruse the illustrations after reading the text. Mrs. D has firmly established herself as one of this generation’s premier children’s authors. Readers are encouraged to visit her website, http://www.mrsdbooks.net/ for video trailers for each of her books… a definite plus when you need to select only one or two books out of a dozen or more choices. All of Mrs. D’s books that I’ve so far read have been based on actual events in her life, which makes it very easy to relate to them. If you’ve not yet discovered Mrs. D, Runaway Clothes is an excellent one with which to start. You will grow to treasure all her stories.
Recommend this book:
The Royal Palm
Mrs. D.
2015 Silver Medal
40 Pages
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Children - Concept
The Royal Palm by Mrs. D. joins this author’s growing collection of richly illustrated and highly imaginative stories for children. In this latest tale, a beautiful specimen tree has been planted in a special garden, fulfilling her life-long wish to leave behind her small island and move to the mainland. While pondering the circumstances which brought her to that point, the silvery Royal Palm reflects upon the true friends she left behind, who accepted her just as she was in spite of her assumed arrogance toward them. She recalls the hurricane she thought would destroy her, and remembers how the smaller, more common palm trees rallied round her to protect her from the blowing sand, waves and wind. While she expects to be happy in her new life, she comes to the realization that she will always miss her old friends, regardless of how many new friends she may one day have.
The Royal Palm is a wonderful fantasy, told in the flowery language one might expect from an anthropomorphized tree, the wind, and other elements of a tropical paradise. Intended to facilitate the growth of a child’s imagination, this story also comes complete with a valuable life lesson. As they become a part of the story, young readers will learn to appreciate the other people in their lives. They will learn that it is not always wise to prejudge those around them because a day of reckoning may come when those whom they might think poorly of will become the ones on whom the child must depend for help. Although understated, The Royal Palm shouts loud and clear to young readers: “Don’t judge by appearances. It’s what’s inside that counts.” This very well-written tale from Mrs. D. is a must-have, particularly for early/intermediate readers.