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:
Stop Licking That!
Karin Mitchell
2017 Honorable Mention
256 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
I completely related to Stop Licking That! by Karin Mitchell who comically shares her experiences of being a parent to two young boys. Parenting is not easy, but Mitchell handles it with some sort of grace and a whole lot of sarcastic humor. I decided to read Stop Licking That! because I was hoping another soul would have had some similar experiences to raising a child like mine. I was not looking for a normal “how to be a parent” guide and Mitchell did not disappoint. Too often I found myself sharing similar thoughts with Mitchell. Her sarcastic attitude throughout the book was something that I really liked. My favorite chapter was “Stop Licking That.” I do think she has me beat on things she has said not to lick to her children. Mitchell’s short story “The Splash Pad” was a friendly reminder why parents cannot go to the bathroom by themselves, ever!
The book is not all about Mitchell’s experiences in being a mom. At the end of the book, Mitchell gives some friendly advice, such as dealing with anger and how to fly with kids. I also thought her list of swearing substitutions was pretty clever. However, Mitchell’s advice about the food will not work on my child so I am going to send my daughter to her to see if they can work something out. I enjoyed this book. Too often parenting is taken too seriously. It helps to laugh at our mistakes and experiences. If you have kids, then I recommend you read this book! Also if you never read “About the Author” in books, I suggest you read Mitchell’s. It is funny and totally worth it.
Recommend this book:
Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense
Sarah Angleton
2017 Finalist
288 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
The title Launching Sheep by Sarah Angleton continues: And Other Stories from The Intersection of History and Nonsense. The volume is comprised of eighty-six informative, fascinating and entertaining articles taken from the author’s weekly blog, which were published over a period of more than four years up until September 2016. They cover a mind-boggling variety of subjects from the history of tandem bicycles and the development of fire hydrants, to why Scottish bagpipes were considered weapons of war and the origins of the phrase ‘bringing home the bacon.’ In the opening article, ‘History’s Pants Are on Fire,’ Sarah quite rightly points out the random and often unreliable nature of historic records and the inclination of historians, where hard fact is lacking, to simply make things up. At the same time, she dismisses any claim to her being a serious historian in the academic sense. Her articles are more the type of weekly columns found in many newspapers over the years, centuries even, by authors and journalists like Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones’ Diary), Giovanni Guareschi, James Thurber, and others too numerous to mention. Like Guareschi, she weaves her family life into the storylines and manages to produce a mixture of interesting facts, history and day-to-day life in the Angleton household, all blended into a series of charming, sometimes thought-provoking, and often amusing vignettes.
As a bit of a trivia nut, I much enjoyed Launching Sheep - it’s the sort of book that you can read from cover to cover or dip into at random and keep at your elbow for future reference; a perfect travelling companion, and a treasure trove of useful information that will never leave you short of an interesting anecdote. But what I particularly liked about the book is the way that, as we go along, we get glimpses into Sarah Angleton’s family life, her birthdays, and those of her husband and two young sons, the rainy day traumas of finding them something interesting to do, the anniversaries and Christmas celebrations. All are woven into articles such as how women’s high heeled shoes were first made for a vertically challenged princess, how President Lincoln was an insomniac, or how Pluto got its name. A thoroughly enjoyable book from a talented author, and highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Meet My Famous Friends
Rich Disilvio
2017 Silver Medal
36 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
Meet My Famous Friends by Rich Disilvio is a delightful series of images that combines facts about famous people with their iconic portraits, cleverly modified to create puns on their names. Over two dozen famous friends are featured, and the roll call is a sweeping review of some of the most influential authors, artists, musicians, scientists, activists and rulers in western civilization.
This book is perfect for punsters and know-it-all twelve-year-olds (I have one) who scoop up not only the plays-on-words in the illustrations, but also the puns in the text. Disilvio chooses some of the most interesting people in history, like Mark Twain and Vincent Van Gogh, to create a book that entertains and informs. It might even stimulate further research by young people who are first introduced to these famous friends through the engaging illustrations.
Some of the puns are rather irreverent, like Queen ELizardbreath I and Sergei Procoughiev, which means this picture book is actually more in tune with teens and adults rather than the early elementary children who read picture books. On the other hand, Disilvio delivers solid educational value for teens. I could imagine individual pages being hung in classrooms and libraries because they provide interesting cultural reminders for young people.
My favorite quote from the book is: “So, let’s drink to imagination, because I believe it’s more important than knowledge.” Disilvio has the rare talent of combining rich artwork with cultural literacy to create flights of imagination. Meet My Famous Friends is a book that will inspire young people and the young at heart to make new friends in history!
Recommend this book:
Motherhood Martyrdom & Costco Runs
Whitney Dineen
2017 Gold Medal
188 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
Motherhood Martyrdom & Costco Runs is a nonfiction collection of humorous stories about life, written by Whitney Dineen. The author is the mother of two young daughters who do not treat her as the queen she had always expected her children to treat her as, but who rather see themselves as royalty elevated to her level -- which she actually kind of admires about them. Much of the action in this memoir takes place, as one would expect from the title, at Costco where provisions, free food samples and ice cream sundaes punctuate anxious and repeated visits to Costco restrooms, moments of serenity spent admiring, and counting, the wall of toilet paper and generally reveling in the orderliness and organization which is apparent in every aisle and on every shelf in that vast, echoing warehouse. Motherhood came relatively late in life for Dineen, whose ambition to be a young, cool mom yielded to the vagaries of nature and the realities of the excruciating torment and unexpected rewards implicit in raising two small children. Each of her essays brings the reader more fully into the lives of her and her two daughters as they navigate their passage through childhood together. And while Dineen makes no bones about having a disorderly house at times and harboring a visceral dislike for those perfectly coiffed and clothed young moms who seem to have it all together, one can’t help but get the feeling that her two little girls won the parent jackpot.
Whitney Dineen’s nonfiction memoir on parenthood, Motherhood Martyrdom & Costco Runs, is dedicated to “all you breeders out there.” Having no plans to ever fall into that category, I wondered at first how involved I could possibly get with the theme of this collection. I had read and reviewed several of the author’s other works and enjoyed them, however, and found myself looking forward to reading this nonfiction offering -- in spite, or perhaps in defiance of the title. But as I read this disarming, honest and hilarious book, my thoughts invariably went back into the past to my tenth grade English class. Mrs. S was brilliant, funny and the consummate English teacher and mentor. In between getting us to appreciate Shakespeare, O’Neill, Dickens and Wilder, Mrs. S painstakingly taught us how to properly fold and read the New York Times and other full-sized newspapers, and introduced us to William Safire and Erma Bombeck. Bombeck’s world was indeed an alien thing, based upon my experiences as a teen, but somehow she bridged that yawning chasm so effortlessly as she shared her world view with me and demonstrated how easily she could get me to laugh and care along with her. Mrs. S and Erma would probably get the biggest charge out of Motherhood Martyrdom & Costco Runs. It’s beautifully written and a joy to read, even the parts that are embarrassing for some Victorian throwbacks like the author’s husband. While the title and even the dedication seem to imply a specific subsection of the public may want to read this, I’ll beg to differ and recommend it to everyone, breeders, non-breeders, even those whose sense of humor is somewhat challenged, as mine is. Dineen works a bit of magic here in this authentic, inspiring and very human collection of humorist writing. Motherhood Martyrdom & Costco Runs is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Fixed
Dope sacks, dye packs and the long welcome back
Doug Piotter
2016 Finalist
272 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
Fixed by Doug Piotter is an dark and engaging memoir that spans the author's life from his youth to his addictions, bank robberies, his life in prison, and finally his release back into society. His childhood with alcoholic parents speaks of pain and unhappiness, and he also describes how he started taking drugs at the age of eleven and got fully addicted, making him a bad guy all along. A string of bank robberies landed him in prison. When released, his prison stint made him look at life with a different perspective and realize that the Universe is actually a forgiving place. It's a story of pain, courage, and triumph, filled with strong emotions and humor.
The author is brutally honest and exposes his life to readers with courage and candor. This story of self destruction and redemption is uplifting and will help all those who are struggling with addictions in life. The book will fill the hearts of readers with beauty, love, hope, and spirituality, and give them the courage to change the bad things in their lives; if they have any.
The author's words are not only insightful and thought-provoking, but also humorous, lifting the heaviness in many places. The exploration of drug filled activities and the author's mind is both harrowing and touching at times. I like the way the author gives an amusing touch while narrating his story, making his personal journey memorable to readers.
Recommend this book:
Echoes in the Walls
Katrina Morgan
2016 Honorable Mention
334 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
To be honest, I didn’t know quite what to expect from Echoes in the Walls by Katrina Morgan. I was expecting an essay type book about the funny and aggravating experiences you will have when you attempt a huge project like renovating an old house. Echoes in the Walls is categorized as non-fiction humor, which is why I expected funny vignettes, but to my surprise this humorous book reads like a novel. I liked it because the characters are well written and very likable. They are, after all, real people, and who knows the members of a family better than Mom? The situation is totally believable. I have experienced some of the twists and turns of making an old house into the house of your dreams. This is probably another reason I like this book.
To my surprise and delight, Echoes in the Walls is, in my opinion, more about family and life’s little quirks than it is about actually doing the job of building the house. Katrina Morgan’s family is very real to me now. I feel I know them and how they will react to things at least as well as I do that fictional family so many of my generation grew up with, The Brady Bunch. This is a family you will learn to love and root for. This is a book you will appreciate. The fact that the story is true and that the characters are real gave it extra punch and authenticity for me.
Recommend this book:
What I've Learned
An Encyclopedia of Perpetual Bullshit
Christopher T. Heist
2016 Honorable Mention
792 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
What I’ve Learned: An Encyclopedia of Perpetual Bullshit by Christopher T. Heist is a humorous collection of life experiences, editorials, and essays on various topics. With his blatant honesty, Heist not only takes and applies a razor sharp wit to the typical memoir, but also organizes it into easy to digest segments. He tackles subjects from abortion to video games, where Heist tells it like it is, taking no prisoners and being completely unapologetic about any of it.
When I first started to read What I’ve Learned: An Encyclopedia of Perpetual Bullshit by Christopher T. Heist, I was surprised in the most pleasant way possible. This memoir is such an innovative and interactive text, which with masterful wordsmithing and strategy could possibly reinvent the genre. Instead of the author directing readers on their journeys and providing reflection, Heist surrenders his book to readers, allowing them to determine what topics appeal to them. Heist’s voice is one of the freshest and most approachable that I’ve read in a long time. It’s strong, acidic, dark, and at times comforting, much like the perfect morning coffee blend. He’s also got an older brother charm, which he uses to delightfully corrupt his readers with his knowledge. While some writers shy away from many topics, Christopher is right there, in the depths of it, offering his views on each topic with the tenacity and frankness that I’ve grown to appreciate.
Recommend this book:
I'd Rather Wear Pajamas
Chelsea Walker Flagg
2016 Bronze Medal
214 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
I'd Rather Wear Pajamas is a humorous memoir by Chelsea Walker Flagg chronicling her life as she leads the reader through her journey of self discovery where she finds out her own definition of what it means to be a strong woman. Dedicated to her three young daughters, I'd Rather Wear Pajamas is a lighthearted, engaging read that feels as though the reader is talking (and laughing) with a good friend. Beginning in Colorado when Chelsea was young child, a girl inspired by her own mother's strength and wanting to emulate it, I'd Rather Wear Pajamas allows the reader to follow Chelsea as she grows up, tripping along on a few hilarious mishaps, some awesome adventures, and a touching story of home birth.
I had a lot of fun reading I'd Rather Wear Pajamas by Chelsea Walker Flagg. With her memoir, the author manages to balance her writing with just the right amounts of personal touch, soul searching, and effervescence to make for a really enjoyable read. It is a book that can easily be read in one sitting and the workout you'll get from laughing is an added bonus. Chelsea has a way of crafting scenes that pull the reader in and have you living in each crazy, often hilarious, and sometimes very moving moments. Any parent of young kids should be able to relate to I'd Rather Wear Pajamas by Chelsea Walker Flagg. It's also good for anyone looking for a speedy, light read, one that is guaranteed to make you laugh. Enjoy!
Recommend this book:
Just Make Me A Sammich
Absurd Observations from a Wild Mind
Don Ake
2016 Silver Medal
274 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
Just Make Me A Sammich: Absurd Observations From a Wild Mind is by Don Ake. Don has been writing humor columns and blogs since the age of 11. He does it to make other people smile or laugh in a time when the world is so serious and scary. With a large number of loyal followers, Don has compiled some of his most well received blogs and created this book. The title is a play on male-female relationships where men believe they are dominant and their female counterparts should be submissive, leading to the man’s demand of ‘Just make me a sammich!’ which, in turn, leads to the woman shouting her response of ‘Get off your butt and make your own sammich!’ What the woman fails to realize is that he only demands the sandwich in the first place because he loves and treasures her so much. Learn about the SHE rule, hanger pains, black market butts, the advantage of boxer briefs, and much, much more.
There really is no way to describe Don Ake’s literary masterpiece of laughs without my husband oddly watching me maw like a donkey followed by unladylike gasps for air and a few snorts in between. Just Make Me A Sammich is possibly the funniest book I have ever read. While it is true that some people will go out of their way to take offence at every politically incorrect word written in these pages, those who really do need a good laugh would benefit from reading the riotous wit which is cleverly presented so as (trying hard) not to offend. Men’s demands on women because they love us so much and women’s scathing responses because they want their men strong – I am still scratching my head as to why ‘sammiches’ determine one’s sexual attainment for the evening, and even considered hiding the bread from my husband while reading Don Ake’s words of wisdom. After reading Don Ake’s book, I can honestly say that dinner conversation at my house will never be the same again. I thoroughly enjoyed each chapter and recommend this book to mature readers who have pondered why women think you should be able to read their minds, while men insist that they are not male chauvinist pigs.
Recommend this book:
Abby's Road, the Long and Winding Road to Adoption
And how Facebook, Aquaman and Theodore Roosevelt Helped
Michael Curry
2015 Finalist
200 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
Abby's Road, the Long and Winding Road to Adoption: And how Facebook, Aquaman and Theodore Roosevelt Helped by Michael Curry is much more than just a book with a long and quirky title. The story follows the journey of the author Michael and his wife Esther as they undergo infertility treatments and ultimately adoption in their endearing quest to become parents. Curry is refreshingly honest, descriptive and raw when describing this roller coaster of a time in his family’s life. As you can tell by the book’s title, Curry also has a sense of humor, which he demonstrates throughout the story (so many fun geek and pop culture mentions in this book). The quest to bring Abby home is an endearing and enlightening read to say the least.
Anyone going through infertility, difficulties conceiving or the adoption process will find a kindred spirit in author Michael Curry. And even those who have zero issues adding to their family will find this book informative regarding the real life struggles of other parents. The POV of a male will probably appeal to readers who are expectant or struggling fathers-to-be and I found the light-hearted tone throughout the book enjoyable. I applaud the author for revealing to readers not only the happy times but also the dark and heartbreaking moments that he and his wife endured. The author’s use of quoting his and his wife’s Facebook posts throughout the story was an accurate reflection of the current digital age and added a realistic tone to the book. Highly recommended!