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:
The Gritty Little Lamb
Dan Allbaugh

2021 Gold Medal
14 Pages
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Children - Animals

Little Lamb would play all day if he had his way, building towers, jumping, wagon rides, and playground slides. Little Lamb loved to win and he could beat every animal. Since he loved to win, the animals let him cheat. He played with his Dad one day and his Dad played it straight. Little Lamb was not happy. He threw a fit and said he was going to quit playing because it was not fair. His Dad advised him that it was the way he responded after a loss that mattered the most instead of the scoreboard's final score. Lambie knew he had to change his attitude and he decided to work harder. He practiced and practiced and his Mom's words kept him going as she told him he would never get there if he decided to quit. Will all the practice enable him to win the game?
The Gritty Little Lamb by Dan Allbaugh is an uplifting story that will encourage young readers to believe in themselves and not to quit. The story is all about determination, perseverance, practice, and having the right attitude. With the help of rhymes and lively illustrations, the author conveys this important message to readers. Anil Yap's illustrations are eye-catching and not only give the characters each a personality but also make the story appealing to youngsters. Lambie's character is real and relatable to many readers out there and is a good way to teach them not to quit. It is a perfect story for tutors and parents to use for storytelling and read-aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries to encourage children to believe in themselves and pursue their passion.
Recommend this book:
Nesting Grounds
Sarah Jane Conklin

2020 Finalist
26 Pages
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Children - Animals

Birds of all sizes, shapes, and descriptions build unique nests in which to lay and nurture their eggs, from which will hatch the next generation. It’s a marvel to watch: creation in all its glory and all in a nest, big or small or built with spider silk and lined with moss, like the delicate ping-pong ball-sized hummingbird nest. Robins use a lot of mud and grasses to build their nests and Snow Buntings use moss, roots, grass, and feathers. Whether the nest is nestled in the tree branches or tucked under the eaves, or secure within a rocky crevice, each nest is unique to its own type of bird, made to nurture and protect, using what materials are most readily available.
Sarah Jane Conklin’s picture book story, Nesting Grounds, is a delightful way to teach young readers about the many types of birds and their nests. Using her own oil paintings to illustrate the various birds and nests, the author/artist has presented lyrical rhyming verse to describe the images of each bird and nest illustrated. But this book isn’t just for young readers. Its artistic charm will attract bird lovers of all ages to read and enjoy. The book begins with a short, rhyming poem to describe the basic nature of birds and their nests and why each type of nest is important to a specific bird. Each of the ten birds chosen for this book has a four-line stanza describing the nest and the interesting eggs laid within. A very enjoyable read: informative and illustrative.
Recommend this book:
Time for Margot to Go to Bed
Lieve Snellings

2020 Honorable Mention
38 Pages
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Children - Animals

Time for Margot to Go to Bed (Margot the Groundhog and Her North American Squirrel Family Book 3) by Lieve Snellings is the story of Margot the groundhog and hibernation. Margot was feeling sad though she loved her sleep time. Frazie, the American red squirrel, felt Margot was sad because she would not be able to run and jump for a long time. Margot explained to Frazie and Phillie, the gray squirrel, how groundhogs don't even visit their families during their hibernation. Margot wanted to hang out with her friends. Her friends, the squirrels, decided to find a way to see each other so that they could play together. They wanted to dry her tears and make her happy to enter her burrow. Let's read the story to find out how Margot's friends planned to stay in touch with her.
This is a beautiful story that will introduce young readers to the concept of hibernation in an engaging way, and the story is also about friendship. It is heartwarming to see Margot's friends trying to find ways to stay in touch with her while she is hibernating in the burrow. The illustrations are as magical as the story and bring the characters to life and give each one of them a personality of their own. This makes them memorable and real to young readers. It is a good storybook to help children make good and lasting friends. Tutors and parents can read the story of Margot to them and encourage them to make good friends who bring color and joy into their lives, just like Margot's friends.
Recommend this book:
Long Nose Legacy
A Dog's Story of Royalty and Loyalty
J. G. Eastman

2020 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Children - Animals

Long Nose Legacy: A Dog's Story of Royalty and Loyalty by J.G. Eastman is a modern-day fable about the adventures of royal Russian Wolfhounds, specifically the sisters Carnegie and Madison. As grandchildren of Tresor and children of Gracie, both prize-winning dogs, they are a privileged lot. These dogs belong to a breed prized by the Imperial Russian family and they are proud of their distinguished heritage. When Carnegie is not chosen to be trained for dog shows, she decides to stow away and trace the roots of her imperial Russian heritage. Madison, on the other hand, goes on to become a prize-winning show dog. This is their story.
J.G. Eastman's Long Nose Legacy is not only highly informative, but it is also very entertaining. Lovingly written in beautiful prose, in this story we learn about the imperial Russian heritage of the Russian Wolfhounds, also called Borzoi. And we meet the most interesting Borzoi family of prize-winning dogs. The story is written from the dog's point of view and it is both hilarious and heartwarming but not farfetched. The parallel sagas of Carnegie and Madison are very different from each other and take many twists and turns. In following their life journeys, we learn the tricks they use to manipulate their owners and the array of good and bad people they encounter as they live their interesting lives. And thanks to J.G. Eastman's gift of language and fertile imagination, this book is definitely an unforgettable reading experience.
Recommend this book:
Meet Maya Cat
A story about acceptance
Lauren Beader

2020 Bronze Medal
30 Pages
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Children - Animals

Maya the cat does not look like other cats. She is different and she acts differently too. She needs a little bit of attention sometimes. She runs around like other cats and climbs on things. Maya likes to eat yummy treats and she likes to play with toys. She talks a lot and when she is tired of doing all that, she sleeps or cuddles with her family. Everyone thinks Maya is different but once you get to know her, she is really not different. She likes to be treated well and loved by everybody. Let's read the story to learn more about Maya the cat.
Meet Maya Cat: A story about acceptance by Lauren Beader is a delightful story about acceptance and will help readers accept everyone for what they are irrespective of their differences and abilities. Harrison Makofsky's illustrations are wonderful and they breathe life into the concept, Maya, and the story. Everyone wants inclusion, love, and acceptance in society and Maya's story will teach children to treat each other with love and kindness.
Meet Maya Cat is a good story for bedtime storytelling and read-aloud and storytelling sessions in classrooms and school libraries because it is the best way to show children how to treat others - the way they want to be treated. It is good for children to read stories like this to realize that sometimes people are different and it is important to give them the same love and respect that is given to others.
Recommend this book:
PINTO!
Based upon the true story of the only horse to complete a twenty thousand mile journey.
Margi (M.J.) Evans

2020 Bronze Medal
272 Pages
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Children - Animals

George, Slim, Fats, and Jay decide to ride to every state capital, get their picture with each governor and become rich and famous. The trip starts in 1912 and they aim to finish in 1915 at the Panama Pacific Expo in San Francisco, making 50 stops and traveling 1,127 days and 20,352 miles. Pinto starts out as the pack horse carrying as much gear as they can load on his back but soon George is riding him every day. Pinto’s thoughts are described in great detail, explaining the difficulties of crossing rivers, fighting their way through snowstorms, having to keep making new horse friends, meeting and greeting and having people take his picture with their children on his back, and so much more. It is impossible not to root for the little horse to reach San Francisco and be welcomed as a hero.
Pinto by Margi (M.J.) Evans is a true historical story, but it is told only by Pinto the horse, a Morab – half Morgan and half Arabian, who was there for the entire journey. It was really a very refreshing and different viewpoint of a very long and perilous ride. I enjoyed reading Pinto a lot. It was from such a different perspective than most historical fiction books I read. Margi (M.J.) Evans took a real event that few people have ever heard of and wove it into a very special story. I believe that Pinto is a book everyone can enjoy; horse lovers, history lovers, storytelling fans, and all readers in fact of all ages. It is a story of joy, tragedy, heartache, and dedication by a group of men and their horses and the people that they meet along the way. If you read Pinto, I know you will not be disappointed.
Recommend this book:
Mishka
Mike Maroney

2020 Silver Medal
291 Pages
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Children - Animals

Natasha’s father has to go away for several months to work. Since Natasha doesn’t have a mother, she has to stay with her grandfather, whom she calls Deda, in his small flat in the crime-infested town of Horridgrad. There’s a lovely playground on the grounds near Deda’s flat, but it’s controlled by a group of bullies. Natasha is scared to go out to play. That is until Deda agrees to get her a puppy, whom she names Mishka. Scruffy initially with a big appetite, Mishka grows quickly, almost too quickly, becoming too big to share Natasha’s bed. As Mishka grows, he learns to play, but since he’s so big sometimes his play is misinterpreted to be aggressive. This turns out to be a good thing as Mishka soon becomes the town hero, standing up to the criminals that everyone else is so afraid to confront. What started out being a lengthy visit with her grandfather turns into an adventure that has everyone chuckling as Mishka takes on one bad person after another – until, the evil mayor makes a new law to ban Mishka, putting the overgrown puppy’s life on the line.
Mike Maroney’s young people’s novel, Mishka, is a fun read. With a crime-fighting hero like Mishka, there are plenty of adventures: stopping a bank robbery, rescuing children who have fallen through the ice into the freezing water, and so much more. The plot develops with ease and excitement as Natasha and her friend, Max, and Mishka, of course, unknowingly help the frightened community of Horridgrad reclaim their rights and freedoms. It’s a classic battle of good against evil and with Mishka at their side, of course, the good must be victorious. There are plenty of humorous episodes as Mishka tackles the bad guys and this adds additional sparkle to the story. But the question remains: is Mishka really a puppy?
Recommend this book:
Here Comes Ingo
Odeta Xheka

2020 Silver Medal
34 Pages
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Children - Animals

Here Comes Ingo by Odeta Xheka is a picture book for children about a beautiful scarlet macaw named Ingo, who is sitting on her eggs, dreaming of a more adventurous life. We live out the daydreams of Ingo as she flies around in a happy land of cupcakes, visits with frogs and other animal friends, and rediscovers the forest she calls home. After visiting all her friends and mentally enjoying her home of Brazil, she then greets her new babies as they hatch from their eggs. We are taken through Ingo's imagination by way of vivid, colorful pictures, depicting the longing of this beautiful bird for a life outside the nest.
Here Comes Ingo is beautiful with vivid colors and intriguing artwork that takes you on the dream journey of Ingo. Even without the author’s note to children that may choose this book, the illustrations tell the story perfectly. I could feel the want and need for a more adventurous life from this macaw sitting on her eggs, awaiting her babies. I enjoyed how the author included the note to young readers, providing educational information about macaws and their habitat. As well as telling the story of Ingo, it is the perfect prologue to the visual story to be discovered. Odeta Xheka captivates the young reader’s eye with stunning colors, abstract shapes, and visual storytelling. Here Comes Ingo is a great addition to every child's library to enhance their imaginations.
Recommend this book:
Eddie The World's Greatest Creature
Kayleigh Mackie

2020 Gold Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Animals

A colorful story with an important lesson, Eddie the World's Greatest Creature by Kayleigh Mackie follows the adventures of Eddie, a youngster who wants to be the greatest creature there is. With arms like those of a monkey, Eddie can swing from tree to tree. Swimming is also easy for him as he has the tail of a dolphin. As Eddie moves from one adventure to another, his abilities grow and he becomes a magnificent creature who can do many things he could not have done previously. But is this what Eddie wants? As Eddie begins to stumble and fall, sometimes even tripping over his wings, he begins to change how he sees himself and also changes his idea of being the most amazing creature. Along the way, he discovers a wonderful lesson.
In Kayleigh Mackie’s Eddie the World's Greatest Creature, beautiful illustrations of lush grass and trees, blue bright skies and an inviting sea fill the pages. Pictures of Eddie as the magnificent creature are equally captivating. The rhyming words that create the musicality in the book will facilitate young readers’ ability to remember the story and have fun reading the lines aloud. In the beginning, Eddie is set on being the greatest creature in the world. But with time, he realizes that even being the greatest comes with its challenges and he begins to understand that it is amazing to just be yourself. A beautiful, engaging story that carries an important lesson for both young and adult readers, Eddie the World's Greatest Creature will make a great story for parents reading with their children or for young readers who love stories that involve adventure.
Recommend this book:
Catterfly is Born
Alma Hammond

2019 Gold Medal
38 Pages
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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.
