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 Gift of Sunderland
An Australian Fantasy Adventure
J.E. Rogers
2015 Finalist
248 Pages
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Children - Animals
The Gift of Sunderland: An Australian Fantasy Adventure is an epic fantasy for children and preteens written by J.E. Rogers. This book is a sequel to The Sword of Demelza, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel. Waylond Ayers is a Numbat who lives in the forests of Sunderland with his father, Roland, and his brother, Morland. Waylond has been chosen by Verdigris, the former Guardian of the Forest, to be the next Guardian, but he's not sure whether he is capable enough to assume the role his father had held before him; he's content with being a blacksmith. His brother Morland is furious at being passed over for the honor and is determined to claim the role of Guardian for himself. To do that, he must find the green crystal that fits within the hilt of the Guardian's sword.
J.E. Rogers' epic fantasy for preteens and children, The Gift of Sunderland: An Australian Fantasy Adventure, is exciting and fast-paced. Waylond is a marvelous character, and I could easily see why the Forest chose him to be the next Guardian. The illustrations that are placed throughout the text are intricate and beautifully rendered pencil drawings that give the characters personality and bring them to life. Rogers also includes a glossary filled with pictures and drawings of Australian locations for this story, as well as information on the bilbies, wombats, dibblers, and the other species that appear in this book. I was fascinated by the diversity of the wildlife of this country, and saddened by the statistics of the many endangered animals. The Gift of Sunderland: An Australian Fantasy Adventure is epic fantasy at its finest, and it's most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Clive the Clever Crow
Sandra Novello
2015 Finalist
24 Pages
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Children - Animals
Clive the Clever Crow by Sandra Novello is a charming and adorable story for kids. Clive the crow lives near a school. Clive likes all the food that is left out for him to eat. He finds it delicious and yummy. He flies around to see if there are any open lunch boxes around when the school session is going on. And he is really happy that he does not have to dig for worms or search for ants anymore. Clive knows that even if they see him on trees and branches, they will never be able to catch him. As you read along each page, the reader needs to search and find out where Clive the crow is hiding.
The story is really cute and I loved Clive the crow. He will have to go digging for his worms again once the kids finish reading this story because it will remind them to close their lunch boxes. It an ideal book to introduce to kids when they start to read. Grandparents and parents will enjoy reading it out to their grandkids and kids. The book is good for read aloud sessions too in classrooms and children's libraries. The illustrations are beautifully done and they complement the story well. They breathe life into the characters and give pace and movement to the scenes. The letter written by Clive the crow is very clever. The story is simple and clear, making it easy for young readers to comprehend.
Recommend this book:
Parents for Sale
Dr. Nicole Audet
2015 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Children - Animals
The Clark siblings are twins and they have a beautiful golden retriever named Pistachio as their family pet. Although they love to see their dog do tricks and respond to them when they bribe her with treats, they don't like the responsibilities that come with caring for a dog such as walking, feeding, and watering. When their parents have to walk their dog in the rain, they decide they have had enough and tell the twins they must sell their dog. Mr. and Mrs. Clark make a "Dog for Sale" sign, place it in the yard, and proceed on their daily errands to the grocery store. Not happy with this decision to sell their beloved pet, the twins replace the sign with "Parents for Sale". Can the twins sell their parents and keep their beloved pet dog Pistachio?
Parents for Sale by Dr. Nicole Audet is a charming and amusing children's story offering a unique type of life lesson learning, and enticing the imagination of its young reading audience. Dr. Nicole Audet has created a tale containing a lesson within, but with a twist in the plot only a youthful mind could fully understand and appreciate. The imagination of a child is a powerful and unique attribute. The mind of a child is often unpredictable and excited by the unseen or magical elements that make thinking, creating, and learning fun. The author adjusts her writing to depict what the mind of a child would imagine. For example, as an adult reads and starts to comprehend the story and its plot, the adult mind would assume the story and its message would end with that life lesson being played out in a learning experience, such as a punishment or something of the like, but in fact it does just the opposite. The story leans towards a happier ending in the way a child would imagine it. This is exactly why the story is brilliant and perfect for young readers; they can absolutely relate its concepts, emotions, and imaginative text.
Recommend this book:
Lars the Monkey Flies a WACO Airplane
Meaghan Fisher
2015 Silver Medal
26 Pages
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Children - Animals
Lars the Monkey Flies a WACO Airplane by Meaghan Fisher is a cute little story of Lars the monkey. Lars enjoyed his ride in the WACO airplane at WACO Field in Troy, Ohio. His dream is now to fly one of these WACO airplanes all by himself. He loved flying in loops. One Saturday,the pilot does not not turn up to give rides. All the passengers are disappointed that they cannot go on the airplane ride. Lars shouts that he can fly the airplane. But is he able to do it and bring joy to the faces of the waiting passengers?
An endearing story of courage and passion. Lars is someone whom all the readers will love and many of them will be able to identify with his passion for flying. The author has written a story incorporating animals, flying, and the historical WACO club. Children are exposed to many new things at the same time which makes the story more appealing to them. The illustrations are lively and colorful, just like the enthusiasm Lars shows in the story. It is a book that children will enjoy because it has animals and an airplane and the theme is flying.
The book is short and delightful and is a good book to introduce children to reading. It makes a good story for read-aloud sessions in the library and classrooms, and can be read out as a bedtime story, too. Lars, the monkey, will remain in your hearts for a long time with his delightful character.
Recommend this book:
Milo and Ze
A Tale of Friendship
Mark Watson
2015 Gold Medal
66 Pages
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Children - Animals
Milo and Ze: A Tale of Friendship by Mark Watson is the story of an adorable pet, Milo, who finally escapes from his kennel when it is broken into pieces. He looks into the crater and sees a fallen star. The star tells Milo that it has come to help him as it watched him while he was dreaming. The star tells Milo that he will meet a friend at his journey's end. And off they go on a journey across the bridge, through towns and onto the roads. Milo sees many new things on his journey and meets a lot of new people, until he finally meets up with a little boy, Ze. The book conveys a good message of enduring hardships in life to reach one's goal and emerge a winner.
I enjoyed the story for its beautiful concept. The illustrations are bright and colorful and they add life and color to the characters and scenes. The book will make a good bedtime story and it is also perfect to use for read aloud sessions in school libraries and classrooms. The concept and the message conveyed through the story are very helpful in teaching kids how to look at life and handle the challenges they face in life. The book teaches young readers new things and ideas, and helps improve their vocabulary. The story is emotional and touches the hearts of readers. Milo finally finding his home is an emotional as well as a joyful moment.
Recommend this book:
Stevie The Hopposaurus
Nathan Minier
2014 Finalist
60 Pages
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Children - Animals
Meet Stevie the Hopposaurus. Stevie was left on the doorstep of a house where Monostics lived. The sisters gladly accepted Stevie as their own, and treated Stevie with love and care. Stevie was happy. Stevie went to school and tried to make new friends. The other students, however, didn't want anything to do with Stevie; Stevie looked different from them, acted different from them, and was just unusual. The other students began to pick on Stevie and made him feel unwelcome. Stevie was not happy at school, until one day something fantastic happened.
Stevie the Hopposaurus by Nathan Minier is a delightful children's book introducing young readers to the concepts of love, friendship, bullying, and acceptance. Author Nathan Minier grasps the attention of young readers with brightly colored and fun illustrations, unique characters, and relatable messages within the story line. The main character is a very different kind of dinosaur from the rest of the characters. He is picked on for being different. Many young people and adults can relate to Stevie's experiences, feelings, and general situation as most go through a similar experience at one point or another in their own lives.
Nathan Minier has created a very special and most useful tool or resource for helping kids understand that it is okay to be different, but not okay to be a bully. Parents, teachers, and other adults can read this book to young children to help them understand, cope, or help with the anxieties bullying and being different present. Stevie the Hopposaurus is a wonderful book that I recommend for all to read and enjoy.
Recommend this book:
Benjamin Jay was a Bully
Emma M. Glover
2014 Honorable Mention
18 Pages
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Children - Animals
Benjamin Jay was a Bully is a children's book aimed at pre-school through first-grade kids, and is written by Emma Glover, a former elementary school teacher. It's illustrated by K.C. Snider, a wildlife artist and illustrator for children's books. Benjamin Jay is thwarted in his efforts to be the baddest of all birds when the frightened birds in Dove's Cove follow Miss Graydove's advice to use the Golden Rule in dealing with the unruly jay -- that is, they try to make friends with him. No one hides or runs away at his approach; instead, they dance and sing and merrily go about their business. This saddens and confuses the young bully as he sits by himself on a branch until the other birds welcome him in friendship.
I love Benjamin Jay was a Bully! Emma Glover's prose is fun and upbeat, and is never preachy or patronizing. The story flows beautifully. The illustrations by K.C. Snider are amazing, with an artist's attention to details and an illustrator's gift at imparting expression and action as the birds laugh, dance, sing, and cavort their way through the story. Best of all are the pictures of Benjamin Jay. It has been a rather long time since I was in the targeted age group for this book, but I enjoyed every single minute I spent reading it and lingered over the words and those incredible illustrations. Then there's the awesome message that simply and clearly speaks wisdom and coping skills for kids. Glover and Snider are a great team and Benjamin Jay was a Bully is a fabulous children's book.
Recommend this book:
Barnyard Bully
Barnyard Buddies Volume 1
Donna Taylor
2014 Bronze Medal
84 Pages
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Children - Animals
Being the new kid on the block sometimes isn’t easy and sometimes our fear turns to aggression and makes the matter worse. That is one of the many lessons learned in Barnyard Bully (Barnyard Buddies) by Donna Taylor. When Jake, the paint horse, arrived at the ranch, he felt very much alone and very frightened. He was greeted by Bud, Smokey and Bucky and instantly became aggressive with them. The entire barnyard was taken aback by this behavior and was at a loss in dealing with their new barn mate. With advice from a wise old owl with an English accent, Ollie, they were able to learn how to deal with Jake and bullies in general, especially when they learn that they have to work together to protect each other from a pack of wild dogs. Things aren’t always what they seem and with a little understanding, friendship can be salvaged out of a bad situation. Added into the story are fun facts about barnyard animals which add even more to the value of this book.
Barnyard Bully is a delightful book that teaches some very important lessons about bullying and friendship. The tongue in cheek humor of Donna Taylor is scattered throughout the book and offers plenty of chuckles, though the main point of the story is a very serious one. This lighthearted set of lessons from the barnyard, focused on Jake and his problem with being the new kid on the block, is not only fun to read but teaches children the importance of friendship, as well as the difference between being a bully and being a leader. Honest, entertaining and enlightening, Barnyard Bully (Barnyard Buddies) is an excellent addition to your child’s education.
Recommend this book:
Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie
Meaghan Fisher
2014 Silver Medal
24 Pages
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Children - Animals
Tyler the Fish Saves Lake Erie by Meaghan Fisher is a story with a concept for small kids that will raise awareness about the hazards of pollution. Tyler is just another playful bass who lives in Lake Eerie. Like any other young fish, he love to play and explore the lake. One day while playing the game Fish Tag, he and his friend Jimmy find themselves in new waters. They realize that there is something wrong with the water as it is brown. They have to find out the cause and come up with a plan to save the lake and the creatures living in it. Will Tyler and Jimmy be able to save it before the entire lake is poisoned?
The book comes up with a beautiful message of protecting the environment. It is a beautiful story that tells children about the efforts and hard work by Tyler, Jimmy, and the seagulls to save the lake from being poisoned. It is a theme that is relevant in today's times. I would recommend teachers, educators, and parents to use this story in classrooms and libraries for read-aloud sessions because it teaches kids the importance of keeping the environment clean for a safe existence.
The illustrations are beautifully executed, giving life and movement to the story and the characters. I would recommend this story to all kids because of the theme and its importance. It a good way to make children aware of pollution and to work together to give ourselves a clean and healthy environment.
Recommend this book:
Take the Dog Out!
Lynne Dempsey
2014 Gold Medal
36 Pages
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Children - Animals
This cute little dog started barking because he wanted someone to take him outside. So he goes to each family member, barking to let them know he wanted to go outside. But each person he went to didn’t have time to take him out. So what did this cutie dog do? He disrupted what each one was doing to get their attention. But that still didn’t work because they only yelled for someone else to take the dog out. Wow, what is a cute little dog to do when no one will listen to him and all he wants is to go outside? Written by Lynne Dempsey, Take the Dog Out! will entertain your children as you read it to them over and over.
This book is so charming. There are not many words to the book, but it doesn’t need words because the pictures are so amazing that they tell the story. Mandy Newham-Cobb does a fantastic job of illustrating each page with the most adorable and vivid illustrations, making it clear what is happening in this story. And at the end of the story, the author challenges children to read the story again and lists several different things for them to watch for and count in the illustrations on each page. I love this idea because it lets the child interact more with the story.