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 Grumpface
B.C.R. Fegan
2017 Gold Medal
34 Pages
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Children - Fable
The Grumpface by B.C.R. Fegan is a fun, rhyming children's book about a man who has been cursed to live as a Grumpface, and a young inventor, Dan, who is in love with a girl named Bella. One day, Dan goes into the Forest of Ho, looking for a rose for Bella. The forest, however, is in the domain of the Grumpface, and Dan soon gets stuck in one of the Grumpface's many traps. The Grumpface tells him that he can go free if he can complete one of three challenges. He has to either catch a glowing bird, walk across a tiny bridge, or walk through a cave full of dangers. Dan believes he has an invention for each of the challenges. Will he complete a challenge? Or will he never get to see Bella again?
I really enjoyed reading The Grumpface by B.C.R. Fegan. The book is very well written and the rhyming is very well done. The rhyming gives the book a fun rhythm that children will enjoy. The book has many funny parts and is full of action and suspense. The characters are very likeable, especially Dan, because he's kindhearted, and very silly. The book shows that anyone can change. The pictures by D. Frongia are very well drawn and clearly depict each scene. Children will really enjoy reading this story and will want to read it again and again. The story is well developed and well thought out. I would definitely recommend this to all children.
Recommend this book:
The Frog Prince
The Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella
Mike Klaassen
2017 Silver Medal
90 Pages
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Children - Fable
The Frog Prince: A Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella is a children’s fable of years gone by written by Mike Klaassen. As Prince Gerit of Krickenheim goes to a pond in order to satisfy his craving for frogs’ legs for dinner, his feet become stuck in the mud. An old crone, Wibke, frees him from a watery death in exchange for lavish rewards. Once freed, however, the prince reneges on their agreement. As punishment, Wibke turns Gerit into a frog. The only way to break the spell is for Gerit to be kissed three times. Gerit narrowly avoids death from predators, and makes his way to the nearest township, ruled by King Torsten, Queen Ingeborg, and their very spoiled daughter, Princess Anneliese. Knowing that the princess is his only hope of being transformed back into a prince, he does all he can to win her heart, but with Fluffy, the royal cat, eyeing his every move, Gerit soon resigns himself to remaining a frog for the rest of his days ... until he is faced with losing Anneliese forever.
While I have never read the original Brothers Grimm tale of The Frog Prince, I found Mike Klaassen’s adaptation to be rather extraordinary. Initially, the tale shows Prince Gerit (in his human form) to be deceptive, dishonest, spoiled, and showing complete disregard for other creatures. His hard lesson, being transformed into a frog, teaches the prince how difficult life can be for others, as he is surrounded by predators both in and out of the water. The Frog Prince, as written by Mike Klaassen, is both captivating and enchanting, teaching readers that your word is the most important thing you can give, aside from your own heart when you are in love. It also teaches the importance of disciplining your children and teaching them proper values, rather than giving in to their every whim until they become spoiled, unruly and unmanageable. Princess Anneliese found comfort in having frog-Gerit as a companion, regardless of whether to simply read to or play with, and it forged an unbreakable friendship between the two. I wholeheartedly enjoyed The Frog Prince: A Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella, and am excited to read my next Mike Klaassen tale in the future.
Recommend this book:
The Travelling Circus
Mark Watson
2017 Honorable Mention
48 Pages
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Children - Fable
A little boy and a folding circus tent is the focus of The Travelling Circus – a new children’s book by Mark Watson. As the little boy begins to have fun folding and unfolding his perfect gift of a circus tent, an imaginative story begins to take shape. The vibrant red and white circus tent visually grabs and holds the attention of young readers as Mark Watson uses his creative genius of rhyme and prose to create a new and magical book. From the description of the circus animals to the aromatic imagery of food, we are taken back in time to the circuses of old. With fairies in flight, to a beautifully detailed carousel horse and, finally, to the image of a curious, unusual and somewhat scary ringmaster, there is an energy that propels us through this story while we listen to the clever words of the ringmaster describing to the little boy what awaits him. As the ringmaster gently guides the little boy to the front of the circus tent, there is a curiosity and mystery about what just might come next.
With bold, delightful and spellbinding images by Drew Geraci, The Travelling Circus by Mark Watson brings to children a brand new story just perfect for bedtime reading. I wondered, as I read this adorable book, if this story actually took place in a small child's decorated bedroom, or was it the incredible imagination of a little boy’s dream brought to life by the perfect gift of a folding circus tent. I think children will be incredibly engaged and captivated by The Travelling Circus while parents discover that this latest children’s book by Mark Watson is a perfect, one-of-a-kind bedtime read.
Recommend this book:
Maria And The Magic Of The Rainbow
Suzanna L Royse
2017 Finalist
124 Pages
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Children - Fable
Maria and the Magic of the Rainbow by Suzanna L Royse is an inspiring and beautiful story with manifold lessons for both young and adult readers. Maria is a pre-teen butterfly who is accidentally blown away as she hurries to warn her parents of an impending storm. She is captured and made to slave under a cruel and unforgiving fire ant, El Jefe. She is forced to sing and do things she’s never dreamt about doing in her short life span.
The reader won’t miss the commands of El Jefe, reminding her of where she belongs: “The most important thing you need to learn is that your place is here—to sing and clean! Don’t forget how lucky you are. I’m the one who rescued you—you the orphan with only one wing.” But Maria escapes and makes a wonderful adventure that will bring both joy and pain to her heart as she discovers the beauty of friendship and the tragedy of loss.
Maria and the Magic of the Rainbow is a well-crafted story that brilliantly showcases the themes of self-confidence, freedom, bullying, family, and the wonderful sense of tolerance that assures inner freedom. Maria is a character that many young readers will relate to—I was able to connect with her as well as did my twelve-year-old granddaughter. The writing is poetic and evocative and it features great poetry in the form of Maria’s songs. For instance, the soul and spirit of youthfulness is captured in the following lines:
“Every day I keep asking why,
Like why the river runs and clouds play in the sky.
So many things to learn and know,
But what can I do? Where can I go?
Who’s out there?
Who can teach me to do
Everything I need to learn
To make my dreams come true?”
The illustrations are very telling and entertaining in themselves. It will be impossible for young readers not to identify with Maria’s curiosity, her problem with bullies, and her desire to be able to experience real freedom. This is also a story about friendship and forgiveness, a story with values that kids need to learn. Suzanna L Royse’s work will encourage, inspire, educate, and remain engraved in the hearts of young readers long after they have read them.
Recommend this book:
The Bee and Me
Melissa King
2016 Finalist
42 Pages
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Children - Fable
Melissa King’s The Bee and Me is a delightful and colorful picture book story with a special message. Written in a rhyming style, it is the story of Mama Bee living in her house full of old fashioned things, like underfloor heating, cord telephones, and box size TVs. A little girl, to whom Mama Bee is much like a grandmother, visits and wonders at all these old things – surely old things have no use and should be thrown out. So should Mama Bee be discarded too? The little girl ultimately realizes that the value of things is not based on how new they are, and that it is not necessary to constantly replace things simply because something more modern has come along.
The story is told from first person point of view with the little girl recounting her dream-like visit to Bee’s house. I love children’s books written in rhyme and this one has a varied rhyming style. The language level is suitable for young readers able to tackle short books independently, to read for themselves too. There are some amusing moments when she discovers a telephone attached to a long wire and a huge box for a television:
“Is this really a TV?” I said to the Bee. I laughed and said, “Oh, that’s so funny to me! They have them now that are flat and go on the wall! That is the oldest TV I ever saw!”
Bee’s response to the little girl’s amazement at discovering all these ‘old’ things is a wise: “Do you think because it’s old I should throw it away out into the cold?”
So a lovely mixture of fun and humor with a question to ponder. I loved the colorful and detailed illustrations by Ana Lyn Abello especially the family ‘photos’ on the walls of Bee’s house – a charming touch. The message about waste and consumption weaves its way through the story as the little girl learns a valuable lesson about focusing on the more important things in life. Bee is loving and welcoming and her home is warm and comfortable – and a home filled with love and security is more important than a house full of the most up to date items. A special story to share with a child or group of children, and one that will prompt discussion about values and our throw-away society. Melissa King's The Bee and Me is a worthy addition to any child’s home or class library.
Recommend this book:
The Magic Tree
Michal Y. Noah Ph.D.
2016 Finalist
38 Pages
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Children - Fable
The Magic Tree is an inspirational children's book written by Michal Y. Noah, Ph.D. and illustrated by Chrissy Fanslau. Magic is a young tree who's smaller than his dad and not as leafy as his mom, but he's quite happy with who he is. He's got lots of friends who keep him company: birds, squirrels, butterflies and other living things. They all enjoy the sun's warmth and the joys of spring and summer. When fall comes around, Magic wonders why he can't run or fly away with his friends, and his parents explain how everyone is different and special. Magic, they explain, is extremely special and is perfect just as he is. When the winter cold blows in, Magic is unhappy and misses his friends, but then some winter pals come around and things don't seem so bad. And then it's spring again.
Michal Y. Noah's inspirational children's book, The Magic Tree, is beautifully written and Chrissy Fanslau's illustrations make this magical and positive book glow. The book is filled with bright and colorful pictures of Magic, his parents and his friends. Noah's message comes through on every page, and it's the best possible message both for the children it's written for, and for anyone else fortunate enough to come across this book. Magic's parents share their positive and loving outlook on life with their son and help him to understand how perfect he is right at each particular moment, and how his joy and love for others will resonate back to him. This is a perfect primer for a young reader and a marvelous read-aloud story for bedtime. The Magic Tree is highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Atalanta
Early Myths: Greek Myths for Children
Dr Simon Spence
2016 Finalist
36 Pages
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Children - Fable
Atalanta - Early Myths: Greek Myths for Children by Simon Spence is an engaging book that will introduce children to Greek mythology. In this book they learn the story of Atalanta whose father wanted her to grow up as a perfect princess, but Atalanta wanted to have adventures and fun. She learned to use a bow and even beat the boys in her skill with it. Her father was scared, wondering if he would be able to find a suitable prince for his daughter if she was always roaming in the fields and the forests. He sent her to the forest, asking her to return only when she changes. In the forest, Atalanta grows up to become strong and fast, and becomes the greatest huntress in the land. Will she finally be able to make her father's dreams come true and will any man marry her?
The story is fascinating, like any other story in Greek mythology. The characters are larger than life and Atalanta's strength and courage will motivate and inspire any young reader. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and they also breathe life into the scenes and characters and give clarity to the author's words. The book can be used for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries and is also a good bedtime storybook.
These kinds of storybooks are good for children to teach them about legendary and mythological characters in a simple manner. The book is informative, educational, and also teaches readers a lot of new things, vocabulary, and happenings related to Greek mythology. A good book for children about the story of a character from Greek mythology.
Recommend this book:
Ice Dream's Wish
A Story for Children and Inner Children
Nasrin Mottahedeh
2016 Honorable Mention
40 Pages
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Children - Fable
Ice Dream's Wish by Nasrin Mottahedeh tells a tale of the snowman known as Ice Dream. When Ice Dream was created, he was given special gifts which consisted of two sparkly marbles for eyes, a red rose bud for a heart, and a big yellow apple for a brain. With these special gifts, Ice Dream came to life and loved to play with the children, but he was easily bored when they were at school because he did not have legs and could not move from where he stood outside. Ice Dream is visited by Angel Cloud, an angel who grants him his wish to be able to move. Ice Dream questions how the angel had known his strongest wish and is told that angels live inside your heart and know what you wish for. Angel Cloud warns Ice Dream that he must use his special gifts – his eyes, heart, and brain – if he is given the power to move. During Ice Dream’s first journey, he feels so inspired to help others that he gives up his nose, his gloves, his scarf, and the beads on his front which look like the buttons of a jacket. Unrecognizable to his creators, they are amazed to find their special gifts in the snow at the school yard, looking absolutely radiant as they had been touched by love.
I found this tale to be absolutely extraordinary. Ice Dream’s Wish is a book that teaches so many lessons in life – lessons about kindness, friendship, helping others, being unselfish, and daring to dream. Due to Ice Dream’s kindness to strangers, human and animal alike, he made their awful day turn around and shine. Many people could learn from this delightful children’s tale of love and of thinking about others’ needs before their own. Nasrin Mottahedeh’s story makes me smile, giving hope for a better future. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Recommend this book:
Olga
Ted Kelsey
2016 Honorable Mention
192 Pages
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Children - Fable
Olga is a children’s and preteen adventure fantasy novel written by Ted Kelsey and illustrated by Dillon Samuelson. Nothing ever happened in Chilton. It was a pretty boring place for a kid to grow up in, so much so, as Sally liked to tell her cousin who lived in New York City, that Sally’s backyard actually borders a beet farm. Still, on late summer afternoons as twilight closes in, there are plenty of kids around to play Ghosts in the Graveyard, which is somewhat like hide-’n-seek only backwards. This time around Sally’s friend, Jack, is it, and it’s getting close to the last few minutes before parents start getting angry about missed dinners. Jack’s never been quite the same as the other kids, however; he likes to cut up and doesn’t seem to have to follow as many rules as Sally and the other kids do. No one can find Jack in this last game of the day, but Sally gets the feeling he’s hiding on the grounds of the Terror House, a wrecked and decaying house that might be haunted and is on the forbidden-to-enter list of every kid. When Sally enters the grounds to find Jack, she’s transfixed by an odd sight in the field that has obviously caught Jack’s eye. It’s a shambling, dancing thing with a big head and short stubby legs, and Jack is determined to figure out just what it is.
Ted Kelsey’s adventure fantasy for children and preteens, Olga, is a wildly imaginative and thought-provoking variant of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale. Jack and Sally are consummate adventurers who’ve even designed a code of light flash messaging to communicate to each other in case of emergencies. The two of them are marvelous characters, filled with pluck, determination and loyalty, and I’m hoping to see them again in future works by this author. Kelsey’s giants are a hoot! They are alternately horrible, humorous and just plain ridiculous, and Dillon Samuelson’s inspired illustrations bring every nasty feature they possess out in riotous detail. Olga is a fast-paced story that blends the preteen fantasy and coming of age genres as Jack, Sally and Olga confront life-changing challenges and discoveries. Olga is highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Tales For Your Monkey's Mind
Steve Michael Reedy
2016 Bronze Medal
138 Pages
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Children - Fable
Tales For Your Monkey's Mind by Steve Michael Reedy is a collection of short stories for children about growing up and having to face real life. The running theme through the novel is that simply growing up and acting like everybody else isn't a great way to live. The first story shows a child who loves to play with toys, but when he turns thirteen he is supposed to grow up and work in the toy factory. When he visits the factory the day before he turns thirteen he learns a terrible secret. Many of the stories have themes about growing up, and all of them are punctuated by excellent drawings scattered throughout.
These are the highlight of the work. The stories themselves are well-written, although a little heavy-handed, but the artwork is spot on for bringing these stories to life. There is a clever end to each story that presents the next character and adds continuity. My favorite story was the one where everyone grows up and dresses like a clown because it has a very positive message for little girls, especially that they are beautiful exactly as they are and don't need to look like a 'clown' just to fit in. Tales For Your Monkey's Mind by Steve Michael Reedy is a true win that parents can enjoy with their children and one that will help spread positive messages. Really excellent book! I enjoyed reading it.