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 Last Akaway (Brody Boondoggle)
A Spirit Animal Adventure
Gary Karton
2014 Bronze Medal
274 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Eleven-year-old Brody Boondoggle is walking in the woods with his hard-of-hearing Grammy when they discover an animal track of an Akaway – one of the rarest creatures in the universe that nobody has ever seen before. Before they can catch the animal, it bites Brody and something strange starts to happen. However, Brody’s friend Rudy and 13-year-old brother Jake do not believe him. Meanwhile, the Akaway gets weaker and weaker after a hunter hits it. Brody has to do everything in his power to rescue his animal friend even if it means making a journey into the spirit animal world. The Last Akaway by Gary Karton is a story that will certainly hold any child's undivided attention.
The author successfully creates a magical world that children will truly love. Gary Karton knows how to tell his story not only to children but also to young adults while preventing boredom. The main character, Brody, is such a lovable kid. At his young age, he knows what is the best and right thing to do when you are in a challenging situation, especially if it involves an animal friend. Every chapter is certainly interesting to read and it gets a hold of you even at the very start when the strange animal bites the little boy. It is interesting to note how Karton uses it, enough to intrigue his readers to continue reading.
The adventure of Brody, his brother Jake, and Grammy is not about fun but it provides a wonderful message of love and friendship. The Last Akaway and the entire magical world is fresh and wonderfully written. Thumbs up to the author!
Recommend this book:
The Fairies of Turtle Creek
Jill K. Sayre
2014 Silver Medal
322 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
In The Fairies of Turtle Creek, Jill K. Sayre has cleverly painted Claire Collins as a little girl on the threshold of something new. She is in the hiatus between girl and womanhood, in that last summer before high school and at her most impressionable. Life experience has taught her that emotions are dangerous and should be avoided at all cost. In Claire's life, science and logic have replaced fanciful imaginings. With her older brother away serving his country, Claire sees emotion leaking out of her frantic parents and she chooses to immerse herself in her sketching and time spent with her good friend Lacey. Until the arrival of her Grandma from England. There are many unknown factors surrounding the old lady's visit - how long will she stay? Why is she coming? Will Claire be expected to interact with her? With the old lady's arrival comes the dawning of something new for Claire, opening her up to a different way of thinking about her world and herself, especially the completely non-scientific notion that fairies may actually exist. There are mirrors between Claire's life and her Grandma's, which are both intriguing and enchanting. But her Grandma has come home for two very specific reasons and Claire will be forced to struggle with both, until she learns how to deal with the depths of her own heart.
I adored the character of Claire. She is both plausible and yet quirky, childlike, and scientific. Jill K. Sayre has cleverly given us an inside view of a child’s dilemma and resolution. Immediately we are ‘part’ of the action rather than casual voyeurs. This novel is delightful, flawlessly executed and beautifully presented. The chapter breaks with their detailed embellishments and poetry are a joy to look at, even before the quality of the story is experienced. The descriptions of the natural world are detailed and interesting, betraying how much thought has gone into this novel, and the characters are both endearing and charming. This novel has a wide range of appeal, able to be enjoyed by an advanced primary reader, right through to older teenagers (who may not admit to reading it, but would thoroughly lose themselves in it) to adults, looking for something less cynical to get stuck into.
Recommend this book:
James Saves the Moon
Wendy Nystrom
2014 Gold Medal
38 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
“James Saves the Moon”, written by Wendy Nystrom, is a delightful children’s picture book that combines a child’s imagination with Icelandic mythology. The illustrations by Jim Weidman, in a blue tone with colorful characters, lend a mythological feel to the story of a young boy (James), who sees the moon over one of the high mountains and decides that if he climbs to the top of the mountain he can reach out and touch the moon. Slipping quietly out of his bedroom window, he sets out on his journey. On his way up the mountain he stumbles over some rocks and disturbs one of Iceland’s mythological figures (Syvok), who joins him on his journey. They suddenly realize that unless they move faster, the moon will leave before they make it to the top of the mountain. In order that they can move faster, Syvok summons a dragon (Matthias), who allows them to ride on his back. They discover that the moon is stuck on the mountain and they will have to help get it unstuck. The three work as a team to set the moon free and while doing so, James truly does touch the moon.
The color of the illustrations by Jim Weidman and the very well-written story by Wendy Nystrom make “James Saves the Moon” a rare treasure for a children’s picture book. Its simplicity combined with the kind of story that stirs the imagination of a child make it something that will stick in the mind of the reader for a lifetime. This book gives a little bit of a taste of the colorful and flavorful history of Iceland and its traditions. It is highly recommended for its ability to help stir a child’s imagination. A wonderfully simple and delightful tale.
Recommend this book:
Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village
Jason and Lizzy's Legendary Adventures - Book 1
Charity & Ryan Kountz
2013 Gold Medal
118 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
In Charity Kountz's book Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village, Jason and Lizzy are homesick for their friends and life in Chicago. Their family recently moved to Texas and they want something of their old life back; so they wished upon a star for snow. The next morning the ground was covered with a thick blanket of beautiful white snow. While playing in the snow, Jason and Lizzy wandered away from their home and into a special place where snowmen are alive; it is a place where Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus live along with Jack Frost, Morty the Snowman, Jonah the Penguin,and Gary the Turkey. Jason and Lizzy accept a special task that could save Christmas for all the girls and boys of the world.
I love this story. Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village is a delightful read for preschool and early elementary students. Author Charity Kountz offers readers a delightful tale that will be enjoyed by children for years to come. The pace is brisk, the plot is imaginative, and the characters are endearing. It is very difficult to write children’s books because the author must write on the audience’s level, which in this case is between the ages of 2 and 8. The author has successfully written a book that will entice younger children and elementary children. Many adults will also enjoy reading this book. I suspect this book will become a Christmas tradition in many families. The theme of forgiveness is perfect for the Christmas season. Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village is a breath of fresh air in the genre of children’s literature.
Recommend this book:
Patalosh
The Time Travelers
Z Altug and Tracy Gensler
2013 Bronze Medal
414 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
"Patalosh: The Time Travelers" is about Orion Spence, a ten-year-old boy who lives with his parents on Earth in Antarctica. His parents are gone, his home is destroyed and the HMS Exploricus airship is crashed. Orion knows it was "Red Eyes" who took his mom and dad; the horrible Emperor Daaggerd outside his window during the storm. He finds out that only he has the key to stop Red Eyes and rescue his parents. Orion begins his journey with his friends, to unravel the clues to the seven keys on each continent needed to open the Ancient Book of Spells and save his family.
What a way to revisit my childhood. Despite it being a children’s book, it is fun to read and I have no doubt that young readers will find it fun as well. The short chapters are well-suited for impatient kids. The story is lively with an amazing, cool plot of time travel, magic and adventure and visiting different continents on Earth. On top of that, the illustrations are fun and marvelously done. Authors Z Altug and Tracy Gensler know how to entertain and engage young readers with their descriptive writing. There is even a Patalosh pumpkin pie recipe for readers to try. Moreover, Orion’s favorite training programs and food list are a cheeky way to highlight Altug and Gensler’s background as a fitness consultant and a dietician. Parents wouldn’t want to miss this well-written book; it is a great reading material for middle school kids.
Recommend this book:
Mousenet
When Mice Do More than Point and Click
Prudence Breitrose
2013 Silver Medal
416 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Ten year old Megan Miller and her mother have just spent a wild time on an island in the Atlantic Ocean. They now return to Cleveland, Ohio, where Megan has a very tough adjustment to school. To make matters worse, her mother gets an unexpected job in Australia and Megan is sent to Seattle to spend six months with her father and his new wife. Megan's adjustment there is even worse than in Ohio. She is teased unmercifully and has no motivation to try to fit in. But then, she discovers a community of friends in the most unlikely of places. The Mouse Nation has come across the miniature computer made by Megan's uncle and they develop a plan to have Megan lead the push to get "a computer in every mouse hole." When you add talking mice and a nosy neighbor boy, you have the making of a nifty little adventure story for mid-grade readers.
The characters in this adventure are believable and true to character. They have age-appropriate thoughts, emotions and actions. When called upon to assist humankind, they are up to the cause. When faced with adversity, they fail to yield. They are sturdy and loveable children! In an age in which sci-fi characters and violence are commonplace, it is refreshing to read a story about real people and real issues. At times, I did feel the environmental issue became a bit pushy, but overall, this novel was both a delight and a welcome addition to the world of child literature.
Recommend this book:
Parry Pretty and the Eight Realms
Caught in the Slipstream of Time Book 1
S J Musgraves
2013 Finalist
262 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
In "Parry Pretty and the Eight Realms: Caught in the Slipstream of Time" by S.J. Musgraves, the young heroine Parry Pretty is both contorted and confused as she continues to wake up on the same day over and over again, caught in the slipstream which keeps replaying her days and forbidding her to move forward. Although the day is repeated, each time she lives through it, it is different, as she continues to meet new creatures, discover new places, and comes to understand that her world is not the only one that exists. Throughout this story, Parry learns that there are eight realms, all different from each other in a multitude of ways. She meets friends and foes along the way, not always knowing for sure which is which, and who is trying to help her, and who is trying to sabotage everything, causing the slipstream to continue on forever.
The thing I liked most about the first adventure of Parry Pretty was how original it was. I was astounded by the vast quantity of characters and situations that S.J. Musgraves puts her main character into. From midgi, thunderbirds, a Gent, Omea, the Lady, and deaffers, the beings who exist in this world seem endless and they cause the story to move along in an exciting manner, as I never knew what kind of new character Parry would come across next. Although the synopsis of this book may sound a bit complicated with the way the days recycled themselves, the author has a way of making it flow in a logical manner. I would recommend this novel for preteens, as it may be a little too complicated for children under the age of ten to understand. All in all, it is a well-written introduction to the world of the eight realms. When I came to the final pages of the story, I wanted to know what was going to happen to Parry Pretty next.
Recommend this book:
A Journey to the Four Kingdoms
Karl F. Hollenbach
2013 Finalist
168 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Prince Rhine a.k.a Pid to his best friend, Firebreather the toy dragon, is on a quest which takes him on a thrilling, adventurous journey through the four kingdoms. He has to search for the Black Demon so that he can know the Great Secret. But before that he has to get the Quadrunes, the four treasures of the Black Demon from each Kingdom by defeating the Tetrarchs that guard them. Helped by his friends Firebreather, Moth,Claw, Charles and Wander, Pid goes fearlessly on a journey of his lifetime. Will he be able to learn all that he is meant to? Will Pid conquer the four Tetrarchs and complete his quest? Most of all, will Pid be able to defeat Arkon? Will the Great secret be what it promises to be?
What a wonderfully crafted story! I was hooked from the word go. Dragons, soul parents, fantasy kingdoms with imaginative names and most of all the endearing prince Pid: What more can a mother ask for to keep her child engaged when she has the help of such a fantastic book. I cannot stop myself from recommending this book to all. With lessons on humility, friendship, love and courage, "A Journey to the Four Kingdoms" by Karl F. Hollenbach has it all. Firebreather and Pid's friendship is an example for all of us and kids can learn a lot from it. The final truth about the great secret is an eye opener and makes one think about the various quests we all tend to run after all our lives. Overall an enchanting read that deserves all the five stars.
Recommend this book:
The Golden Scarab
The Quest Series - Book 1
S.W. Lothian
2013 Finalist
326 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
“The Golden Scarab: The Quest Series - Book 1” by S.W. Lothian shares the story of JJ, Linc, and Rani, as they are called back through time by Egyptian gods Anubis and Horus to recover a Golden Scarab containing the evil nature of the god Seth, and return it to the goddess Ma’at for protection so that Seth can never again become the evil being he once was, and longs to be again. Provided by Horus with a handful of magical items to help them on their quest, these three youngsters face countless obstacles as they attempt to retrieve the Golden Scarab from within an intricate labyrinth, while being pursued by an army of Uberdiles serving Seth. Will three children from the future be able to outwit an army of evil statues? Will they make it through the labyrinth unscathed? Will Seth be defeated in his efforts to regain his “evilness” so that he can take over control of Egypt?
This tale is a great adventure, intended for a middle-grade audience, but very much enjoyable for much older adults as well. I was enthralled by it and happily look forward to reading the next book in the series. The three children quickly learned to trust and depend upon one another, as their very lives truly did depend on being able to count on each other for help. I am not sure how this book would be classified, as it could be considered adventure, action, fantasy, Sci-Fi, or even historical fiction. One thing is certain: it can be classified as good entertainment. It reminded me in many ways of the Indiana Jones series of movies, and in my opinion would make a very decent movie itself. I strongly recommend this for any reluctant readers in the target age group, with the understanding that mom and dad will also want to read it.
Recommend this book:
Sagaria
John Dahlgren
2013 Honorable Mention
504 Pages
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Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
"Sagaria" is an intriguing and action-packed fantasy novel written by John Dahlgren. The world of Sagaria is found through a magical portal in the forest. It is fourteen year old Sagandran Sacks who discovers the portal through his grandfather, Melwin. When Melwin is captured at night, Sacks must muster up enough courage to transport himself to Sagaria in search of Melwin. During his quest, Sacks encounters an evil entity named Arkanamon who has dark plans for Sagaria and the Earth with the help of the Shadow World. He establishes alliance with an unlikely band of misfits including a human-sized frog, an eccentric wizard, a princess named Perima, and a small but fierce rodent. They must all combine their strengths and skills to defeat the stealthy Shadow Knights and monstrous Worgs throughout their journey. Will they be able to find Melwin and save both Sagaria and planet earth?
Well, John Dahlgren hits it out of the ball park yet again with "Sagaria". I thought that he couldn’t possibly top his first novel entitled “The Tides of Avarice,” but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I absolutely LOVED "Sagaria" just as much as "Avarice!" I am very impressed with the layout of this masterpiece of a novel. The chapters play out like a major motion picture movie and the language is very easy to comprehend for any teenager or adult. I am just blown away by Dahlgren’s creativity, organization, and solid gold plot in this novel. He makes the readers feel as though they are part of the story, and it truly takes a very talented author to be able to accomplish that! The cover of the book is also captivating and very noticeable to any reader walking by. You just have to pick this book up to see what it is about and you will not want to put it down. This fantasy novel has it all: from never-seen-before villains, enchanted forests, quests and magic, to three dimensional characters and brilliant imagery that fill this novel full of fun surprises and entertainment. I know that Dahlgren’s books will be picked up by some huge motion picture company or made into mini-series events. They have great potential to succeed in every form throughout the world! I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to read both of Dahlgren’s fantasy novels and if I could give him 10 Stars, I would have!