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:
If You Were Me and Lived In... Ancient Greece
An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time (If You Were Me and Lived In...Historical)
Carole P. Roman
2019 Finalist
56 Pages
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Children - General
If You Were Me and Lived In...Ancient Greece: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time by Carole P. Roman is an educational and informative book for children that is useful when it comes to developing an interest in travel, discovering foreign lands, and learning about different cultures. Greece is one of the ancient civilizations and the book speaks about the beliefs and culture of ancient Greece. It is a fun book for all travelers and those who are interested in reading about new places. Through this book, children will learn that Greece introduced the concept of democracy. The ancient gods, market places, food, and the sights and sounds of Greece are tempting enough for young readers to want to visit Greece.
I am really enjoying the books in this series. If You Were Me and Lived In...Ancient Greece is simple and well narrated and will make traveling an enjoyable experience. The illustrations give clarity to the author’s words and children will find it easy to comprehend what the author is trying to convey. This book is a must-have in school libraries as the contents are informative and educational and they have been expressed in a fun and interactive manner. The manner in which the author speaks about the Greek gods is interesting, and the glossary at the end of the book is helpful. Reading this book will help to increase young readers' knowledge and it is always good to learn about other countries, their culture, food, customs, religion, and beliefs. Carole Roman’s series will make everyone enjoy history and this book can be read by older children too. I recommend this series to all parents to have in their personal collection at home.
Recommend this book:
Ellie and Her Emotional Dragons
Joseph Goodrich
2019 Honorable Mention
34 Pages
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Children - General
In Ellie and Her Emotional Dragons by Joseph Goodrich, Ellie is a young elephant who has just moved into an old house with her mom and dad. It should be exciting, right? But for Ellie, the move is not at all enjoyable. The house is scary, and there are lots of weird creaking sounds. How can Ellie cope? Ellie is a lucky little elephant who is blessed with four adorable dragon friends – Naz, Nali, Tully, and Hani – who come out of Ellie's closet when Ellie feels happy, sad, scared, or mad. The four trusty friends help Ellie understand her emotions, give helpful and practical suggestions as to how to combat negative emotions, such as confronting her fears, and put her back on the right track. In the course of one day Ellie experiences all the emotions and gets help from her little dragon friends.
What an absolutely enchanting story! I fell in love with the artwork from the first page. The illustrations by Traci Van Wagoner are just fantastic, done in a style I have never seen before. The ink spatter style gives sweeping movements and is filled with energy, and I felt myself being carried along by the events. Young readers will be swept up into this tale by becoming visually engaged. There is so much to discover in each brightly colored panel, including subtle references to the colors of the little dragons.
Ellie is a character all young readers can relate to. Author Joseph Goodrich has set out to teach kids emotional intelligence, helping them to understand their emotions, how to deal with them in a positive way, and to understand themselves. I think this book will also be useful for parents who may have forgotten how scary it was to move, how sad they felt when a beloved parent had to go to work, and when a play date went awry. I also liked how the author includes politeness, saying sorry, and appreciation of others in Ellie thanking her adorable little friends for all their help. Parents and teachers will find many points to use for discussion. This is a delightful, entertaining story that will charm young readers while helping them to develop emotionally and to understand not only themselves, but others as well as they learn social skills. A real treat for all!
Recommend this book:
The Sofa Sloths
Miriam Kay
2019 Bronze Medal
32 Pages
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Children - General
The Sofa Sloths by Miriam Kay tells the story of Sydney and Stanley, two silly sloths who slouch on a sofa, staring at screens. One day something changes and they start by switching spots on the sofa. That leads to sweeping and scrubbing and eventually heading outside where there are lots of stimulating things to do. Sydney and Stanley get so excited, busy swimming and skating and enjoying the seasons, that they rarely want to succumb to surfing the set.
The Sofa Sloths is a shining example of how to deliver a positive message to kids. I suspect that the author had some particular silly sloths in mind when she wrote it, but many parents will enthusiastically embrace the moral of this story. It is not simple to teach in a picture book without sounding preachy, but The Silly Sloths takes on the task with ease. The illustrations are bright and colorful and so sensational that they make this silly story sparkle. It is hard to imagine The Sofa Sloths without them.
The skillful writing is concise without a single word wasted, which is all the more surprising because of the stunning amount of alliteration. I hope Miriam Kay and Jenny Dang create many more books like The Sofa Sloths to delight the ages 4-8 crowd. They show life lessons and values in such an enjoyable way that kids will embrace the message by such silly characters. I enthusiastically recommend this spectacular story!
Recommend this book:
Nerdi Bunny and the Busy Bee Bully Bear Business
Aisha Toombs
2019 Silver Medal
54 Pages
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Children - General
Nerdi Bunny loved to read and she was not an average bunny. She had been spending her school vacation reading books and daily newspapers, and in the afternoon she read the headlines about how the Honey and Harvest Festival was in jeopardy and the Bee Talk was not successful. Nerdi was an excellent helper and she wondered if she could help in any way. She put her newspaper away and went to the garden to pick tomatoes from the tomato patch. She realized that there were no tomatoes there. She found out that the bees in Cottontail Burrow had stopped working. She decided to find a solution to the problem so that the Honey and Harvest Festival, the most important event in Cottontail Burrow, would take place. Will Nerdi Bunny succeed in her mission? Will the Honey and Harvest Festival happen in Cottontail Burrow?
Nerdi Bunny And the Busy Bee Bully Bear Business by Aisha Toombs is an engaging story for both adults and children. Children learn about bumblebees and honeybees, and how important it is not to hurt the bees. The book will help children realize the role of bees, and they will learn about bully bears, penguins, and other creatures. The black and white sketches are appealing and they make the story palpable to young readers. The story is educational and informative as it tells readers the easy ways to help bees, and by doing so helping to save nature and the environment.
Recommend this book:
Goodnight, My Love!
Shelley Admont
2019 Gold Medal
34 Pages
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Children - General
Goodnight, My Love! by Shelley Admont is a lovely picture book that encourages children to go to sleep at night. In it a father helps his small son, Alex. After drinking water and sending his father to get a particular toy, Alex says he isn’t sure what to dream about. Gently the father invents a dream the boy could have when asleep. The boy relaxes by imagining himself as a bird having adventures of flight over the ocean and scenic vistas on land. The father participates by describing himself as an older bird, the small bird’s companion. In the end, Alex is able to fall asleep while both his parents are pleased.
Goodnight, My Love! has a really sweet message and a gentle style. It certainly feels like something that could be read aloud to a kid who is actually in bed and having trouble sleeping. The cute illustrations capture the real home life of this boy, and the serene, uplifting invented world that the father describes for him as well. Shelley Admont does a great job of developing both the adult and the child so their points of view are equally sympathetic—Alex wants more attention and is uncertain about falling asleep, but his dad knows they both need to rest. In the end, these differences result in a great bond between them and a shared memory they’ve created as Alex is helped along on the path of making his own dreams. Positive thinking for kids is incredibly important and is something this book delivers excellently through creating wholesome, pleasant images.
Recommend this book:
The Sleeping King
Laurel Colless
2018 Finalist
416 Pages
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Children - General
The Sleeping King is a remarkable book about climate change, written by Laurel Colless. Hidden away in Gum Tree Rest Home in Australia since his parents’ murders years earlier, eleven-year-old Peter Blue is woken from his sleep by a tall stranger, Tollen, who has a very long beard and an important message. Earth is dying. Pollution levels are at an all-time high, causing floods, superstorms and wildfires and, what’s more, the Dark Ones have discovered Peter’s location. Peter must move quickly to locate the book called The Wayfinder which will guide him, not only in stopping the Anthrog forces (which feed on the stench of human greed), but also ensuring that the destructive cycle causing these disasters comes to a screeching halt.
Laurel Colless has presented one of the most well-written and exciting books I have read in a very long time, which not only entices children to read about important issues which affect the future of life and the future of our planet. Embedded in such tragedy at a young age, the main character of the story – Peter Blue – has talents which instill hope and warmth and love for this planet that is so deep. Having been raised in Australia and surviving one of the worst firestorms in Australian history, I remember all too well growing up in the bush. For me, reading The Sleeping King was like watching a Cinemax film with subtitles – every single detail was written so well that the images played out perfectly in my mind. At one stage, I thought it might be on a story line par with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – but only the wardrobe was the star of the scene, leading to more amazing secrets of Peter’s past. The rescue of the baby wallaby was both heart-wrenching and inspiring, causing me to both laugh and cry in so many places.
With our planet being abused and climate change being held as fake by some of the biggest players in the crime scene, I feel it is absolutely imperative that The Sleeping King be read by all people, young and old, as the harsh facts are being swept under the carpet far too often. I enjoyed The Sleeping King immensely and feel it should be stocked in libraries at home, school, hospital, social offices and more. This is a message which is too important to ignore. I applaud Laurel Colless for her brilliant tale and look forward to reading further titles by this talented author in the future.
Recommend this book:
Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles
A Captain No Beard Story (Volume 8)
Carole P. Roman
2018 Honorable Mention
31 Pages
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Children - General
Fribbet the Frog has a problem. He is not okay and he is scared. In Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles: A Captain No Beard Story: Volume 8 by Carole P. Roman, Fribbet tells Captain No Beard that monsters, snakes, or loud noises don't scare him, but things are changing in his home and that is worrying him. The crew encourages him to talk so that he can get over it. He tells them there were all these eggs on his lily pad, on the leaves, and in the water. Now the eggs have hatched and his house is full of things that look like fish and they all eventually lost their tails. Captain No Beard and the other crew members tell Fribbet that his family is growing larger and he has brothers and sisters.
It is a story of friendship and introduces smaller children to the life cycle of the frog. There are lessons about family too when Captain No Beard explains to Fribbet about family and how Cayla and he are brother and sister, and how having her as a sister is worth it. Children learn about family and the changes that can happen in a family with the passage of time. The illustrations are, as always, bright, lively, and they make the story vivid and the characters come to life. As with the other stories in the series, this is good for bedtime storytelling and can be used for interactive sessions in classrooms. When science and story are woven together, children will find learning new things fascinating, just like in this story. A new character is introduced into the story. Who is it? I find him cute and adorable. Let us know if you like him!
Recommend this book:
Poor Teddy
The True Story of a Poodle Named After a Noodle
Lisa DePriest
2018 Bronze Medal
45 Pages
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Children - General
Poor Teddy: The True Story of a Poodle Named After a Noodle is the incredible story of shelter adoption, written by Lisa DePriest and illustrated by Ignacio G. Abandoned and tied to a shelter door, Teddy growls out of fear when strangers approach him. Having been abused and neglected by previous owners, Teddy is unable to trust people. Some medical attention and grooming are required to improve his health, but potential families show more interest in the other prettier dogs. Teddy remains at the shelter for a number of months, continually overlooked. When Lisa – a member of the shelter staff – takes Teddy home for the weekend, she is surprised to see how well Teddy gets along with her other animals, but Lisa’s husband resists adopting another furry family member... until Teddy’s lovable personality rubs off in just the right way.
I was so excited by Teddy’s story that I read it more than once before posting this review. Having worked as a Vet Tech for the RSPCA, I was able to connect with the words on each page, and truly felt the sadness Lisa DePriest expressed – so much so that it reduced me to tears. It is always shocking to see how emotionally and physically abused animals often are when they are brought to the shelter by the inspectors – and we are all too aware that these are the lucky ones which are actually rescued from their situation before it is too late. Teddy had sustained injuries which left him unwilling to trust new people, but the love, patience and dedication of Lisa, as well as the non-judgmental welcome Teddy received by the other animals in Lisa’s home quickly taught Teddy that not all people are monsters. Happy endings in animal abuse cases are always the endings I look forward to and I am so happy that Teddy got his well-deserved happy ending. I absolutely loved reading Poor Teddy: The True Story of a Poodle Named After a Noodle and wholeheartedly recommend this book to readers of all ages, especially those who have an interest in being parents, guardians or foster parents of animals in need.
Recommend this book:
Charley's Cat Family
Cat adoption children's books
Jeff Magnuson
2018 Silver Medal
36 Pages
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Children - General
Charley's Cat Family is a chapter book for children, grades K-3, written by Jeff Magnuson and illustrated by Bettina Brasko. Charley loves cats. He grew up with Max, a shelter cat his parents had adopted when he was small. Now that he was working and living on his own, Charley wasn’t sure it would be fair to adopt a cat when he was gone all the time, but he still enjoyed going to the local shelter and playing with the kittens and cats who were waiting for their forever homes. Then one day, he decided he was going to adopt a cat. He had recently moved to a house with a yard, and there was a lot of space for just one person. Charley found a shelter and spent hours trying to select his new best friend. Finally, he made his decision, and he told the shelter staff he’d be back the next day after he had bought supplies for his new pet. Stella was going to be perfect. The staff had some surprising news for him when he got back the next day, however; Stella had a best friend, and they were hoping the two friends would not be separated. Could Charley find room for one more kitty?
Jeff Magnuson’s chapter book for children, Charley's Cat Family, is a heartwarming tale that follows the pet adoption process and details the crazy and unpredictable things that can happen while everyone settles down into their new living situations. Magnuson’s story covers all the basics, such as separate food and water bowls and the inevitable scrapes and squabbles that are likely to occur with new adoptees. I loved watching as Charley realizes he also needs to change his own expectations as he learns to live with his new family. Bettina Brasko’s illustrations are wonderful, especially her portrayals of Stella and Steve, and Charley’s old pal, Max. Each panel is brightly colored and fits the story perfectly. The vocabulary is geared for new readers, but it’s also a grand selection for story time, particularly when a family is considering adopting a new pet. Charley's Cat Family is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
The Bridge in the Fog
Book 3, Magora Series
Marc Remus
2018 Gold Medal
236 Pages
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Children - General
The Bridge in the Fog by Marc Remus is Book 3 in the Magora series, but works excellently as a stand alone. An amazing gate painting made by Holly's late grandfather, Nikolas, was in fact a portal to the magical world of Magora. When staring into Ms Findley's crystal ball, Holly bears witness to her death, but that is not all it has to reveal. It shows a haunting image of her grandfather imprisoned, something that should be impossible if he were indeed dead. There is a chance this apparition could be her grandfather's double, but one way or another she needs to know. If that alone wasn't enough, rumours have been circulating about Cuspidor having a daughter, and Holly has a sinking feeling she knows just who that daughter could be. Little did she know this quest would unleash something beyond even her imagination.
The chapters are a perfect length for the target audience, each written with a style and flair that kept me turning the pages. At first I was concerned about picking up the third book in a series, but Marc Remus does a brilliant job of filling in any necessary information to create a self contained story. This is a really well written book with a good balance of characters, development, and plot. It contains the correct mix of descriptive setting and dialogue to engage the reader and ensure they are quickly drawn into and invested in the plot. It is filled with imagination and creativity and the creatures within the book are charming and imaginative. I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't be swept up in the magic and fantasy of this book, and the world created. I'm certainly considering heading back to book one to see how this adventure began.