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:
Grammy Do...
Sandy Richards
2017 Bronze Medal
36 Pages
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Children - General
Grammy Do... is a children's picture book written by Sandy Richards and illustrated by Lori Hohmann. Both the author and the artist are grandmothers, and Hohmann uses their grandchildren as the models for the panels in this book. What is a Grammy? Richards' story gives the answer by answering a number of questions about what a Grammy does. There are any number of things she delights in, from taking her grandchildren by the hand at street crossings to pushing an enthusiastic child on a swing. Hohmann's illustrations bring each of these simple, yet endearing, acts of love to life. Her ink and wash sketches are gorgeous and each one merits a frame for hanging in a child's bedroom. Her faces are beautifully rendered and show a wide variety of expressions, from the impish grin of delight on a little girl jumping in a puddle to the transported face of a young thespian rapt in a performance.
Sandy Richards dedicated her children's picture book Grammy Do... to three grandmothers who made a big difference in her life, and her book passes on that loving tribute perfectly. Richards' and Hohmann's work meshes seamlessly as they illustrate the instinctive and loving relationship that is universally shared by grandmothers and grandchildren. There is a spirit of simple joy that emanates from this work that is quite infectious. This is a grand story time read for grandparents and parents to share with their children, as well as being an excellent primer for new readers. I'm thinking, however, that any prospective grandmother would also be thrilled to receive this book, along with the news of a grandchild on the way. Grammy Do... is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Hitchin' Post
Julie Barker
2017 Gold Medal
56 Pages
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Children - General
Six B’s Hitchin’ Post, written by Julie Barker and illustrated by Carolyn Altman, tells the story of a jack rabbit aptly named Hitchin Post who loves the Six B’s ranch where he lives. Unfortunately, the ranch suffers a drought which means the cattle have to be moved to fresh pastures, and Hitchin’ Post begins to wonder if everything in the idyllic life he leads might change once the cattle leave. It is clear that all the ranch hands love their life on the ranch, and they all agree that all the riches in the world would not make them happier than they are living at Six B’s.
This delightful story is told in rhyme, which initially came as an unexpected but pleasant surprise. Old jack rabbit Hitchin Post is adorable in his wild west attire and his laid-back attitude. The illustrations are lovely and depict the rhymes well with great characterisations. Apart from the engaging story there is a moral hidden in this work, which is about being grateful for what life has provided you with and making the most of every day. It will be an ideal story to read to a child at bedtime where a parent/child could discuss Hitchin’ Post’s life and what makes it so special, and then perhaps look at the child’s life for comparison. The jack rabbit is a really lovable character that will appeal to any young reader, and together with the flowing rhymes make this a lovely storybook that every child will love.
Recommend this book:
Diesel the Body Guard
No Bullies Allowed!
Cindy L. Shirley
2017 Silver Medal
36 Pages
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Children - General
Delilah Dillard is a happy little red-headed girl with freckles. She lives with her grandparents in a small town and walks to school every day with her best friend and body guard, Diesel, a rowdy red-headed rooster, tagging along. There were two mean bullies at school, brothers Richard and Jimmy. They were always calling Delilah mean names. She wished they would stop. When a new girl moves to town and joins her class, Delilah instantly makes friends and decides to take action against the bullies. You see, this new girl is also a red-head, but she also wears glasses and braces. You can well imagine the mean names the boys call her. A chance encounter at a favorite pond teaches the boys a lesson; at least the girls hope it does. With Diesel along, they know that they are safe.
Cindy L. Shirley’s colorful picture book story, Diesel the Body Guard: No Bullies Allowed!, is a wonderful teaching story about friends, differences, getting along and dealing with bullies. Children and adults alike need to have this lesson reinforced many times as this world is constantly presenting us with so many differences. We all have to learn to accept each other for what’s inside, not what people look like. And name calling is just plain mean! Cleoward Sy’s wonderful illustrations help carry this story along as two girls with red hair and their trusty partner, a rooster, develop a friendship and a bond as they learn to not only combat bullies, but also to show forgiveness when apologies are offered. A wonderful story with many good and valuable lessons.
Recommend this book:
Uh-Oh Baby!
Rhonda Whitaker
2017 Honorable Mention
26 Pages
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Children - General
Uh-Oh Baby! is a children’s picture book written by Rhonda Whitaker and illustrated by Penny Weber. Each page in this book, designed for babies and toddlers and their parents, shows what is a familiar scene for new parents. There’s the delightful game of peek-a-boo which never seems to grow old for a young child. Sometimes, things spill or get knocked over and end up accidentally on the floor. Mealtime can be a gloriously messy affair especially with foods like spaghetti. Little ones often get the biggest charge out of playing with their food as well as eating it. Bath time is also frequently a time when everyone gets a bit wet, whether in the bathtub or out. Everyone loves to splash in a warm sudsy bath. Finally, at day’s end, there are those tell-tale signs that baby is getting tired, from rubbing their eyes to stretching their mouths wide in a great big yawn. All of these are Uh-Oh moments that become treasured memories.
Rhonda Whitaker’s children’s picture book, Uh-Oh Baby!, celebrates the arrival of a new baby and the Uh-Oh moments that are part of everyday life with young ones. Each moment is captured with good humor and an appreciation of the joy that parenting can bring. Penny Weber’s illustrations are masterful. Each panel is colored in a range of pastel shades that work perfectly with the theme of this book. I especially appreciated the diversity of Weber’s charming images, which will ensure that everyone feels that they are part of the story. Uh-Oh Baby! is a grand selection for a bedtime story, and it’s recommended for parents and caregivers with very young children and toddlers.
Recommend this book:
Is God My Imaginary Friend?
Is God Real?
C. C. Strachan
2017 Finalist
27 Pages
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Children - General
Is God My Imaginary Friend? is an educational Christian storybook for children written by C.C. Strachan and illustrated by Chernelle Walkes. Strachan presents a dialogue between a father and his children about God, and the importance of speaking to Him and making Him a part of their lives. The little boy wonders why he should try to speak with Jesus as he’s not there, not like his teddy bear or his other toys. In answer, the father uses a look at our five senses to explain how to approach one’s faith in God. He discusses how we use the sense of touch to feel things and the ability to smell to smell both good things and bad ones, like stinky socks. The sense of taste comes into play when one enjoys a bowl of ice cream. When you make a loud noise, your ears hear it, not your toes or your sense of smell. Then there are things that we cannot see, yet know are real -- like air, which we breathe to live and which birds fly through -- and music which cannot be seen but we know is real. Children can thus begin to understand the presence of God as one of those things which one knows is real, even if it can’t be detected by the five senses.
C.C. Strachan’s educational Christian storybook for children, Is God My Imaginary Friend?, is an excellent tool for parents to work with their children when the inevitable questions about God, faith and prayers arise. The author sets out clear definitions of things we can and can’t sense, and she demonstrates how even those things we can’t sense are still real. The illustrations provided by Chernelle Walkes, who is the author’s niece, are marvelous! Her drawings are brightly colored and perfectly fit the message of the panels. My favorite illustration would have to be the bees and beehives, but each one of them is inspiring, particularly with regard to the artist’s use of perception and depth. Parents get asked lots of questions, and some are just about impossible to answer; however, Strachan’s storybook does an admirable job of explaining faith and God in a story filled with whimsy, humor and devotion. Is God My Imaginary Friend? is highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Mr. Wackenteach Teaches First Grade
The Wackenteach Series, Volume 1
JCM
2016 Finalist
94 Pages
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Children - General
Mr. Wackenteach Teaches First Grade is the first volume in The Wackenteach Series written by J.C.M. When summer was finally over, there were a lot of students who were wondering what first grade would be like. They would ask their parents all sorts of questions about school, but one of the most popular questions was whether first grade would be fun. All the moms and dads were ready for these questions. They knew that first grade was a happy and special place, and each set of parents told their child that they had nothing to worry about. When the next morning arrived, the children were ready to start first grade. They went up to the classroom door and heard a voice telling them to come inside, but when they entered, they found an empty room. The boys and girls searched everywhere until they heard a loud snoring noise emanating from underneath the teacher's desk. When they realized the source of the noise, they all ran over to check -- and there he was. Their teacher was curled up on his side and taking a snooze as they watched.
There's an air of mystery, magic and suspense that pervades each page of J.C.M.'s children's book, Mr. Wackenteach Teaches First Grade. Mr. Wackenteach reminded me a lot of Willy Wonka, though I was relieved to discover that he was not quite as dark a character as Wonka sometimes got. I found myself wishing I could do first grade over again with the kind of teacher Mr. Wackenteach is. This is an entertaining and beautifully written story about a first-grade teacher who delights and beguiles his class as they begin their academic careers. I loved the way anything basically goes with Mr. Wackenteach as long as his Specialists remember that each of them is special and none of them are bullies. The drawings that accompany the story are lovely, minimalist sketches that give enough detail to keep the imagination working to fill in the blank spaces. Of course, there are the drawings of that very special teacher as well, and those I couldn't help but examine rather closely. Mr. Wackenteach Teaches First Grade is a marvelous introduction for kids who are getting ready for first grade. And as long as Mr. Wackenteach is the teacher, it's guaranteed to be a fun and special place indeed. Mr. Wackenteach Teaches First Grade: The Wackenteach Series, Volume 1 is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Nola the Nurse Remembers Hurricane Katrina
Scharmaine Baker
2016 Finalist
39 Pages
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Children - General
In a delightful and engaging children's book about a difficult and scary period of time, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Nola the Nurse Remembers Hurricane Katrina by author Scharmaine Baker is a wonderful new addition to the field of children's literature. In it, we find our titular character, Nola, a little girl who dreams of becoming a nurse practitioner, just like her mother. Nola loves to care for her dolls and pretend she is a nurse. She and her mother discuss Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, and her mother, Dr. Eden, talks about how she and her friends helped to fix dolls and toys that had been damaged in the storm, and then returned them to the children they belonged to.
Nola the Nurse Remembers Hurricane Katrina is a book that deals with a subject that may be scary for children, especially those who remember Katrina or who have been through similar natural disasters, and it is an excellent resource for parents to have a jumping off point to discuss such issues with them in a non-scary way. The illustrations are wonderful and Nola is a spunky and fun character. Author Scharmaine Baker and illustrator Marvin Alonso have reason to be proud of this book. This book is a part of a series featuring Nola in the She's On the Go series, and I can definitely see a child wanting to collect all of these books. This is a charming book about dealing with the aftermath of a very tough time, and it is highly recommended to any parent looking for a great resource in talking with their children about these situations.
Recommend this book:
Butters Comes Home
The Butters the Lop Series Book 1
Claudette Melanson
2016 Finalist
32 Pages
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Children - General
Butters Comes Home is a children’s book written by Claudette Melanson and illustrated by Rachel Montreuil. Butters is a rabbit who lives in a shed which contains tiny cages, all stacked on top of each other and side by side. Other rabbits live in the shed, as do many chickens. The floor of each cage is wire mesh, with poop falling onto the animals below or sticking to the wire. In summer, the shed is too hot for the chickens and rabbits, and in winter it is too cold. When Butters and his siblings are taken away from their mama and put into a different cage, they are sad. They only receive pellets at meal time. Butters’ feet hurt a lot because the bottom of the steel cage is not friendly to animal feet. People start coming to purchase his siblings, one by one, and take them away. Soon Butters is all alone and miserable. His feet hurt and his food is very boring. Alone and very depressed, one day Butters is approached by two humans who come into the shed and buy him. In the car (on the way to his new home), Butters pees on his new human and is scared she will take him back to the cage in the shed. He is surprised when instead she shows him nothing but love.
Both the story and the illustrations in Butters Comes Home are absolutely delightful. The story also describes the realistic beginning to many domesticated rabbits’ lives. Telling the story from Butters’ point of view is essential in teaching children that animals have feelings and need to be respected, loved and treated well. Claudette Melanson has conveyed this message very clearly and, accompanied with Rachel Montreuil’s unique and stunning illustrations, this is a book that will educate children, allowing them to understand how their pets may be feeling. As a former Veterinary Nurse, I feel that Butters Comes Home should be offered for sale not only at book stores, but also at animal shelters, showing both children and adults the right way to treat your new rabbit. This book is ideal for all children, especially those in the 3-10 age group.
Recommend this book:
Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion
Rhonda Paglia
2016 Honorable Mention
40 Pages
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Children - General
Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion by Rhonda Paglia is an early learning book for children. Grammy has a wonderful garden, full of birds and helpful insects and no weeds. Do you know how it got that way? Because of the garden gnomes. Three little gnomes tend Grammy’s garden happily and in secret. They watch Orion playing in his sand pit and pretending to be Superman. They watch Grammy do the “honey” dance with Orion. But one day, the gnomes realize they have a big problem – they don’t have any names. Turn the pages to find out how these loveable gnomes solve this problem and make a new friend in the process. This is an updated version of the book with large print.
Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion by Rhonda Paglia is a delightful story. I don’t have children myself but if I did, this is certainly a book I would want them to have. It is packed full of pictures which help the story along wonderfully. One thing I especially liked was the use of different sizes of font. This really makes the story stand out and makes it very easy to read. This isn’t just a story about gnomes though; it also teaches children all about caring for a garden, its plants, and the wildlife that inhabit it, as well as making new friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this and I think it will be one of those books that children want read to them over and over again.
Recommend this book:
Swimming to the Moon
A Collection of Rhymes Without Reason
Jeff McMahon
2016 Bronze Medal
192 Pages
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Children - General
Swimming to the Moon by Jeff McMahon is a wonderful collection of tall tales and silly stories, filled with words of wisdom, whimsy, and wonder. Throughout the pages and poems in this book, you will find funny, strange, and unforgettable rhymes and stories that will have you wanting to read more and more. As you read through this book, you will find poems such as, Under All This Dirt; Juice Box; The Shopping Cart Adventure; Vacuum Cleaning; Holly Looya; There’s a Zoo in My Head; Sweet Ideas and Banana Split. And there are so many more, but just not room enough to list here, so you need to get the book. But rest assured, they are certainly not what you think! These poems will surprise you, make you laugh, make you cry, and create hours of fun and enjoyment for you and your family.
This is a hilarious and fun book. Most of the time with poetry books, I find some I like, and others are not so good, but I enjoyed each and every one of the poems and stories in this book. They are fun, funny, enjoyable, and you will even find a bit of wisdom in each of them. Just for fun, I included a short one I really like.
Rise and Shine
When I wake up in the morn I’ve got
the rising part just fine
but I’m grumpy and dumpy and generally schlumpy
so I'm working on my shine.
And this is just a tiny bit of what you are getting in this special book. I highly recommend this fun-loving book of poems. I really think you will find hours of enjoyment with Jeff McMahon’s Swimming to the Moon.