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 Miracle Mitzvah Moose
Dawn Wynne
2015 Honorable Mention
32 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
The Miracle Mitzvah Moose by Dawn Wynne is a beautifully written story about a young girl named Abbey, who feels out of place and out of sorts after moving to a new home. Abbey has no friends and she is feeling down and alone when her mother suggests she unpack the Menorah. It is the first night of Hanukkah and the Menorah is a special reminder of Abbey's grandfather. When Abbey accidentally breaks off part of the treasured heirloom, she is dejected and she begins to stare out the window. She spots a moose that seems intrigued with the lonesome child. When an antler of the moose's rack becomes illuminated by the light of the moon, Abbey immediately feels a connection to the animal and she begins to look for the animal nightly.
Gloria Pineiro has beautifully illustrated The Miracle Mitzvah Moose so that children will remained enthralled as the words are read to them. It almost seems that as the moose appears and the meaning of Hanukkah is understood, Abbey begins to believe in the possibility of her new life. She wants to help others and, when she does that, she wants to then give even more of herself to others. When she gives, she receives in return and she eventually understands that transitions give opportunity for new and rewarding experiences. I liked the simple way that Wynne told her story. The story itself is filled with meaning for children of any religion and one which will stay with them for years to come.
Recommend this book:
The Amazing Book of No
M. K. Mathias
2015 Bronze Medal
14 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
The Amazing Book of No by M.K. Mathias is an interesting book that speaks about the concept of the 'no' word. The book tells the story of two mothers who are different in their approach to handling kids. One mother says 'no' and other does not. Billy does not like it when his mother says 'no' but when he visits the dentist his teeth are perfect, whereas Jane, whose mother never says 'no' to anything, has cavities. As the story progresses, we see the difference in upbringing between Billy and Jane. Billy realizes that parents have to say 'no' at times and that doesn't mean they do not love them.
The author makes the concept of the 'no' word exciting for young readers. The illustrations are bright and colorful and they lend pace and movement to the story and identity to the characters. It's a good bedtime storybook and can also be used for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries. The story puts forth the concept very gently and subtly, making the 'no' word seem less harsh. It's a story that many children can relate to.
Storybooks with a concept, moral, and message are good for children to help them understand the thoughts with more clarity. In this story, the author conveys the advantages and disadvantages of 'no' through simple examples which are relatable and explain how it is appropriate to say 'no' at times. The story is a must-read for all kids and it is also helpful to parents when it comes to teaching their kids.
Recommend this book:
Gollywood, Here I Come!
Terry John Barto
2015 Silver Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
Gollywood, Here I Come! by Terry John Barto is an adorable story with an even more adorable concept of motivating young readers to dream big. Anamazie Marie LaBelle dreams of becoming a Gollywood star and that is always at the back of her mind. Anamazie's dreams come true when she becomes the finalist in Gobbleville's Got Talent contest. Mr. Albright, who is in the audience, thinks she is terrific and asks her to do a screen test. Anamazie is dazzled by the glitz and glamour of Gollywood when she enters the studio for her screen test. Will Anamazie's Gollywood dreams become a reality? Will she be chosen for the role?
The story is charming and it not only teaches readers to dream big, but also to work hard towards making their dreams come true. The illustrations are colorful and lively and breathe pace and movement into the characters and story. Anamazie's determination and perseverance to achieve what she wants is inspiring and motivating to readers. The book is a good bedtime storybook and it is also good for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries.
Books with a message are good to read because it's easy to make kids understand concepts, ideas, messages and morals through stories. I found the story original and refreshing, and the character of Anamazie is lovable and delightful. Anamazie's journey from that of a small town turkey to that of being a famous child star and an overnight sensation is indeed very inspiring to all readers.
Recommend this book:
Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon
Terry John Barto
2015 Gold Medal
60 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon is a fantasy for children, grades K-3, written by Terry John Barto and illustrated by Kim Sponaugle. Nickerbacher was a young dragon who didn’t feel that his job of guarding Princess Gwendolyn in her tower was what he should be doing with his life. He really liked to tell jokes, which he did all of the time, and he wanted to be a stand-up comedian. Gwendolyn liked his jokes and thought he should follow his dreams and become a comic, but Nickerbacher was worried about what his father would think. His father believed that all dragons should guard princesses, and he placed Gwendolyn under Nickerbacher’s care. When a young prince rode up to see the princess, Nickerbacher knew he was supposed to scare him away, but Nickerbacher really only wanted to tell him jokes.
Terry John Barto’s children’s fantasy picture book, Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon, features a very unusual dragon who sees humor and wit as his weapons, and who wants to do stand-up comedy. He has to find the courage to first tell his very frightening father what he wants to do with his life, and then to appear before an audience as a stand-up comic for the first time. The positive and inspiring message of this story is driven home in a hilarious way through the young dragon’s inability to do anything else but make jokes. Kim Sponaugle’s pen and ink drawings have gloriously colorful washes that make this story larger than life, a fitting thing indeed for a tale about dragons. The characters’ expressions are fabulous, especially Nickerbacher, whose bushy eyebrows are exceptional. Adults will have a marvelous time reading this story and sharing the pictures during storytelling sessions, but it’s also a great book for young readers. Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
My Fingerpaint Masterpiece
Sherrill S. Cannon
2014 Gold Medal
28 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
Beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder and nothing illustrates that truth better than My Fingerpaint Masterpiece written by Sherrill S. Cannon and illustrated by Kalpart. When a child is interrupted from a fingerpainting of his dog while at school, it is the start of a chain of events that leads one to wonder exactly how people determine what art becomes a masterpiece. On the way home, the child’s painting is blown out of his hands and lands in an art shop. It is then accidentally entered into an art contest and after the judges turn it in every direction, they decide that it is the winning entry. Disgusted with the outcome and the way that everyone is attempting to discover the deep meaning of his painting, the child tries to get everyone’s attention, but no one will believe him.
Sherrill S. Cannon and Kalpart have created a delightful story that actually gets right to the heart of what I think about some of the “masterpieces” that I have seen. My Fingerpaint Masterpiece expresses a truth about abstract art that few would ever admit. Splash several different colors on a canvas and anyone who is an “official critic” with enough imagination to make it into something will determine that it is a masterpiece. The colorful interpretation of the story by the illustrator of this story far exceeds many of the “masterpieces” in the modern art world in my opinion. Funny, colorful and brilliant, My Fingerpaint Masterpiece will put a satisfied smile on your face as you consider how silly some people can be about art.
Recommend this book:
The Lost Mermaid
Return to the Raspberry Kingdom
Jan DiRuzzo
2014 Finalist
52 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
The Lost Mermaid: Return to the Raspberry Kingdom, written by Jan DiRuzzo and illustrated by Dave Sullins, is the story of a journey a mermaid makes back home. Lily is planning to return home to Raspberry Kingdom in Raspberry Bay and, although she is sad to leave her friends and they are sad that she is leaving, she knows she needs to go home. Lily’s mom and dad and some friends decide to go with her and help her to find the way there. Although they know the currents and the paths to take, they still encounter some challenges and difficulties along the way. However, Lily handles these challenges well, including being kind to someone whom others fear and do not seem to care for, and there is a happy ending for everyone!
Mermaids are such fascinating, magical and beautiful creatures and I enjoy reading and watching things about them just as much as my daughter. Jan DiRuzzo’s children’s book, The Lost Mermaid: Return to the Raspberry Kingdom, was no exception. This was a well-written story with great lessons throughout and I enjoyed reading this with my daughter. It was a great story, but it also allowed for good discussions as far as how Lily was a good friend and the choices she made. The illustrations for this book are done by Dave Sullins and they are absolutely gorgeous. The illustrations are beautiful, full of detail and go perfectly with the story. This is a must-read for girls who love mermaids!
Recommend this book:
How The Octopus Got Eight Arms
Two Arms Are Never Enough
Yvonne Arroyo
2014 Finalist
46 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
How The Octopus Got Eight Arms: Two Arms Are Never Enough by Yvonne Arroyo is an adventurous love story of a pair mismatched in looks but a match in their hearts: an octopus and a shark. This is their adventure through love and life up to the point where it is revealed why an octopus now has eight arms.
What a delightful, light-hearted, and unusual story about two sea creatures in love. As the couple experiences life, they soon encounter parenthood, stress, and the overwhelming need to have more hands or arms to handle all the tasks when it comes to raising children. This is a story that will bring a smile to your face, and a laugh to your voice. The book contains brilliant illustrations, full of color and excitement.
Reading this book, I was reminded of how I wished I had more arms or legs to achieve more tasks, or carry more items for my children. The story is very relatable to parents, although fiction. The way the octopus is depicted as a first time father, a little stressed at the needs of his children, was funny, and not far off from actual emotions in most families. The author is very creative. This is a book for both parents and children of all ages to read and enjoy together.
Recommend this book:
Space Cop Zack
Protector of the Galaxy
Don M. Winn
2014 Honorable Mention
20 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
Space Cop Zack, Protector of the Galaxy: A Kids' Book about Using Your Imagination is written by Don Winn and illustrated by Allred. Space Cop Zack and his robot sidekick Garg skyrocket through the stars, chasing the terrible Dr. Dogbreath. On this chase, they travel through bad smells, squishy slime, giant ocean monsters, and motion sickness, and yuck, what a chase. And just who is this Dr. Dogbreath that they are trying to capture? Use your imagination as you follow Zack and Garg and their interesting and exciting journey through a lot of garbage to capture the bad Dr. Dogbreath.
This is a book just for boys, and they will love it! The author does a fantastic job of capturing a little boy’s imagination in an interesting and exciting way that will have kids picking this book up over and over to read. The discussion questions at the end of the book are really helpful because it gives parents the opportunity to talk about their child’s imagination with them. And kids can learn new and fun ways to create an imagination from everything around them. The illustrations are just what it takes to capture the attention of children. The vivid colors and unique characters and creatures will capture your young child’s attention. If you are looking for a funny, fun, and entertaining book for your child’s library, this would be an awesome choice for you. I encourage you to pick up a copy and see for yourself what a great book this is.
Recommend this book:
My Brother is my Best Friend
Trilingual- Spanish, French and English
Nicole Weaver
2014 Bronze Medal
20 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
My Brother is my Best Friend is a trilingual story that is written in English, with the text also in French and Spanish. This book is about the friendship and closeness of brothers, and how they love doing things together as they grow up. The brothers in this story are twins and their names are Blake and Drake. In the winter, these twins love playing in the snow and making snowmen, but they also love snuggling up together with their favorite snowmen mugs of hot chocolate. In springtime they like to play in the rain, climb trees, watch the birds and frogs, and play make-believe as they act like the creatures they are watching. Join these two special brothers as they share with young readers what it is like to have a twin brother that is your very best friend.
This is a really cute story about the closeness of these twins. I love the different scenes as author Nicole Weaver shares what little boys love to do when playing together. The story is well written, and children will be captivated as the story is read to them, or as they read this neat little story themselves. The illustrations are so very cute, and I love the people, especially the facial expressions, as well as the adorable animals. The lovely scene on each page goes so well with the story; it helps tell the story along with the written words. The different thing about the story is that it is written in English, with French and Spanish directly under the English sentences. This is a really cute and neat idea to introduce kids to other languages. I really like that in the back of the book there is a glossary of Spanish and French words for the kids to find in the story, an English Word Search, and sentences in French and Spanish to be matched with the English sentence in the story. Nicole Weaver uses her stories as a unique and interesting way to teach children other languages. I think you will love this special children’s book, so be sure to purchase one for your child.
Recommend this book:
Polly and Her Pigtails
Debra Sue Latiolais
2014 Silver Medal
40 Pages
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Children - Grade K-3rd
Polly and Her Pigtails, written by Debra Sue Latiolais and illustrated by Mark Wayne Adams, is a lovely children’s book about a little girl named Polly. The most important thing to Polly is being the prettiest girl in school, so she loves to wear pretty dresses and wear her beautiful blonde hair in pigtails. Because of something mean that the class bully does to her, and with the help of her mother, Polly soon learns the true meaning of beauty and that beauty is not all about a person’s appearance.
As a mother, an educator, and just a woman in the society we live in, I immediately recognized the importance of the message that Polly and Her Pigtails presents. So many little girls grow up thinking the way they look is what is most important. Teenagers, and even grown women, spend so much time focusing on their outer beauty and forget that it is what is on the inside that matters. The lesson behind this charming story is an essential one that all children need to learn, especially girls. In addition to the crucial message this book teaches, I absolutely adored the story. It may be set in the 1930s, but that just makes this book so unique. The subject is still completely relevant in today’s world, maybe even more so. I also think it is such a great idea for children to see how life was like back then. They will be able to distinguish between certain items of that time compared to our more modern times. And if they can’t, there is a cute and helpful page at the back that explains the different items, such as an inkwell and knickers, which were mentioned in the story. Plus, the illustrations are stunning. Full of vibrant colors and detailed images reminiscent of historical times, children will thoroughly enjoy every picture on every page.
I can’t say enough about this book. I absolutely loved it, and I cannot wait to read it to my daughter as she grows up. Debra Sue Latiolais did a fantastic job in creating such an entertaining story with a very important message. I can’t wait to see more from this incredible author.