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:
Dragons in the Barn
Lola's Adventures
Ennes Higgins
2022 Finalist
32 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
Dragons in the Barn by Ennes Higgins is the story of four siblings engrossed in their digital devices. Lola is on her iPad researching global warming, Liam and Toby with the laptop are watching funny cat videos, and Sara, the teenager, is chatting away on her cell phone with her friends. When the children don’t listen to their grandma, she takes away their devices and instructs them to clean the barn. Discouraged by the filth in the barn, Lola cracks on with the work, thinking the sooner they finish cleaning, the sooner she can get back to her research project, but her siblings have other plans. Liam and Toby set the game in motion, and Sara, the eldest, surprisingly, is also willing. Three of the siblings search for ways to defend themselves from the imaginary hungry dragons, but Lola feels out of place because this imaginative game does not come as easily to her as it does to her siblings. With some help from their grandma, Lola finds a way to let her imagination run free.
Dragons in the Barn by Ennes Higgins is a well-written story that is insightful, refreshing, and relevant to our times. I remember a time when playing in the yard and using your imagination was the best fun you could have. Due to digital transformation and parents attempting to balance work and home life, digital devices have become the go-to toy to keep children busy. Higgins explores this troubling reality and reminds children and adults alike about the importance of using your imagination and how, unlike the world, through imagining, anything is possible and thus more fun and exhilarating. On the other hand, the story also shows how the brilliant young Lola uses her intelligence in the imaginative world; therefore, intellect and imagination complement one another. Dragons in the Barn by Ennes Higgins is a heart-warming story that I loved reading.
Recommend this book:
Davy's Dragon Castle
Mary & Michael Schmidt
2022 Finalist
33 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
Imagine a magical castle ruled by a very special dragon. Davy is that special dragon and his heart is bigger than the castle. Davy believes in sharing with everyone, no matter what their skin or fur color is, no matter where they live, or how rich or poor they are, and certainly no matter what physical and psychological differences they might have. Everyone is equal to Davy and every year when he plans his special Christmas party for the people of Dragon Town, the party is meant for everyone. As he tells one of the fairies who tries to turn away the BunBun Rabbit family, “Anyone who finds my castle is welcome.” This is the way God wants us to live and it’s the way Davy wants to live, too.
Mary and Michael Schmidt’s picture book story, Davy’s Dragon Castle, is a sweet story about caring, learning about our differences, and accepting everyone in honor of their unique differences. The story is told in simple language so young readers can follow along. The bright, bold, colorful illustrations are spectacular and certainly help move the story along. The font appears in multiple colors depending on the page so it stands out, but also to point out that different colors don’t change the depth of the meaning of the words, just like different colors don’t change people. The story is full of fun and excitement leading up to Davy’s big Christmas party and the authors continually stress the importance of everyone being included. A simple story with a powerful message, beautifully told.
Recommend this book:
The Samurai's Gift
Kristi Shimada
2022 Honorable Mention
39 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
The Samurai's Gift by Kristi Shimada is part fable and part self-help book for kids. Yoshi is a young Japanese boy who is suffering from asthma and the flu. His father is reading him his favorite book about samurai warriors until finally, Yoshi falls asleep, exhausted. The warrior in Yoshi's book, Takeshi, comes alive in his dreams and explains how he can heal himself. Takeshi leads him to a special place full of healing. He gifts him a silver samurai sword that has unique powers. Yoshi meets his anger in the form of a red dragon and, with Takeshi's help, learns how he can tame the dragon. Yoshi learns that he can choose how he responds to his feelings.
The Samurai's Gift shows kids that our minds have a lot of control over our bodies. The message is woven seamlessly into an engaging and exciting story that kids will enjoy. The colorful and vibrant anime-like illustrations by Eko Setiawan will intrigue and delight readers. Shimada also includes several interesting tidbits about Japanese culture, from descriptions of Yoshi and his family's clothing to the rice soup that his mother makes for him. The story flows smoothly between Yoshi's real life and his dreams. I enjoyed that Yoshi is in control when he confronts his dragon, but Takeshi is there as a supportive figure. The Samurai's Gift is a great story. It will be especially entertaining to those who love anime and Japanese culture. The Samurai's Gift is an empowering book for all.
Recommend this book:
Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 1
Crosswords, Cryptograms, Fill-in-the-blanks, Mazes, Sudoku, Word Searches & more
Michael Cook
2022 Bronze Medal
101 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
It is enchanting and beautiful to learn about other cultures, languages, and what makes them unique. Your child will discover and become knowledgeable about the Passamaquoddy Indians who were one of the first Native American tribes that lived along the Maine coast and interacted with Europeans. In Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 1: Crosswords, Cryptograms, Fill-in-the-blanks, Mazes, Sudoku, Word Searches, and more by Michael Cook, there are so many wonders to explore and experience while working through the book. Join me as we travel through the maze with Mooin the Bear, play tic-tac-toe with Kwah-Beet the Beaver and a few of your friends, or challenge your mind by solving some of the puzzles, word search, or a few of the cryptograms. This book features so many activities that are associated with words unique to the Passamaquoddy culture.
As I navigated through Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 1 by Michael Cook, I was excited not only to test my intellectual skills and abilities but to learn about this awesome culture. I've known about other tribes from the Cherokee and Seminole to the Choctaw but the Passamaquoddy were a tribe that I was not familiar with until now. This book prompted me to learn more about the tribe. Their language of origin is Algonquin in which they speak Passamaquoddy-Maliseet. Over a period of time, they began to reduce in size almost to the point of extinction but now they're growing and are working toward improving their lives and culture. I'm happy that Michael decided to write this book and introduce the world to the Passamaquoddy people. Highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
The Wishner's Curse
Wishner Prophecy
Camille S. Campbell
2022 Silver Medal
116 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
The Wishner's Curse (Wishner Prophecy) by Camille S. Campbell is an intriguing fairytale for children. The story follows a young girl named Janet, who discovers that magic is real, and not only that, she has powers too! The storyline is based on Janet flying over to Egypt to see her archaeologist grandfather, John Lester. On the trip, Janet meets an interesting boy, Ero, who has the extraordinary ability to read minds! At first, the two bump heads and don't get along, especially after Ero steals from Janet, but all isn't what it seems and the two of them come together to fight evil. Dive into The Wishner's Curse to find out what happens to Janet and Ero on their magical journey. You won't be disappointed!
The Wishner's Curse (Wishner Prophecy) had me hooked from the very first page. The front cover screams magic and it attracted my attention immediately. From reading it, I could tell how much time and effort had been put into the story and it left me feeling amazed that someone so young had written something so professional. Camille S. Campbell is extremely talented and has a vivid imagination. I can't wait for the next book so I can follow more of Janet and Ero's journey. There's so much more to be discovered and I'm eager to be one of the lucky people reading it! Keep up the great work, Camille; you've created a page-turning book that children will love!
Recommend this book:
Do Not Wish for a Birthday Unicorn!
A silly story about teamwork, empathy, compassion, and kindness
Sarina Siebenaler
2022 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
Do Not Wish for a Birthday Unicorn!, written by Sarina Siebenaler and illustrated by Gabby Correia, is a children's picture book that revolves around a young girl named Kat who is about to celebrate her birthday. Her invitations make it clear that this one is going to be extra special, thanks to a rent-a-unicorn style service. Her family was even able to secure a sizeable discount and everyone is extremely excited. That is until the unicorn arrives, sad and dishevelled, with a note stating that her name is Starlight and the sparkle-wash wasn't working so she didn't get her party-prep pampering. Kat decides that Starlight shouldn't be deprived of some shimmer and shine, and she and her party friends help Starlight get her glam on.
Sarina Siebenaler has written a wonderful heartwarming story on thoughtfulness, kindness, and caring with Do Not Wish for a Birthday Unicorn! The little plot surprised me, which is not something that happens frequently in the world of children's literature. A parent can usually see what is coming around the bend but Siebenaler kept me guessing right along with my youngest little reader, who was completely enthralled. Illustrator Gabby Correia breathes life into each page with whimsical depictions that pass the smile from the faces of her characters on to those of the children who trace fingers along her artistry. Primary and jewel-toned colors and a lyrical, sing-song narrative make for the perfect bedtime story and prove that Siebenaler and Correia make a kid-lit dream team. Very highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Princess Serafina and the Mystical Unicorn
Kristi Shimada
2021 Bronze Medal
42 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
Kristi Shimada writes children's stories that are not only fun and original, but also teach valuable lessons to children and their parents. Children may learn most things at school and with their friends, but the deep and heartfelt teachings and lessons are learned at home with the people they love. Princess Serafina and The Mystical Unicorn is a tale following Mirabella, a special unicorn who is unlike the other unicorns in the land of Lilia. Mirabella has wings and a golden glowing horn. Her differences have led her to live a solitary life with no friends. Her fellow unicorns have failed to accept her due to her differences. This book teaches young readers that beauty is on the inside and that everyone is different; our uniqueness should be celebrated.
Princess Serafina and The Mystical Unicorn by Kristi Shimada is a timely tale that has a wide number of valuable lessons, and not just for children. I have been reminded of just how important it is to love oneself even though each individual is different from the next. Life is more than looks and true friends will always support and appreciate you and, most importantly, help you be happier with yourself. This book helps children understand that being mean to other children because of their physical differences is not acceptable. This lesson is one that should be taught to every child in this world. Maybe then humanity could improve for the better, for us, and for the ones to come. Everyone is beautiful in their own way.
Recommend this book:
Mango The Long Haired Ginger Cat
Join Mango in this cat fairy tale as she learns to be happy with who she is and what she has. Especially her family.
Grandma Krazy
2021 Honorable Mention
72 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
Finding out who you’re NOT is at the heart of this delightful children’s book, Mango the Long Haired Ginger Cat, written by Grandma Krazy and illustrated by Lauren Garcia. Mango didn’t like being a long-haired ginger cat because her long hair was hard to care for. She was tired of the rules and the chores she was made to do and she longed to be different – a LOT different, as it turns out! Mango’s seemingly dissatisfied life takes a drastic turn the day she finds a beautiful sparkling rock that turns into some wonderful colors. The rock comes with an added surprise that has the power to change Mango’s life...
Most children, even adults, often fantasize about being something that they’re not. Mango has the opportunity of a lifetime to actually change who she is but receives a rude awakening when her family becomes frightened of her and ends up rejecting her. Like most children’s books, the author teaches children valuable life lessons like not trying to be something you’re not and being satisfied with being the best you can. Grandma Krazy also underscores the importance of family and the loving embrace and acceptance family provides.
Garcia’s illustrations are simple, sweet, and filled with emotional authenticity. Each image of Mango and her family leaps off the pages as if inviting the reader to rub a belly or scratch under a chin. Garcia manages to nail the mannerisms of cats, from the way they flatten their ears to the way in which they delicately wash themselves or huddle in a group. Mango the Long Haired Ginger Cat is also a great introduction to cats and their mannerisms for children who may be a little unsure or nervous around animals. Mango the Long Haired Ginger Cat is a great book that teaches some important life lessons and is sure to be a treat for young children.
Recommend this book:
The Pirate Princess and the Sirens' Song
Suzanne Lowe
2021 Finalist
178 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
Suzanne Lowe’s The Pirate Princess and the Sirens’ Song is the sequel to the award-winning Pirate Princess and the Golden Locket and it continues on with Lotty, her dog Mr. Jacks, and her newfound family. Despite being treated as an outcast by most of the pirates on the ship, Lotty still feels excited and overwhelmed as she finally gets to be with her father, the captain of the pirates. In the middle of their journey to Feather Island, an unexpected fierce storm pushes their ship to an island where three mystical sirens await. Thus begins Lotty’s quest in search of what the sirens requested from her. Will Lotty be able to overcome her biggest fears and rescue her shipmates from the sirens’ spell?
The Pirate Princess and the Sirens’ Song by Suzanne Lowe is a short but delightful book that holds valuable lessons about facing your fears. The moment I started the first chapter, I could already sense the warmth and positivity that this story holds. Lotty’s relationship with her dad remains sweet and adoring despite their long separation. The familial love they showed each other tugs on my heartstrings and it is one of the many things I loved about this story. Lotty’s display of bravery, selflessness, and goodwill is truly praiseworthy. Even after being treated rudely by Frankie, Lotty shows him pure kindness right until the very end. Lotty is definitely a great role model to everyone and I found that she displayed that side well in her adventures. Reading Lotty's journey was exhilarating and she was so heroic. I enjoyed every part of The Pirate Princess and Sirens’ Song.
Recommend this book:
Waverly the Witch
A Magical Adventure for Children Ages 3-9 (Waverly's Magical Adventures)
Angela Lindsey
2021 Silver Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
Waverly the Witch: Waverly's Magical Adventures, A Magical Adventure for Children Ages 3-9 is a children’s fantasy adventure picture book written by Angela Lindsey and illustrated by Corryn Webb. Waverley was nervous about attending a new school after her family moved to a new town, but she soon discovered her school was rather special. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw a teacher in wizard robes, and there was even a wand she noticed in the cafeteria during lunch. What kind of school was this anyway? Her curiosity and excitement grew even deeper when she stumbled upon a classroom where potions were being brewed by the students, creating marvelous bubbles tinted in neon shades that floated throughout the room. And while it was all strange and new, Waverly felt comfortable with it all. She loved her new school and the friends she was making there, and she couldn’t wait to tell her parents all about it.
Angela Lindsey’s Waverly the Witch addresses the fears kids and grownups often feel when encountering new experiences and places. As Waverly discovers, her new school is a warm and friendly place where she feels perfectly at home. I appreciated how her parents encouraged her to discover the magical qualities of her school and herself for herself. Corryn Webb’s images are the perfect accompaniment to this charming story. Each page holds clues for careful readers to learn more about Waverly and her family’s magical background. Likewise, those panels showing the school are brimming with magic -- dragons, pointed hats, wands, and even a flying broomstick or two can be spied as young readers follow Waverly’s adventures. While an excellent selection for story hour, Lindsey’s choice of vocabulary and large font make this a perfect choice for a new reader, magical even. Waverly the Witch: Waverly's Magical Adventures is most highly recommended.