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:
Orcas Forever
Marie-Paule Mahoney

2023 Finalist
48 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

Under the twinkling stars, one orca dives into the sea while another leaps into the air. These orcas live in a family pod called K, one of the three Southern Resident orcas of the Salish Sea. Sequim and Lea, the two oldest females in the K pod, are among the group's leaders. For a long time, these matriarchs have ensured their family is kept safe and has food. But in recent years, finding enough food for everyone has been tough. Human contact with the Salish Sea has disrupted the area's ecosystem, negatively affecting the Southern Residents. Just a few years ago, one of the matriarchs in the group starved to death. Shortly after, one of the young mothers in the group gave birth to a frail baby who died after birth. How can we help the Southern Residents in their battle for survival? Find out in Marie-Paule Mahoney's Orcas Forever.
More than just offering you an adventure that brings you close to nature and its beauty, Orcas Forever also enlightens you with fascinating facts about orcas. Readers will learn more about the sophisticated orca language, its distinct dialects, their family ties and significance, and why they are among the deep's most intelligent and empathetic creatures. Ginger Triplett's colorful illustrations depict the orcas' daily escapades to immerse you deeper in the moment. I found the images that showed the baby orca and its mother traversing the waves too cute not to point out as my favorite. It was also fascinating to see the pods work as a team and use their considerably high IQs to conduct a greeting ceremony and strategize hunting parties. Marie-Paule Mahoney also does well in capturing those moments with active word choices. This story will appeal to children over nine and adults who seek to learn more about orcas and how climate change affects marine life.
Recommend this book:
How To Make Your Sock Talk
A Beginner's Guide To Ventriloquism
Jimmy Vee

2023 Honorable Mention
32 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

How to Make Your Sock Talk by Jimmy Vee is a humorous, step-by-step guide to the exciting art of ventriloquism. This non-fiction book is for children from four years of age and up. It shows young readers how to create a funny puppet character with an ordinary sock, the techniques of finding and mastering a unique vent voice, and what movements kids should use to bring their puppets to life. It also encourages kids to write a routine and perform with the puppet on stage for their friends and family, along with the necessary exercises and practical recommendations from this world-renowned author.
I wondered how it was possible to make sounds without moving my mouth. How to Make Your Sock Talk explains ventriloquism in simple, easy-to-understand terms. The vibrant, lively illustrations by talented Peter Raymundo allow us to visually follow the whole process, from crafting a puppet to the on-stage performance. All the steps described by Jimmy Vee are doable by an enthusiastic child, although Vee warns his young fans to ask their parents before taking any materials for the puppet. This excellent guide gave me a boost of positive energy, and I felt an overwhelming desire to craft my own puppet. It will inspire children to become more creative and artistic. The humorous writing style and secret reveals of ventriloquism make it engaging. Adults will learn fun facts about the different figures and their famous creators.
Recommend this book:
Augie the Therapy Doggie
A Tale of Becoming a Therapy Dog (Augie the Therapy Doggie Series)
Heather Vina

2023 Bronze Medal
42 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

Augie the Therapy Doggie: A Tale of Becoming a Therapy Dog by Heather Vina is the story of Augie, a Golden Retriever who is a pet and the business partner to the author. Together they spread joy to the elderly, people with disabilities, and young children alike. Heather adopted Augie when he was eight weeks old, and after a year of preparation, Augie went to the training school for therapy dogs where he passed all four assessments. The story shares Augie’s life story from his adoption to his training and preparation for his tests, and his favorite pastimes like sleeping and fetching sticks in the river. Vina includes adorable, funny, and sweet images of Augie on the job and at home doing what he loves, making the people in his environment feel loved and happy.
Augie the Therapy Doggie by Heather Vina is a delightful, heartwarming, and feel-good story with beautiful images of Augie. Heather tells the story from Augie’s perspective, which brings a smile to your face as you think about your furry friends at home and their favorite things to do, and how they show love. It is a well-written and easy-to-read story that accurately depicts Augie’s bright and joyful personality with vivid images of his life journey. Vina shows how Augie’s work and life story merge perfectly, creating a life that Augie loves because of the love he spreads to everyone around him. Children will enjoy this book about this special dog.
Recommend this book:
Jack's Garage
Tire Maintenance for Kids
Jack Scudder

2023 Silver Medal
31 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

Growing kids have always watched adults. You will find them continually mimicking adult actions from pretending they are working at a grocery store checking groceries, staying at home cooking, and fussing with the kids to working in an office. Jack's Garage: Tire Maintenance for Kids by Jack Scudder is an ideal children's book that will educate them on the various aspects of the importance of tire maintenance. Jack is a young author with a diverse background in working with all types of vehicles. He wanted to pass on his passion and knowledge to other young readers who also may have an interest in vehicles. Jack has provided the tools necessary for understanding vehicles and even a novice can learn a lot from this book. Children will become familiar with the terms and definitions used for tires and understand the necessary safety steps on how to change and take care of tires. While this book is about tires, it's just the beginning for Jack.
As I read Jack's Garage: Tire Maintenance for Kids by Jack Scudder, I thought about how beautiful it was to see a young talented teen have the drive (pun intended!) to write such a book. Then it made me smile as I began to recall the days with my dad and learning about cars. He not only taught me about tire changing and maintenance but changing oil, checking fluids, troubleshooting by listening for different sounds that the vehicles make, and so much more. This book is an easy read and makes a great start for a beginning reader. The material is easy to absorb and not overwhelming. I enjoyed this book and am looking for more from this author about other parts of the vehicle. Get your copy today and tell a friend.
Recommend this book:
When Someone You Love Has Died
Talking to Young Children About Death
Stephanie Seidler

2023 Gold Medal
36 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never an easy task. There are so many emotions that come to the fore in a moment of vulnerability. It could be the stoic, silent approach to an event no one wants to face but the one common thing with all reactions is that this is just a part of the gradual process of acceptance and facing reality. This is what would be expected of an adult, young or old, but nobody has ever considered the ways little ones cope with death. Children are fragile creatures with delicate emotions that adults sometimes ignore in moments of grief. This is where Stephanie Seidler's When Someone You Love Has Died: Talking to Young Children About Death fills the gap, showing there is a way to teach children about coping with loss.
Stephanie Seidler uses a picture book with rhyming words to pass on a message with a deep meaning in an unbelievably simple manner. The questions that make up the bulk of the book have interesting answers that one can sing along to. The pictures are most expressive and I doubt whether any child would struggle to comprehend what they depict. What stands out for me has to be the way the book is arranged sequentially from the announcement of loss to the funeral process, especially the section where the child is encouraged to grieve in their unique way. Before now, the norm was to tell the child that the departed person took a trip but When Someone You Love Has Died tosses that archaic approach into the bin. To say I am impressed with this book is an understatement.
Recommend this book:
Ronnie’s Pool
Lindsay Ann Fink

2022 Finalist
34 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

Ronnie's Pool by Lindsay Ann Fink is a fun book for children. The story is about a young rabbit named Ronnie who wishes to have a pool in his backyard to play in. Ronnie asks his dad if he can have one, and his dad says he can and hands Ronnie a shovel. Ronnie is confused, but his dad soon clears things up. He tells Ronnie that for him to have a pool, he must dig one. This book shows how if you truly want something, you must put in the hard work first. Not everything you want will be simply given to you. Ronnie puts time and effort into digging his pool. With the help of some friends, will he finally get his wish?
Author Lindsay Ann Fink has designed a perfect book that demonstrates how hard work is needed when it comes to building something you desperately want. It will make a good book for educating young children about the importance of this as they need to understand that not everything will be given to them simply because they asked for it. The images used in Ronnie's Pool are realistic, with the added illustrations of Ronnie and the other characters, which I found to be unique and clever as I haven't seen many like this before. I think it works perfectly. I adored this story and the message behind it, and I hope to read more of Lindsay Ann Fink's work in the future. Good luck and keep writing!
Recommend this book:
The Ace Compeers
The Secrets of Skin Colour
Rita Bhandari

2022 Honorable Mention
76 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

The Ace Compeers: The Secrets of Skin Colour, written by Rita Bhandari and illustrated by Indra Audipriatna, is a mid-grade children's book that takes a scientific approach to explaining the genetic differences in skin color with the aim to advance anti-racism. The book begins with a group of kids around a board to learn about differences in physical characteristics. The usual differences are pointed out with regard to eyes, hair, skin color, etc. The book then transitions into a breakdown of the role genetics play, moving into part two with an overview of topics such as the evolution of melanin as a response to elemental and environmental factors, and concludes with discussion prompts at the end.
As a parent of a child of color, I picked up The Ace Compeers out of curiosity. In my family, science is practically a religion and so the prospect of a scientific anti-racism angle in a book sounded pretty darn good. Overall, the writing style is straightforward and clean, albeit a bit loquacious, and the information presented is easily absorbed if the adult reading along is patient. I would definitely recommend an independent read first, particularly as some of the references may not be familiar. An example of this is when a character named Ang requests the food 'roti' a couple of times; only one of the twelve children I read this to knew what it was. The real star of Rita Bhandari's book is the phenomenal illustrations by Indra Audipriatna, a powerhouse of talent that breathes life into the book and elevates it through a mixed palette of vibrant colors and wonderfully unique imagery. It was the artwork that resonated most with the children and, combined with the storyline, made for a nice piece of educational kid-lit. Recommended.
Recommend this book:
Making a Difference
An Inspirational Book About Kids Changing the World!
Stacy Bauer

2022 Bronze Medal
40 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

“Yes, you can!” This simple statement sums up the idea behind Making a Difference: An Inspirational Book About Kids Changing the World! from the Young Change Makers series by Stacy C. Bauer. The book emphasizes that no matter how young you are, you can make a difference in society and our world. Twelve young people are highlighted, showing how vital young people can be. The range of subjects that these twelve represent is astounding. Some children deal with the environment, conservation, and saving the planet, while other areas include social issues, music, and being differently abled. Each story is inspiring and will help young people understand that they have power and need to use it. Several chapters include websites assisting young people to become involved. Read this book with your children and ask how they want to assist. They may even have new ideas and want to start their own program. Help your children become world changers.
Too often, children and young people are told they are too young to understand or do anything about the situation and instead they are advised to let the adults handle it. Unfortunately, adults have become disillusioned and no longer have time to recycle or care if elephants are dying. They are too busy making a living. It has become more critical than ever that young people involve themselves in changing the world. Many young people desire to help and have ideas, but they do not have the knowledge. Enter Stacy C. Bauer and her book, Making a Difference, which gives twelve inspiring examples of world changers. It also shows how to become active in making a difference. Giving this book to your children and discussing its contents might be just the thing to encourage your children to change the world.
Recommend this book:
I Will Always Be Proud of You
Michael Wong

2022 Silver Medal
51 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

I Will Always Be Proud of You, written by Michael Wong and illustrated by Zina Jugai, is one of the most beautiful picture books for children that I have ever seen. Its beauty lies not just in the lovely rhyming poetry, nor in the incredibly colorful drawings, but also in its poignant message: whatever our children decide on as a career in their futures, we parents will love and support their decisions and always be proud of them. It’s so easy to envision a parent and child cuddling together while enjoying I Will Always Be Proud of You. While the parent reflects on whether the beloved child will become a musician or a cook, an environmentalist or a nurse, an astronomer or scientist, the child will be in awe of the stunning illustrations where wide-eyed, smiling children, together with their adorable pets, explore the wonders of the ocean or fly to Mars.
This delightful book, whether shared by parents and children or used by those teaching young children in a classroom, offers so much opportunity for important communication with youngsters, e.g. what would you like to become in the future? Why does that career appeal to you? At the end of the book, Michael Wong has included a couple of pages to send children back into the book to see if they can pick out the 22 dogs used in the illustrations or spot some famous people like Beethoven or Bessie Coleman. Who is Bessie Coleman by the way? She was the first African American and Native American woman to get her pilot’s license in 1921. Did you know that? I didn’t! So even adults can learn, along with their children, when reading this book.
Ah…if only I still had some young children or grandchildren with whom to share I Will Always be Proud of You, but since I don’t, I’m thrilled to recommend it to others who do. Final word? Don’t be surprised to see your youngster picking this book up again and again and dreaming of becoming the next Greta Thunberg or Billie Eilish.
Recommend this book:
Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be?
Junia Wonders

2022 Gold Medal
42 Pages
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Children - Non-Fiction

Children are a bundle of potential. As parents, it is crucial to help your children develop their potential to the maximum. Junia Wonders has authored Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be? In this book, Junia shares many possibilities of careers for children to investigate. I love that Junia avoided the old stereotypes that girls could become nurses while boys could become doctors. The career field is wide open for girls and boys to become whatever they want to be. There is no gender stereotyping here. This book is wonderfully rhymed and encouraging. As a parent, read this book with your child and discuss various occupations available. Help your child explore any field they find interesting. Don’t try to force them into a mold you have designed for them.
In Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be?, Junia Wonders encourages children. She knows that children play make-believe, trying out different roles. This book is designed to open a fantastic world of possibilities for children. The words of Junia are enhanced by the artistic ability of Chiara Nasi. One of the statements Junia makes that I absolutely love talks about the measure of life is not just the successes, but also how you handle failures. She does not deceive children into thinking that life is fair and rainbows are constantly in the sky. She shares that hard times will come, but one must never give up. Junia should be applauded for her brilliant presentation of the future for children. I highly recommend this book and its message for children. Help your child keep their dreams alive!
