150 Award Genres
Children
- Children - Action
- Children - Adventure
- Children - Animals
- 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 - Children
- 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 - 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 - 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:
Sometimes When I'm Sad
Deborah Serani

2020 Finalist
40 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

Sometimes When I'm Sad is an educational storybook for children written by Deborah Serani and illustrated by Kyra Teis. All too often, adults overlook the emotions children feel, especially when they’re feeling sad, like the little boy in this story. When we first meet him, he’s very aware that there are times when he feels sad, and he realizes that crying, throwing his toys or hiding are ways he uses to cope with that overwhelming sadness he feels. Even ice cream and baby bunnies can’t chase away those blues when he feels that badly. Then a counselor came into his life. She understood his sadness and the giant space it can fill. She also had some ways to help him make those feelings grow smaller, while also acknowledging that crying and hiding are fine -- at least for a little while. She helped him realize that he could share his feelings with an adult or his friends, and she would also always be there for him.
Deborah Serani’s Sometimes When I'm Sad takes kids’ emotions seriously and shows kids that not only are those feelings real and important, but she can show them ways to deal with the turmoil and despair they create. Kyra Teis’s illustrations do a brilliant job of showing the little boy both when he’s feeling sad and when he’s happy and at peace with himself. I loved the expressions she gives her characters and the animation she imparts to the story. Serani also includes an appendix titled Helping Children Through Sadness: A Guide for Caring Adults which clues adults in on how to be aware of emotional turmoil in children and gives details of ways to help kids work through those feelings. She also includes a listing of resources for parents and caregivers. Sometimes When I'm Sad is an important book that’s most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
What's the Worst that Could Happen?
Yewande Daniel-Ayoade

2020 Honorable Mention
16 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

What’s the Worst that Could Happen? is a work of children’s fiction in the form of a picture book, which was penned by author Yewande Daniel-Ayoade with illustrations by artist Renate Logina. Aimed at children aged four to eight, this delightful book can be read accompanied or alone, in the case of older children, and is focused on concepts such as anxiety and the fear of rejection. The setting features central character Kayla, whose grandma uses the title phrase ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ when Kayla is due to start at a new school. As Kayla’s imagination veers towards disaster, so begins a lesson in learning about the fears we create for ourselves.
Social anxiety is a growing issue in young people in our modern society, and so this delightful, amusing but also poignant work from author Yewande Daniel-Ayoade couldn’t come at a better time. The introduction of Kayla as a highly approachable and likable young person is very well balanced to show how overactive her imagination and fears are in comparison to reality. I actually found a lot of her worst-case scenarios really amusing to imagine, and the gorgeous illustrative work from artist Renate Logina really makes those moments pop as the storyline progresses. The organization works well and the story builds in an accessible way for all ages of reader within the range, culminating in a very important message about overcoming fear, which is very heartwarming to read. Overall, What’s the Worst that Could Happen? is a highly recommended story for any child who suffers from such fears and worries.
Recommend this book:
I Would Love You Even If You Were A Tomato
(Mom's Choice Award Recipient)
Bucleigh Newton Kernodle

2020 Silver Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

Myah was worried when her dad tucked her into bed that night. She knew she did not listen to him during the day and she wondered if he still loved her. Daddy reassured her that he would always love her and there was nothing she could do that would keep him from loving her. Myah told him she would love him even if he was a tomato. Daddy told Myah he would love her even if she was a rotten potato covered in mayo. Myah giggled and told Daddy she would still love him if he was a screaming goat stranded on a pool float and Daddy said he would love her even if she was a rude ferret who never shared his carrot. Daddy also told Myah that there was nothing that would keep him from loving her and that God loves them the same way.
I Would Love You Even If You Were A Tomato by Bucleigh Newton Kernodle speaks in an interesting way about a father's unconditional love for his daughter and God's everlasting unconditional love for his children irrespective of what they are and what they do. Ashley Teets makes Bucleigh Newton Kernodle's words and concept palpable to youngsters with some lovely illustrations that also give a good pace and movement to the story. The book is a fun read and the silly analogies in the story will bring a smile to the faces of all readers. I Would Love You Even If You Were A Tomato is a good storybook for parents and tutors to use for storytelling sessions to help children understand the bond shared between a father and daughter, and God's love.
Recommend this book:
Dreams of Zugunruhe
Michael C Kinsey Ph.D.

2020 Bronze Medal
52 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

Dreams of Zugunruhe by Michael Kinsey Ph.D. is a beautiful story shown as a dialogue between a Mother Tern and a Little Tern and imparts important life lessons to young readers; that of growing up and leaving home. Mother Tern tells Little Tern that it is important to learn what it means to be a tern, known for their boundless flights which go for days and through the nights. Little Tern is worried that it cannot learn how to be a proper tern but Mother Tern says it will know what to do when Zugunruhe visits it. Zugunruhe is the word that means what is inside a bird to make it want to spread its wings and cherish flying above all things. Mother Tern also tells Little Tern that they all have an adventure inside them and it will be able to see the globe from pole to pole. Little Tern did not want to leave its parents, and it did not want to fly so far without Mother Tern. Will Little Tern be able to leave home, face its fears, and discover the world on its own?
Dreams of Zugunruhe by Michael Kinsey Ph.D. is a story of growing up, learning to fly on one's own, leaving home to discover the world, and learning to live without the support of parents. The theme is poignant and Ros Webb makes it tangible to young readers with beautiful illustrations that throw light on the attachment to parents. The story also encourages readers to pursue freedom and explore the world on their own. Written in rhyming verses, the conversation between Mother Tern and Little Tern will touch the hearts of readers in many ways. This book is definitely a must-have in everybody's personal collection, irrespective of age, and also school and public libraries because of the excellent lessons for young readers to understand while growing up.
Recommend this book:
Oliver West! It's Time to Get Dressed!
Kelly Louise

2020 Silver Medal
36 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

Oliver West was still in his pajamas while the other kids were outside having fun. Tommy was running and Jackson was high up in a tree. Parker was having fun riding his bike and Bree and Jade were drawing with chalk on the sidewalk but Oliver did not want to get dressed. His Mommy knew he was big and he could dress on his own. After a while when she came to check on him, he was not dressed. She tried helping him to get dressed; she put his right leg into his trousers, found the socks, and searched for the right shoe. Now would he be able to get dressed and get out of the house?
Oliver West! It's Time to Get Dressed by Kelly Louise is an adorable story that tackles the concept of independent dressing in an engaging way. Oliver West's character is cute and there will be many parents and children who will be able to relate to him. Rebecca Sinclair breathes life into the scenes and the characters with her charming and colorful illustrations, making the concept palpable to young readers. The storybook is good for read-aloud and storytelling sessions in classrooms to encourage children to dress independently, and by parents and grandparents to help their kids and grandkids understand how to dress on their own even though they might not be confident in doing it all by themselves. The topic is refreshingly different, relevant, and helpful to parents who find it difficult to get their children dressed, and to children who do not know how to dress on their own.
Recommend this book:
The Enchanted Oak Tree
Sarah, Duchess of York

2020 Silver Medal
34 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

Did you know that there is something very magical and enchanted about an oak tree? It’s perhaps one of the oldest living trees in the forest and there are lots of stories that circulate about this tree. The one in the secret garden is over 500 years old. It stands very tall and regal, watching over its territory. The fairies like to take their tea by the old Oak Tree and they live in its branches, but the children catching butterflies merely run past it with hardly a second glance. This makes the old Oak Tree very sad. But, when Lily the Lamb is in trouble, the fairies turn to the old Oak Tree for help in finding her. And when the old Oak Tree is honored in such a way, it beams with pride.
The Enchanted Oak Tree, a picture book written by Sarah, Duchess of York, reads like a fairy tale, a fantasy that will capture the hearts of young and old alike. Beautifully illustrated, the plot develops around the old Oak Tree and the drama involving Lily the Lamb. The author uses simple language to tell the story, suitable for an early reader. Drama is accentuated by the use of onomatopoeia (noise words) like howl and baa, which are drawn out and made more elaborate with decorative fonts. The story is a delight to read and, although simple enough, it develops and becomes, like all good fairy tales, a lesson. As the young children in the story, the butterfly catchers, learn to respect their elders and to respect the environment around them, so too must young readers. This is a story full of charm and imagination.
Recommend this book:
What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream?
Justine Avery

2020 Gold Medal
36 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream? is a children’s picture book written by Justine Avery and illustrated by Liuba Syrotiuk. What if kids didn’t groan when it was time for bed? What if they looked forward to dreaming as a great adventure? Avery’s picture book celebrates the dreamscapes kids encounter when they’re finally tucked up, relaxed and ready to sleep. And just in case kids are having trouble settling in, she gives them fun and easy-to-follow relaxation exercises to get them ready for their nightly adventures. Parents will also appreciate how fluidly she integrates the concepts of cleaning up toys and brushing teeth as a prelude to those wonder-filled dreams.
What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream? is a gorgeously illustrated and eloquently written picture book about dreaming. I noted just a hint of wistfulness in the author’s closing words asking a child to share those dreams. Far from being an end to the fun and play of the waking world, Avery’s story offers kids a different way of looking at their sleeping and dream-states. Each of Liuba Syrotiuk’s outstanding watercolor illustrations held me spellbound and captivated. Her skillful use of washes and lovely flowing strokes of color make those dreams Avery speaks of seem so real. Avery’s story is also a perceptive guide to lucid dreaming; one that counsels kids on drawing joy and wonder from those strange and vivid movies unfolding before their eyes while they are dreaming. I can’t think of a better selection for a bedtime story. What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream? Is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
KeeKee's Big Adventures in London, England
Shannon Jones

2020 Gold Medal
40 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

KeeKee’s Big Adventures in London, England is part of a series of European travel picture books starring KeeKee, the cute and curious little cat. Author Shannon Jones joins up with illustrator Casey Uhelski to unfold for a small child’s eyes what sightseeing in the amazing metropolis of London is like. KeeKee has been to several big cities in Europe and now, starry-eyed and excited, she drifts with her little hot air balloon (what a fun way to travel) over London. After going on a tour of major locations with a local, KeeKee runs into a sedate little woman in a blue hat who takes KeeKee to tea—the Queen, of course. After learning a lot about England, the cheerful kitty drifts off in search of more places to explore.
This is a great way for kids to discover some of the major tourist attractions in London. Every Londoner KeKee meets is a little animal like herself, presented as mostly her size and very friendly. Shannon Jones nailed a panoramic glance over most of the attractions you might visit during a day touring London and what fun it is to be there for the first time. KeeKee feels special as she is guided by friendly Shakespearean actor Will through a beautifully illustrated medley of sleek modern subways, old stone buildings, and unique British cuisine, and she is genuinely excited and spontaneous as she learns about this great city. A happy tone of really enjoying oneself threads gently through the book and that made me have as much fun with KeeKee’s Big Adventures in London, England as KeeKee herself did.
Recommend this book:
Smeagull the Seagull
A True Story
Mark Seth Lender

2019 Finalist
56 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

There is a house near the seawall that faces the shore. It has a porch and a sliding door. The people who live in the house stand by that door and look towards the sea. Smeagull the seagull knows that Valerie and Mark are there and he comes in the rain, snow, when icicles hang from the roof, and in spring, summer and fall. Smeagull knocks on the door at half past four and he knocks when he is hungry and wants more food. Smeagull's knock on the glass sliding door with his beak is always loud. Seagulls can be found everywhere and many people think they are smarter than the other birds. Smeagull likes fish so a new freezer was bought with a big shelf full of fish just for him. Valerie and Mark's lives become lonely and bleak when Smeagull disappears one day. Will Smeagull come back into their lives?
Smeagull the Seagull: A True Story by Mark Seth Lender is a beautiful story and the very fact that it is a true story makes it even more appealing for readers. The story of Smeagull the seagull will make readers aware about how animals and birds are also like humans and they also have feelings and needs like humans. The illustrations are fabulous and breathe life into the story and give Smeagull a distinct personality. It is an excellent book for children to help them understand how all living creatures need to be nurtured and loved because the Earth needs them too.
Recommend this book:
Little Moss, Big Tree
M. Yap-Stewart

2019 Honorable Mention
40 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

Little Moss, Big Tree is a wonderful story about life cycles and growing. Even though the oak tree grows bigger than his friend Little Moss, they manage to stay in touch. One has a view of the ground and the forest around them. The other friend is tall enough to see the sky and everything in it. The two friends vow to protect each other—even if it’s just an oak tree and moss. And they do it in their own way. Their friendship is tested during a snowstorm. The winds howl and snow covers the ground. Can the big oak tree protect Little Moss from the storm? Or, will Little Moss end up protecting the big tree? Author M. Yap-Stewart has written an interesting story for children, as well as their parents, with an unexpected, but wonderful ending!
The illustrations in Little Moss, Big Tree are outstanding. Light pastel watercolors fill the page and invite the reader to escape into this heartwarming tale of two friends. Artist Mariya Prytula illustrates all the trees, snail, animals, and leaves accurately with soft hues of color. Little Moss, Big Tree is bound to be a classic and is a must-have for every school library, public library, classroom, and home. I’m sure it will be read again and again. Author M. Yap-Stewart has woven several themes into this feel-good story. Two friends grow up together but one is growing at a faster pace. Though they started out with the same view, they end up growing farther apart. But, they manage to stay in touch and share their life with the other friend. Each friend promises to protect the other one. A very touching story to be told over and over. I thought the story would have a sad ending, but it ends on a warm and loving note.
