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:
Mrs. Mullendeck's Big Sneeze
Suzanne Evans

2021 Finalist
30 Pages
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Children - Preschool

Mrs. Mullendeck's Big Sneeze is a children’s picture book written by Suzanne Evans and illustrated by David V. Hansford. The day that Mrs. Mullendeck had her big sneeze was one that no one in her neighborhood was likely to forget anytime soon. It was a big sneeze, a sneeze that led to events that would baffle the imagination, a street-blasting sneeze. Neighbors fell off their rockers and chairs, passersby found themselves head over heels, animals of all sizes and shapes were shaken, stirred, and upended by that mighty sneeze. And just when everyone started to feel that things might be able to return to normal again, something happened.
Mrs. Mullendeck's Big Sneeze is a sheer delight to read. It's a marvelous story of a senior with the ability to produce truly prodigious sneezes. The accompanying illustrations make each page an adventure, one to be savored slowly as the reader studies every part of the page, delighting in the surprises and creatures to be found everywhere one looks. I loved the elephant who seemed oddly at ease in just about every panel, though I did wonder how it managed to get inside the pet store at one point. David V. Hansford’s artwork is marvelous. It catches the humor of the story perfectly and somehow manages to pair classic, old-style artwork with some splendid silliness.
While this book is ideal for storytime, especially when followed by the More Fun with Mrs. Mullendeck discussion questions at the end of the story, I can’t think of a better selection for a new reader to try on their own. The rhyming story is perfectly suited for a new reader, and those eloquent and fun-filled illustrations will make for an unforgettable reading experience for a newbie. Mrs. Mullendeck's Big Sneeze by Suzanne Evans is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
A Gift for Santa
This is based on a true Christmas story.
Zuzana Svobodova

2021 Honorable Mention
21 Pages
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Children - Preschool

What a wonderful twist! I wasn’t expecting the gift that Jacob chose to give in the children’s picture book A Gift for Santa. I love the way Santa thanks him every Christmas for the gift. What would you give Santa for Christmas? I love the gift idea Jacob comes up with, but I really love how happy it makes him knowing that he gave something very special to Santa. It’s an imaginative, thought-provoking story with a twist I wouldn’t have thought of. Author Zuzana Svobodová has created a wonderful story that children—and their parents—will love. This picture book is very imaginative and should get children thinking too. Who would Santa drink a cup of hot chocolate with? Who would Santa read a bedtime story with? If you were going to make a card or gift for Santa, what would it be?
How can you resist a children’s book with big, bright eyes on the front cover? A Gift for Santa contains lovable, huggable characters that children and their parents will find adorable. Beautiful, full-color images adorn the pages, which should attract children while the story will keep their attention. Zuzana Svobodová has created beautiful artwork of people and surroundings that are well executed and realistic looking. I admire how some pages have full color in the background and others have a part of an image with a white background. This wonderful story is bound to become a seasonal classic with its thoughtful story of love and friendship with a subtle dose of giving. The main character Jacob has us all believing it's better to give than to receive. This children’s picture book may be seasonal, but I think all home libraries should have this treasured story.
Recommend this book:
The Big Adventures of a Little Tree
Tree Finds Friendship
Nadja Springer

2021 Bronze Medal
39 Pages
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Children - Preschool

The Big Adventures of a Little Tree: Tree Find Friendship is about a little tree living down by the shore with his brothers and sisters. This little tree wants to branch out, to find adventure, so he starts calling for his forest friends until the birds hear him and help him walk around on his adventure through the forest. Tree has lots of fun with many friends until it is time for winter. Oh, the tree needs to go home, but how? He can't move all by himself. Find the answers when you read The Big Adventures of a Little Tree by Nadja Springer.
Having a live talking tree is a brilliant idea for a story to teach children about love and friendships. Can trees dream? Tree, in this adorable story, dreamed and his dream came true. It was so much fun to watch Tree interact with the children throughout this book. Each page is filled with the story and the wonderful, vivid, and colorful illustrations make the perfect backdrop. Tilla Rand-Belle does an amazing job with the illustrations in this book. Each page of illustrations fits the story well. This is my first book by this author but after reading The Big Adventures of a Little Tree by Nadja Springer, I will definitely be reading more. If you know of a daycare, pre-school, or anywhere children will be, please suggest they purchase this book, or you can purchase it yourself and donate it. And your small child won't be able to read this yet, but his/her imagination will run wild as they look at the pictures and hear you read it aloud.
Recommend this book:
What Does A Caterpillar Do?
What Does Series
David McArthur

2021 Silver Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Preschool

What Does A Caterpillar Do? What Does Series is a non-fiction educational picture book for children, grades K-3, written by David McArthur and illustrated by Lucy Rogers. Through a series of questions, the author directs young readers to consider what a caterpillar actually does. He takes them through questions whose answers are fairly obvious to adult readers but may help young readers learn about caterpillars and the other insects they are apt to discover outdoors. And while most will agree that a caterpillar does not “light our way at night” or build webs to capture unwary flies, they will enjoy the question and answer opportunities the author provides as they read along.
David McArthur’s What Does A Caterpillar Do? introduces the marvels of nature in a story that quizzes the reader for their knowledge of what a caterpillar does. I loved the progression of questions and especially appreciated artist Lucy Rogers’ stunning illustrations. Each panel shows an array of insects complete with facial expressions. Her firefly panels are grand, showing a vast pine forest under a star-studded sky and crescent moon, with a lantern-bearing caterpillar and a friendly firefly on one page, and two children chasing fireflies on the following page. Each question sets the reader up for another adventure into the mysteries and marvels of nature. McArthur’s book is perfect for storytime, but it’s especially suitable for a new reader to try on their own. What Does A Caterpillar Do? is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
I Love You More Than All
Kealy Connor Lonning

2021 Gold Medal
36 Pages
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Children - Preschool

A mother’s love is a powerful thing. It’s immense, limitless, boundless; there are no restrictions. So, when a child asks how much you love him/ her, how can you possibly explain? There are no words. But you can compare. “I love you more than bees love flowers” and “I love you more than the wind loves to blow.” These examples, and more, will certainly spark a young mind to relate to the depth of his/ her mother’s love. And, it might even inspire them to ask questions, like, “do you love me more than ice cream?” It could lead to a lively and humorous discussion. After all, there is no way to properly and sufficiently define a mother’s love for her child.
The opening lines really caught my attention: “Hush, sweet baby, please don’t cry.” It made me recall a popular children’s song, “Hush little baby, don’t say a word.” The flow of most of the poem that makes up I Love You More Than All by Kealy Connor Lonning, with its sentimental rhyming verse and lyrical nature, certainly follows in a similar trend to this popular song and I couldn’t help but sing these words with the old tune. The words are simple and catching, and the colorful illustrations, folkish in their presentation, suit the text. The repeated phrase, “I love you more”, at the end of the story emphasizes the point of love’s endless, limitless, almost undefinable parameters. This is a very touching tribute to the loving bond between mother and child, much like the best selling author Robert Munsch’s Love You Forever. Beautifully told and presented with, of course, love and compassion.
Recommend this book:
Boo
Jeanna Ganas

2020 Honorable Mention
46 Pages
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Children - Preschool

Boo the hamster lives in a cage on a shelf in a classroom full of children. He loves the attention he receives and he loves watching the children in all their activities. He feels safe and loved in his little home. One day, the teacher knocked his cage by accident, leaving an opening. When everyone had left for the day, Boo decided to venture through the opening and outside his cage. He wanted to explore the world the children seemed to enjoy so much. He found a hole in the wall and peeked through, excited to discover a real maze of twisty tubes, like the one he enjoyed running through in his cage. And the adventure begins. Each twisty tube leads Boo to another part of the school, further away from his home, the classroom with the children he so loves. When he tires of exploring, he realizes he’s lost and he can’t find his way back home.
Based on a true story, Jeanna Ganas’ picture book story, Boo, is a fun read. It also contains an important message for young readers about temptation and wandering away from home, looking for adventure and excitement, and, in the process, getting lost in the maze of unknown paths. The story is told in rhyming verse with lovely, colorful illustrations to help carry the story along. The plot develops with ease, leading the young reader forward with eager anticipation as Boo explores further and further away from home. A charming story that will definitely appeal to young readers.
Recommend this book:
This Book Wants to Make You Laugh
Living Book 2
Justine Avery

2020 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Children - Preschool

This Book Wants to Make You Laugh, written by Justine Avery and illustrated by Daria Yudina, is a children's picture book for ages 2-8 that is determined to put a smile on your face and a giggle in your day, and it succeeds quite well. The text is sparse but inviting, creating anticipation and following through with a well-earned payoff in the jokes. The illustrations are cute and funny, and relative to the text. This little book would be great for a bedtime story or just a fun, quick read during the day. There are a couple of unexpectedly touching and insightful phrases showing that Avery puts her young audience before the act of simply blurting out a story children might like.
At first, I wasn't sure where the book was going, and it does take a few pages to catch the rhythm of Avery's writing and pair it with the pictures. But then, ah ha! You get the jokes and the pictures, and it does put a smile on your face. In today's world, what child, or adult for that matter, couldn't use a smile or laugh? Children will love this book because of the silliness and surprises that lie after turning the pages. Parents will like it because it's just plain fun; something to stir the imagination and tickle the funny bone. It's clear by Avery's writing that she has a heart for children and knows they love surprises. It's also clear that Yudina's whimsical, charming illustrations are the icing on the cupcakes. This Book Wants to Make You Laugh by Justine Avery is the perfect blend of kindness and humor--just right for little ones.
Recommend this book:
One Sheep, Two Sheep, Three Sheep Dance
Count these sheep & fall asleep book (Dancing Sheep Series 1)
Christina Young

2020 Bronze Medal
8 Pages
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Children - Preschool

One Sheep, Two Sheep, Three Sheep Dance by Christina Young is a delightful children’s picture book. Follow twelve silly sheep as they go throughout their day filled with dance, play, eating, and bedtime. One Sheep, Two Sheep, Three Sheep Dance is written in a steady, almost lyrical rhythm that makes it fun for children to read along with. The rhyme pattern is repetitive and fun, which is perfect for young children, and the repetitious counting fosters an environment of learning and number recognition. Comparable to the works of Dr. Seuss, this story will make your child laugh as they learn.
I found Young’s book to be incredibly appropriate for children, it is both fun and educational. The silly little sheep prance and play in a manner that is guaranteed to get some smiles from young readers. The illustrations, done by Ana Popovic, were colorful and vivid, a sure way to capture the attention of child readers. Each sheep comes with a smile and a colorful number to encourage number recognition and counting. The fluffy little friends even eat a healthy snack of vegetables before continuing on with their day. Author Christina Young has a bright and exciting book to share with young children and toddlers. I look forward to what else this author creates in the future. As a parent, I am very pleased with One Sheep, Two Sheep, Three Sheep Dance, and will recommend it to anyone with small children.
Recommend this book:
The Wonders of Summer
Kealy Connor Lonning

2020 Silver Medal
39 Pages
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Children - Preschool

The Wonders of Summer by Kealy Connor Lonning is a tender and heartfelt story about a father and his daughter. The book takes us through many things the two enjoy doing in the summer such as smelling the roses, racing each other or catching fireflies. The text is written poetically and is formatted into quatrains to provide a regular rhythm. Probably the biggest and best surprise of the book is after the story is finished where the author dedicates the book to her daughter and husband. The author provides a picture of the two together so the reader can see the striking resemblance between them and the illustrated father and daughter from the book. It’s clear this book meant a great deal to the writer and that extra bit of feeling shows through in her writing.
The Wonders of Summer is a delightfully written story with a family-oriented message. It does a fine job implying that the activities are not what makes summer so special; it is the people we do those activities with. From a technical standpoint, the text does a nice job of staying away from forced or overly repetitive rhymes as well as staying consistent in its meter. The illustrations provided by Lora Look are vivid and endearing; they add a great deal of childhood fun to the book and capture the fun essence of summer. The Wonders of Summer by Kealy Connor Lonning is an ideal story to share with your children and a great tool for strengthening the bond between a father and his daughter. I believe in the power of this book which is why it will soon be sitting on my children’s bookshelf so I can share it with my three daughters.
Recommend this book:
Cami Kangaroo Has Too Much Stuff!
Stacy C Bauer

2020 Gold Medal
38 Pages
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Children - Preschool

“Cami’s room was full of treasures: rocks, shells, feathers, toys… Cami loved them all.” Cami Kangaroo Has Too Much Stuff! Cami is a relatable little kangaroo with an interesting problem - she has too much stuff. The story begins with Cami excited to go to her friend Savannah’s party later that day, but Cami can’t find the stuffed puppy she borrowed from Savannah. In the midst of all the “treasures” in Cami’s room, she seems to find more distractions than anything else. Cleaning her room proves to be a bit much for Cami and she learns a valuable lesson about keeping tidy when her mom and dad come to help.
I found Cami Kangaroo Has Too Much Stuff! to be very relatable for children, entertaining, and incredibly well-designed. Tidiness and good cleaning habits are excellent lessons for young children to learn. Not only does author Stacy C. Bauer teach an important skill to her readers, but she also does it in a fun-filled way with a silly kangaroo that is sure to keep children entertained over and over again. I also found the vocabulary in the story to be very appropriate for the age range, and encourage growth in children readers. The illustrations, done by Rebecca Sinclair, were vivid and colorful, making me smile on more than one occasion. As an adult reader, I truly enjoyed the book and look forward to sharing it with my own children. Cami Kangaroo Has Too Much Stuff! is a delightful story that will bring joy and learning to your little one time and time again.
