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:
Foxhole Father
The Field Guide for Fathers
Christopher R. Whalen

2015 Finalist
250 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

Foxhole Father: The Field Guide for Fathers by Christopher R. Whalen is a guide to raising children to become fully functioning, self aware, self respecting, self sufficient and independent adults. With the overriding philosophy being to ask oneself the foxhole father’s question, “What is best for the children?” before arriving at any decision, Christopher examines the many facets of single parenting. Beginning with a very basic question of how children are to be spoken to, he has selected almost all situations or conflicts that can occur while parenting in providing pragmatic instructions. The importance of being non-judgmental, expected behaviors from children, special care for teenagers, exposing children to technology, the need to have limits and boundaries, and how to handle romance are some of the areas covered in this book.
Foxhole Father: The Field Guide for Fathers by Christopher R. Whalen is a book full of sensible advice. In fact, one need not wait to become a single father to enjoy its help because the sagacious nature of its contents makes it a worthy companion to one and all. The author has made it a point to cover all ‘clumsy’ encounters, I think, and a good part of this book is devoted to handling such occasions as the meeting with one's ex. In fact, there is hardly any dilemma an average parent would be required to face which is not discussed by the author, and his answers are always based on common sense and logic. A good book for all and a worthy reference for all fathers.
Recommend this book:
Questionable Autism
Susan Louise Peterson

2015 Honorable Mention
98 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

Questionable Autism by Susan Louise Peterson is an excellent guide on autism for parents, educators, counselors and professionals who work around autistic people. Autism is a subject that has been controversial and debatable to a large extent, based on the experiences of people who have interacted with autistic children. This book opens the door to practical concerns regarding autism and real world practices. A lot of things written in the book regarding autism are questionable, but the book is useful to readers to understand more about the topic. It clears many misconceptions about autism that range from diagnosis to treatment, and also tells readers that screening children for autism does not give them a complete assessment regarding autism.
The author speaks about the subject matter extensively and expansively, and puts it forth in a simple and easy manner that is easily comprehended by readers. Parents and teachers become more knowledgeable about the topic after reading this book, which helps them to solve many problems related to autism. The approach to the subject is excellent and the topic is handled well with clarity. The questions to consider are useful ones that help the parent or educator evaluate the child in a detailed manner, giving a broader picture of the child. This book is definitely helpful to all those who work with and around autistic children. Autistic problems and symptoms vary from child to child and this book is helpful when it comes to understanding more about autism.
Recommend this book:
Walking to Woot
A Photographic Narrative Discovering New Dimensions For Parent/Teen Bonding
Jackie Chase

2015 Bronze Medal
242 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

Walking to Woot: A Photographic Narrative Discovering New Dimensions For Parent/Teen Bonding by Jackie Chase is a true account of a mother-and-daughter’s journey together into Papua New Guinea and all of its accompanying adventures and insights. Walking to Woot starts with Jackie and her teenage daughter, Katherine, embarking on an once-in-a-lifetime journey to Papua New Guinea and into a world still relatively untouched by civilization. Their one-month-long excursion is documented fully as we hear their stories - full of adventure, fun, discomfort, and traveling with the bare necessities - which offer a rare glimpse into the lives and culture of the various tribes that inhabit Papua New Guinea. In the end, Walking to Woot is more than the journey; it also tells the story of how a mother and daughter became a team and formed a new bond as they experienced a new world.
Walking to Woot: A Photographic Narrative Discovering New Dimensions For Parent/Teen Bonding by Jackie Chase is an immensely enjoyable book written superbly by Jackie Chase. I felt that I was able to get a true, unadorned glimpse into the life and society of various tribes that live in Papua New Guinea such as the Dani, and to truly understand a region that may be one of the last untouched places left on earth. I also loved the fact that Jackie truly empathizes with the locals she meets and has a very open, accepting mindset. Her bonding with Katherine is also a great lesson in parenting. All in all, a wonderful read for all travel or parenting enthusiasts.
Recommend this book:
When Parenting Is A Foreign Language
A Child Therapist's Guide to Speaking Your Child's Language
Diane Ross-Glazer

2015 Silver Medal
210 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

When Parenting Is A Foreign Language by Diane Ross-Glazer is a useful book on parenting and gives a peek into a child's emotional world, allowing one to become more aware while bringing up kids. It's a book that can be read many times and can be used as a guide for reference. The personal stories and experiences in the book are useful for readers. The book educates readers on how to deal with tantrums and prevent children from misbehaving in public. The book helps parents to communicate with their kids in a better way, understand their behavior and gently guide them toward more acceptable patterns of behavior.
I will definitely recommend this book to all parents because it helps build up healthy relationships with one's kids. The author's tips are simple, easy to put into practice, and insightful. There is a lot of information in the book and it is an effective manual in bringing up children and maintaining a healthy relationship with them. Parenting can become difficult and complicated at times, and this book discusses how to approach and handle kids during difficult times, and create a healing experience. The four-step formula for handling a child during a difficult situation is indeed helpful to all parents. The book is written with humor and the author is able to tell readers how the mind of child works. The book is beneficial from the point of view of both parents and children.
Recommend this book:
Tilt
7 Solutions To Be A Guilt-Free Working Mom
Marci Fair

2015 Gold Medal
318 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

The life of a working mother can be difficult. There are times when you have to weigh up your professional obligations against the personal and familial obligations you have toward your family and, more specifically, your children. Understanding how to develop a personal life outside of your professional life and family life is essential to having a well-rounded, well-developed life. Marci Fair describes her life and the way she’s come to understand the best way to balance out the different aspects of her life. Tilt: 7 Solutions to Be a Guilt-Free Working Mom describes and helps you to understand the way in which life will change when you become a mother and a working professional at the same time.
Tilt: 7 Solutions to Be a Guilt-Free Working Mom by Marci Fair is a great book for any mother who is trying to decide on the best way to support her family financially and emotionally. I know that I’ve wondered what to do when I have children because I believe I’d still like to work. This book has helped me to understand what I can do to be there for my children yet still have a life of my own. If you’re a mother who doesn’t know how to provide the best level of care for her children and work outside the home, then this is definitely a book to consider. I know I’ll recommend it to my friends and family members who are working mothers as well, and I’ll be looking back at it when I have children of my own.
Recommend this book:
Loving Andrew
A Fifty-Two-Year Story of Down Syndrome
Romy Wyllie

2014 Honorable Mention
306 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

In Loving Andrew, Romy Wyllie tells the story of her Down syndrome son, Andrew James Wyllie, and also stories about Lindsay Yeager and Blair Rodriguez; both with the same condition. It is not only about how Romy and her family face the challenges of raising a Down syndrome child, but the joy and life lessons that he bestowed upon them.
I never knew that a person with Down syndrome could be affected by mental illness, such as paranoid schizophrenia in Andrew’s case. This revelation is quite a surprise for me due to my lack of knowledge in this matter. Reading about the public and the medical community’s reception in the late fifties towards Down syndrome is informative; I’m glad that society is more knowledgeable about Down syndrome although the lack of understanding regarding the disabled people still lingers today.
My mother is a retired nurse for almost 15 years now, and I clearly remembered what she said about Down syndrome children, “It is sad that their life span is shorter than us.” I’m glad to know that Andrew lived until he was fifty-two, although it was hard to read about his decline from a high-functioning man with Down syndrome, to a man who had to battle paranoid schizophrenia and Alzheimer's in his last years.
I truly appreciate that Romy Wyllie shares her story about Andrew with the rest of the world. Loving Andrew is an eloquently written book and definitely a helpful guide as well as inspiration for everyone, especially parents with disabled children.
Recommend this book:
Growing Happy Kids
How to Foster Inner Confidence, Success and Happiness
Maureen Healy

2014 Silver Medal
264 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

Growing Happy Kids by Maureen Healy is all about how anyone can raise children that are confident in themselves and their ability to succeed. With information and stories from real parents and the Five Building Blocks of Inner Confidence, it’s possible to determine which stage of confidence you are already at and how to build yourself and your children up to an even stronger level of inner confidence. Even if you have no confidence right now, you’ll be able to find your inner strength and your ability to succeed. It’s not about knowing what you do well and taking your confidence from an external influence, it’s about taking your confidence from inside yourself. Being strong from the inside out is much harder, but it also has far more rewards in the end. Teaching your kids these skills from a young age will definitely help them to be happier and far healthier as they grow into adulthood.
Being confident isn't just about knowing you can do something well, it’s about knowing that you can overcome obstacles and that you, as your own person, are capable of whatever you need in life. It’s about understanding that even if bad things happen to you, you can overcome. By learning this for yourself and teaching it to your children, you can make them and yourself much stronger. I definitely learned more about this by reading Growing Happy Kids by Maureen Healy. The information in this book, especially that from real parents, was easy to understand and really made me believe it will work.
Recommend this book:
The Big Secret
The Whole and Honest Truth About Santa Claus
D. W. Boorn

2014 Gold Medal
52 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

The Big Secret by D. W. Boorn is a must-have for every parent as it will help children with the transition from believing in Santa Claus to knowing the truth about the magic of Christmas. The Big Secret asks and double checks that the reader is ready to learn the truth about Santa Claus and be added to the list to be a part of the Big Kids’ Club. If the reader is ready to take this enormous step, then he or she should turn the page, add his or her name to the list and be prepared to learn the truth about Santa Claus. The legend of Santa Claus is shared as well as the concept of magic; both the magic of things that can be seen and those magical things that cannot be seen. The magic of Christmas and the season is explained as well with examples of how children can also share in this magic.
I absolutely love The Big Secret and it has found a spot on my bookshelf. It will be used when my children are ready to write their names on the list to join the Big Kids’ Club! D. W. Boorn addresses the concept of Santa Claus for children who are transitioning out of the stage of believing in Santa Claus. It is explained in such a way that Christmas is seen in a whole new light, but it is still just as magical a time as when Santa Claus was believed in, maybe even more magical!
This book is really for anyone of any religion and does not delve into specific religious beliefs, merely the concept of Christmas being a magical time of the year due to the fact that people are kinder to each other at this time and are overall a better person. I love the look and the layout of this book as it really does look magical as if containing secrets within the pages.
Recommend this book:
Holidays for Kids
Charles Pascalar

2013 Bronze Medal
108 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

Charles Pascalar's book "Holidays for Kids" is packed full of great ideas for parents and children to celebrate holidays together, well-known holidays and lesser known ones as well! This book is divided up into chapters by each month with the holidays specific to that month coming in each chapter. For example, July has five holidays: Independence Day, Macaroni Day, Slurpee Day, Lollipop Day, and Parents' Day. While the majority of Americans already have ways and traditions for celebrating Independence Day, the author has included some historical facts about each state and also information about different types of fireworks. Then Slurpee day is of course July 11th (7-11 Convenience Store) and the book gives a brief history of this store and a simple tradition of going for a Slurpee on this day each year. The last chapter contains other special days such as birthdays, picnic days and kids in the kitchen days that can be celebrated any day and many days throughout the year. Each holiday is discussed and ideas are shared for families to adapt and use in order to create their own traditions and have fun together.
This is by far one of the best parenting books I have ever read! Not only is it unique and fun to read, but it is filled with excellent ideas to use as a way to spend time and create memories with my children! I love the range of ideas and activities in this book and cannot wait to try so many of them out. While some will take more time and money than other ideas, it is all about creating the moments and memories as a family and giving of time and love as the author stresses. This is a must-read for all families!
Recommend this book:
The Immortality Complex
Dr. Jerome L Schulte, MD

2012 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - Parenting

In Dr. Jerome Schulte's book, "The Immortality Complex", he lists three things that are the philosophical theorems of his book: the essence of humanness is need, the essence of need is feelings, and the essence of feeling is growth. Need is the continued growth through feelings. He contends that people don't delve into their feelings near enough to the detriment of their selves. He discusses feelings in depth and the need for love and unconditional love and the problems with the lack thereof. Sexuality is vastly important to the self and to the sharing of sex with one that is important to the self. Dr. Jerome Schulte has worked with small children, juveniles, and adults as criminals and potential criminals and has his theories as to why they were bent that way and ways in which help could be accorded.
If you have an interest in psychology or even an interest in people in general, you will be interested in reading "The Immortality Complex" by Dr. Jerome Schulte. The doctor discuses what is necessary to be a mentally healthy human. He also delves into the criminal personality which gets quite interesting. The doctor has 40 years of working with people. To aid them in many problems that they may have, he has studied the psychology of the mentally ill as well as those with a criminal bent, even young children. A spell-binding book!
