Celebrating Youthful Curiosity and Discovery Through Books and Reading

Compassion

Pride and Joy

by Dr. Frank Sileo and Kate Lum-Potvin

(Jessica Kingsley Publishers)

 

 

 

 

 

Imagination

Snowscape: A Winter Pop-Up Book

by Yoojin Kim, Illustration by: Kathryn Selbert, Text by: Nicole Yen

(Jumping Jack Press, a division of Up With Paper LLC)

 

 

Storytelling

Storytellers Handbook

by Elise Hurst

(Compendium)

 

 

 

 

 

Mindfulness
Leo Learns to Meditate: A Curious Kid's Guide to Life's Ups and Downs and Lots In-Between

by Francesca Hampton, illustrated by John Ledda

(Bala Books)

 

 

 

 


Preservation/Stewardship

Sky Wolf's Call

by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger

(Annick Press)

 

 

 

 

 

Bondi & Poppy Help Heal the Planet

by Judith A. Proffer

(Juju Press)

 

 

 

 


1. Board Book/Cloth Book

Gold

Wonderful, Marvelous, Magnificent You

by Abbey Feldkamp

(Peach Cottage Press)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Cuddle Up! It's Bedtime!

by Eliana Martínez Tomalino & Katja Richert

(Bababoo and friends)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Who Am I? The Savannah

by Kurt Jay Bertels

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

2. Alphabet/Counting Book

Gold

Ten Talking Tacos: A Wild and Wacky Counting Adventure

by Anders Roseberg & Rose Zilla, illustrated by Ayan Saha

(Babooky)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Mattison Mouse Counts

by Raven Howell, illustrated by Keeshan Defay

(AM Ink Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Coco's Trip to the Zoo

by H.H. Tang, illustrated by Sam Rapp

(Bear With Us Productions)

 

 

 

 

3. Book Arts/Pop-up/Cut-out

Category Canceled


4. Activity Book 1 – Games, Arts & Crafts, etc.

Gold

Making Art: Imagine Everything is Real

by Kate Ryan with Elizabeth Doan; illustrated by Symon McVilly

(National Gallery of Victoria)

 

 

 

 

Silver

At Home with Pierre Bonnard

by Kate Ryan, illustrations by Cally Bennett

(National Gallery of Victoria)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Pet Poems Plus: How to write poems about pets (also not just pets)

by Sean Petrie & Amanda Hoxworth

(Burlwood Books)

 

 

 

 


5. Activity Book 2 – Educational, Science, History

Gold

The Science and Superpowers of Seaweed

by Amanda Swinimer

(Harbour Publishing)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

A Kid's Guide to Plants of the Pacific Northwest

by Philippa Joly

(Harbour Publishing)

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Doodles Help Handwriting: Lowercase Vol. 1

by Sarah Muldoon, OTR/L

(Doodles Help Handwriting)

 

 

 

 

6. Best Illustrator

Gold

Silence

by Nívola Uyá

(Cuento de Luz)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Good Night Book

by Sofiya Kondakova, illustrated by Sofiya Piskun

(Soneyka Canadian Publishing House)

 

 

 

Bronze (tie)

Women's Air Raid Defense: Gracie and the Radar Girls

by Karen J. Moore, illustrated by Lyn Meredith

(KC Monkeybug Books)

 

 

 

 

 


We'll Never Have a Chicken

by Stephanie Cope, illustrated by Kim Overton

(Flying Wren Studio)

 

 

 

7. Picture Book – Preschool

Gold (tie)

Farm Boots

by Lisl H. Detlefsen, illustrated by Renée Kurilla

(Feeding Minds Press)

 

 

 

 

I Love You to the Moon and Back

by Kari Carr, illustrated by Marina Zaam

(DSG Kids)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

You and Me

by Caley Nunnally, illustrated by Audrey Schmid

(Ninewise Publishing)

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze (tie)

To Henry's House

by Lisa Keitzer, illustrated by Samra Shireen

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

Yeti Needs a Haircut

by Angela Halgrimson, illustrated by Brian Barber

(Beaver's Pond Press)

 

 

 

 

 

8. Picture Book – 4-8 Year Old

Gold

Sam Francisco

by Sarah Tagholm & Binny Talib

(Annick Press)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Klyde the Kraken Wants a Friend

by Brooke Hartman, illustrated by Laura Borio

(Hazy Dell Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze (tie)

Ready, Set, Mars

by Katie Jaffe & Jennifer Lawson, illustrated by Tammie Lyon

(Greenleaf Book Group)

 

 

 

 

Tap and Rap, Move and Groove

by Connie Bergstein Dow

(Free Spirit Publishing)

 

 

 

 

 

9. Picture Book – All Ages

Gold (tie)

Everywhere, Still

by M.H. Clark, illustrated by Claire Lemp

(Compendium)

 

 

 

 

Green Papayas

by Nhung N. Tran-Davies, illustrated by Gillian Newland

(Red Deer Press)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Mimi and the Gold Baton by Cheryl Olsten, illustrated by Nicolò Carozzi

(Fleecydale Press)

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Noticing

by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Elise Hurst

(Compendium)

 

 

 

 

10. Juvenile Fiction – Early Reader/1st Chapter books

Gold

Jessie the Doo-Doo Dog and the Visitors from Outer Space

by Bill & Jocelyn Hutchinson

(Your Nickel's Worth Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Wimps of the Wild

by Brooke C, illustrated by John Ramsey

(Palmetto Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Bronze (tie)

AhMa Loves You!

by Christina C. Wu

(Taosheng Publishing House)

 

 

 

 

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob - A Secret in the Deep

by Brooks Olbrys

(Children's Success Unlimited)

 

 

 

 

 

11. Pre-Teen Fiction – General

Gold

Up For Grabs

by Michelle Mulder

(DCB Young Readers)

 

 

 

 

Silver (tie)

My Big Heart-Shaped Fail

by Cindy Callaghan

(SparkPress)

 

 

 

 

 

Daisy Woodworm Changes the World

by Melissa Hart

(Jolly Fish Press)

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Hurricamp!

by Steph Katzovi

(Brown Books Kids)

 

 

 


12. Pre-Teen Fiction – Fantasy

Gold

A Spoonful of Time

by Flora Ahn

(Quirk Books)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts

by Erika Lewis

(Starscape)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Bigfoot vs. Aliens

by Kyle Sullivan

(Hazy Dell Press)

 

 

 

 

13. Pre-Teen Fiction – Mystery

Gold

Swept Away

by Natalie Hyde

(DCB Young Readers)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Flip Turns

by Catherine Arguelles

(Jolly Fish Press)

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze

The Sea Witch's Revenge: A Delta & Jax Mystery

by Susan Diamond Riley

(Koehler Books)

 

 

 

 

14. Pre-Teen Fiction – Historical

Gold

Operation Overlord: A Tommy Collins Adventure

by Francis Moss

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

Silver

The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls

by Tom Durwood

(Empire Studies Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Molly Shipton Secret Actress

by Sheri Graubert

(Clear Fork Publishing)

 

 

 


15. Pre-Teen Fiction – Mature Issues

Gold

It Happened on Saturday

by Sydney Dunlap

(Jolly Fish Press)

 

 

 

 

Silver

We the Future

by Cliff Lewis

(Jolly Fish Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Food Fight

by Linda B. Davis

(Fitzroy Books)

 

 

 

 

16. Young Adult Fiction – General

Gold

Chasing the Moon

by Melanie Hooyenga

(Left-Handed Mitten Publications)

 

 

 

 

Silver

A Country of Their Own

by Hope Bolinger

(End Game Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe

by Lindsay S. Zrull

(Flux)

 

 

 

 

17. Young Adult Fiction – Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Gold

Wielding Magic

by Kummam Al-Maadeed

(Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press)

 

 

 

 

Silver

City of Vicious Night

by Claire Winn

(Flux)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

A Mist of Memories

by Kate Blair

(DCB Young Readers)

 

 

 

 

18. Young Adult Fiction – Horror/Mystery

Gold

The Lightning Tree

by Lene Fogelberg

(Dedaun Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Burying Eva Flores

by Jennifer Alsever

(Sawatch Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

She-Wolf

by Francis Moss

(Encelia Press)

 

 

 

 

19. Young Adult Fiction – Historical

Gold

The Fight for Midnight

by Dan Solomon

(Flux)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Chasing Eleanor

by Kerry Chaput

(Black Rose Writing)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Magda Standing

by Christine Fallert Kessides

(Bold Story Press)

 

 

 

 

20. Young Adult Fiction – Mature Issues

Gold

The Girls of Fall

by Jessica Minyard

(Centurion Books)

 

 

 

 

Silver

The Truth About Everything

by Bridget Farr

(Flux)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Standing on Neptune

by Valerie Sherrard

(DCB Young Readers)

 

 

 

 

21. Fiction – Religion/Spirituality

Gold

Buddhist Stories for Kids: Jataka Tales of Kindness, Friendship, and Forgiveness

by Laura Burges, illustrated by Sonali Zohra

(bala kids)

 

 

 

 

Silver

The Forest Keeper: A Spiritual Journey

by Mike and Carol Wyrick

(Characters of Faith, LLC)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Prince Siddhartha and the Bully

by Dana Green, illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg

(Instilling Goodness Books)

 

 

 

 

22. Children’s Poetry

Gold

The Presidents' Tailor

by Kathleen Smith, illustrated by Nimali Udugama

(Lollipop Publishing, LLC)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Welcome to Monsterville

by Laura Shovan, illustrated by Michael Rothenberg

(Apprentice House Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Pet Poems (also not just pets)

by Sean Petrie & Amanda Hoxworth

(Burlwood Books)

 

 

 

 

23. Non-Fiction – Picture Book

Gold (tie)

Billie the Brain

by Dr. John Hutton and Dr. Ryan A. Moore, illustrated by Gabriella Vagnoli

(blue manatee press)

 

 

 

 

Wonderful World of the Small: A First Book of Microbiology

by Dr. Lindsey Millar and Vivien Sárkány

(Secret Door Press)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Pebbles and the Biggest Number

by Joey Benun, illustrated by Laura Watson

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

My Wonderful Body: Living and Thriving with an Autoimmune Disease

by Dr. Joy Pillay

(Butterfly Press)

 

 

 

 

24. Non-Fiction – Chapter Book

Gold

American Shoes: A Refugee's Story

by Rosemarie Lengsfeld Turke and Garrett L. Turke

(Beyond Words)

 

 

 

 

Silver

You Have to Live, Why Not Win?

by Dave Ketchen & Larry Thornton, illustrated by Dave Dodson

(Why Not Win Institute)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Hidden Gems: Margaret Getchell LaForge

by Stephanie Forshee

(Archway Publishing)

 

 

 


25. Animals/Pets - Fiction

Gold (tie)

Thankful Fur You!

by Hillary Harper, illustrated by Felipe Calv

(Cannoli & Co. Books)

 

 

 

 

Bear Loves Bread

by Brielyn Flones, illustrated by Andrea Z. Scharf

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Paws in Paris: The Adventures of Tenny and Bella

by Elizabeth M. Grieco

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

A Leaf for Bongani: A Novelette

by Claire Ishi Ayetoro

(Equal Age Publishing)

 

 

 

 

26. Animals/Pets - Non-Fiction

Gold

Bowerbirds!

by Donna L. Huntriss

(Blurb Books)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Melusine Birds of Many Feathers

by Dr. Geraldine Oades-Sese, Ph.D, illustrated by Franchesca A. Guerrero

(Kiddiewinks Publishing)

 

 

Bronze

Safe Travels for Squirrels

by Maxime Bonneau with Joanne Mattern

(Red Chair Press)

 

 

27. Social Activism

Gold

Carden: The Wheelchair Warrior

by Pierre Paul; illustrated by Kiana Bannister

(We Hear You inc.)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Children Who Dance in the Rain

by Susan Justice; illustrated by Lena Bardy

(Compassion Project Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD

by Ella Kim; illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

(Gatekeeper Press)

 

 

 

 

28. Comic/Graphic Novel

Gold

Habibti Pada: Shou Ismeek?

by Ameen Beydoun, illustrated by Ismael Hernandez

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Our Stories Carried us Here: Vol 2 Voice for Refuge

by Zaynab Abdi, illustrated by Ashraf El-Attar

(Green Card Voices)

 

 

 

 

Bronze (tie)

P.I. Butterfly: Gone Guppy

by Karen Kilpatrick

(Genius Cat Books)

 

 

 

 

Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher

by Kenny Loui, Ph.D, illustrated by Yamawe

(UFO Comics)

 

 

 

 

 

29. Religion/Spirituality

Gold

Mouse Malachi Discovers the Sabbath

by Dreama Archibald, illustrated by Zhi Ling Lee

(End Game Press)

 

 

 

 

Silver (tie)

The King of Easter: Jesus Searches for All God's Children

by Todd R. Hains, illustrated by Natasha Kennedy

(Lexham Press)

 

 

 

 

Lullaby for the King

by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Michelle Carlos

(Beaming Books)

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Saint Patrick the Forgiver

by Ned Bustard

(IVP Kids)

 

 

 


30. Holiday

Gold

Hazel and the Spooky Season

by Kyle Sullivan, illustrated by Jess Mason

(Hazy Dell Press)

 

 

Silver (tie)

Christmas Bears

by Danni Cannon, illustrated by Masastarus

(Lake House Press)

 

 

 

 

Dzvinya's Gift for Mama

by Dzvinka Hayda

(Trillium Forest Press)

 

 

 

Bronze

The Stone Angel Society

by Dawn Bourdeau Milstrey

(Orange Blossom Publishing)

 

 

 

 

31. Book with Merchandise (plush toy, etc.)

Gold

Find Your Brave

by Kristen J. Lloyd

(Found My Brave LLC)

 

 

Silver

The Story of Trunks Maloo

by Kurt Jay Bertels

(MindStir Media)

 

 

Bronze

Clyde the Crawfish King

by Patrick Ackerman

(Apple Pie Publishing)

 

 

32. Spanish Language Book

Gold (tie)

¡Pacatac!

by Anya Damirón, illustrated by Pablo Pino

(Andalo Editorial)

 

 

 

 

Sawabona: Te respeto, te valoro, eres importante

by Desirée Acevedo, illustrated by Rebeca Luciani

(La Cuentería Respetuosa)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Emy la hormiga/The Ant

by Esmeralda Pérez Cortés, illustrated by Alynor Díaz

(Abuelita Emy)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Gregorina en Chicago, la ciudad de los vientos: Gregorina in Chicago, the Windy City

by Milagros Wallace, illustrated by Alynor Díaz

(Snow Fountain Press)

 

 

 

 

33. Environmental Issues

Gold

I Made the Earth

by Shannon Cook; illustrated by Richard Watson

(Wren & Bear Books)

 

 

Silver

Pass the Feather: Walking Lake Erie

by Carol A. Trembath; illustrated by David W. Craig

(Lakeside Publishing MI)

 

 

 

 

Bronze (tie)

George Leaves the Lights On: The Importance of Being Earnest About Conservation

by Barbara J Genovese

(Merlin's Falcon Press)

 

 

 

 

Princess Bee and the Boy

by Matthew Middleton; illustrated by Jade De Baecque

(Beezotted)

 

 


34. Health Issues

Gold

My Wonderful Body: Living and Thriving with an Autoimmune Disease

by Dr. Joy Pillay

(Butterfly Press)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Becoming Bully Proof

by Rich Grogan

(AME High Publishing, LLC)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Krazy for Keto

by Brandon Kopp

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 


35. Mind-Body-Spirit/Self-Esteem

Gold

Anger

by Rima Ismail, illustrated by Inna Ogando

(Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press)

 

 

 

 

Silver

There's an Elephant on my Chest

by Caris Snider, illustrated by Ana Sebastian

(End Game Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze (tie)

Sometimes When I'm Worried

by Deborah Serani, Psy.D., illustrated by Kyra Teis

(Free Spirit Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Piper Learns to Fly

by Anya Schroeter & Joe Schroeter, illustrated by Abby Walz

(Luminous Moon Press)

 

 

 

 

 

36. Best First Book – Picture Book

Gold (tie)

Snowy Prints

by Catherine Nevin-Pike, illustrated by Phoebe Todd-Parrish

(FriesenPress)

 

 

 

 

Sophie Won't Sleep

by Dr Danielle Camer, illustrated by Tatsiana Burgaud

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Would a Petrified Wood?

by Edward Peppernickle, illustrated by Andri Anto

(Bear With Us Productions)

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Ouva Hugs a Star

by Mike Puglielli

(Small Giants Publishing)

 

 

 

 

37. Best First Book – Chapter Book

Gold

Doomsday Dani

by Carissa Turpin

(Orange Blossom Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Silver

The Last Green Dragon

by Rud Verhagen

(Your Nickel's Worth Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Katelyn's Crow

by Mary Beth Laufer, illustrated by Kathleen Phillips Poulsen

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

38. Best Book by Youth Author under 18

Gold

From Tears to the Sea

by Alexandra K. Huynh

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

Silver (tie)

Turning the Corner

by Ruozhen Ma

(Skylight Valley Creative Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Pack of the Lost - The Uninviting Forest

by Nikita Kapoor

(Paper Lily Press LLC)

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Brynn & Amir and the Magic Map

by Anna Cook

(End Game Press)

 

 

 

 

39. Best Book Series – Picture Book

Gold

Marky Polo's Travels series

by Emily Lim-Leh, illustrated by Nicholas Liem

(WS Education)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Book of Bad Manners Series

by Laura Teste

(Laura Teste Studios LLC)

 

 

Bronze

Do Not Wish for a Pet Ostrich!

by Sarina Siebenaler

(Colors on the Spectrum)

 

 

40. Best Book Series – Chapter Book

Gold (tie)

Naomi Nash Series

by Jessica Lee Anderson, illustrated by Alejandra Barajas

(Picture Window Books)

 

 

 

 

The Campground Kids

by C.R. Fulton

(Bakken Books)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Oxbow Island Gang: Leap Frog

by Rae Chalmers, illustrated by Jamie Hogan

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Slater Mountain Book Series

by Judy Ricketts-White

(Mecate Press)

 

 

 

 

41. Best Book Series – Non-Fiction

Gold (tie)

Hanging With Vampires

by Insha Fitzpatrick

(QUIRK BOOKS)

 

 

 

 

Kid Trailblazers

by Robin Stevenson, illustrated by Allison Steinfeld

(QUIRK BOOKS)

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

Dr. Dawn's Mini Books About Mighty Fears

by Dr. Dawn Huebner

(Jessica Kingsley Publishers)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Rudy the Rudster Children's Book Series

by Diane Robbins Jones

(Rudy the Rudster)

 

 

 

 

42. Best Writer/Illustrator

Gold

Lulu the Beaver

by Bethany Gano

(Bunny Books)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Fox and Bear

by Miriam Korner

(Red Deer Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

ChokWaka and The Moon Tales

by Lynn A. Hall

(Self-Published)

 

 

 

 

43. Cultural Experience

Gold

Oolichan Moon

by Samantha Beynon, illustrated by Lucy Trimble

(Harbour Publishing)

 

 

Silver

Stronger

by Pamela Steinmetz Peckman

(tenoclockpress, LLC)

 

 

Bronze

A Home for Us

by Sharon Jennings, illustrated by Eva Campbell

(Red Deer Press)

 

 

 

 

E1. Children’s Picture Book

Gold

The Love Knot

by Vassi Rombis

(Kreative Publishing Studio)

 

 

Silver

Ready... Set... Frog!

by Katharine Mitropoulos, illustrated by Laura Watson

(Set Sail Press)

 

 

 

 

Bronze (tie)

The Fancy Schmany Lifeguard - A Tale of Bravery

by Gilda Boram

(Rainbowdrop Enterprises) 

 

 

 

 

Bold & Brave

by K.A. Cummins

(Eleonora Press)

 

 

 

E2. Picture Book – Enhanced

Gold

The Secret Life of Shadows

by Johnny DePalma

(Umbrelly Books Publishing)

 

 

Silver

Neurofables: Inclusion

by Charlie Xavier, Jill Butler, and Colin Throm

(Avenues The World School Press)

 

 

Bronze (tie)

From Across the Street (Del Otro Lado de la Calle)

by Wanda Vasquez Garcia & Socrates Garcia

(F-flat Books)

 

 

 

 

BILINGUAL 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - 200th anniversary edition: Spanish - English

by Clement Clarke Moore and others

(Pop the Cork Publishing)

 

 

 

 

 

E3. Pre-Teen Fiction

Gold

Elvia and the Gift of Passion

by Ruthy Ballard

(WhipSmart Books)

 

 

 

 

Silver

The Secret of the Magic eyePad: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures Book 1

by Marsha Tufft

(Putney Designs)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Life in the Grand Pause, Light in the Shadow, and Through the Smoke

by Frank Saraco

(Barnsley Ink)

 

 

 

 

E4. Young Adult Fiction

Gold

War of the Sea

by Dana Claire

(Chamberlain Publishing House)

 

 

 

 

Silver

Burying Eva Flores

by Jennifer Alsever

(Sawatch Publishing)

 

 

 

 

Bronze

Fields Apart

by J. N. Kelly

(Rowe Publishing)