APPROVED WINNERS

Early Bird Deadline: November 1, 2024 • Final Deadline: February 1, 2025

Contest winners will be notified during the last week of March for each year’s contest.

Story Monsters Approved

2023 Winners

Book of the Year Winner: A Galon of Water by Aiden Lee

 
 

$100 Drawing Winner: Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher

By Mindy Hudon MS CCC-SLP, illustrated by Barbara Szepesi Szucs

 

Board Books

  • Play With Me by Kat Chen, illustrated by Lorraine Nam

Picture Books Fiction

  • How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

  • I Think My Cat is a Spy! by Rayla Ray, illustrated by Ruya Karakaya

  • Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code by Rick Felty

  • Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project by Ellie Smith, illustrated by Eyen Johnson

  • Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait! by Mary Bleckwehl, illustrated by Gabby Correia

  • Raccoons Go Rafting by Rachel Vogel

  • A Galon of Water by Aiden Lee

  • Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea by Miki Taylor, illustrated by Eunhye Shin

  • Adventures in Couch Cove As told by Jack the Raccoon by Kendyll Norris, illustrated by Joe Huffman

  • Little White Cat by Anders Roseberg

  • Spooky Oooky Dance Party by Lisa Jacovsky

  • Flora The Fish And The Plastic Plight by Teya Knightingale, illustrated by Teya Knightingale

  • The Empathetic Elephant by Jennifer Randazzo, illustrated by Lauren Sparks

  • Listen To The Night Mary Dreamer by Cher Knightingale, illustrated by Teya Knightingale

  • My Favorite Season is Spring by Patrice Wilkerson, illustrated by Brooke Beaver

  • Guinea Pig Power by Ben St. James

  • When Bugs Fly; Tale of the Nite Kite by Joni Nowak

  • Gibble the Goblin Has a Problem by Cad E. Wampus and Bill Sugg III

  • Oscar and Otto by Betty Cetas and Amanda Hanson, illustrated by Ugur Kose

  • The Day Bert Smiled by Christine Maier, illustrated by Aviva Brueckner

  • Brave Millie by Hilary Hawkes, illustrated by Andrea Petrlik

  • Charlie Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy by Brad Mason

  • Looking for Happiness by Michelle Choi

  • Millie’s Rainbow by Hilary Hawkes, illustrated by Andrea Petrlik

  • Musical Soul Mates by Cindy B Witty, illustrated by Estelle Corke

  • Oscar Goes to the Vet by Sam Baker, illustrated by Lisa Morris

  • The Flower Story by Sean Feeny

  • The Last First Tooth by Kat Hyde, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

  • A Bell for Maury’s Bicycle by David Maurice Sharp, illustrated by Franklin Silva

  • Good Boy Lukey & the Dream Crumbs by Linda Beck

  • My Rainbow and Me! by Marissa Marston

  • Turning Pennies Into Dimes (Doc the Wolf) by Kevin Chu

  • Haunted House Day & Night by Jaybie D

  • The Not So Funny Bunny (Happy Tails) by Michele L Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

  • The Unluckiest Leprechaun by Far (Happy Tails) by Michele L Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

  • What I Would Wish to Be (Wonders of Childhood & Beyond) by Michele L Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

  • Monstrously Clever (Happy Tails) by Michele L Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

  • I Can Do Bad All by Myzelf (Happy Tails) by Michele L. Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

  • Adventure with Moose by Renée Tessier & Samantha Clusiau-Lawlor

  • Ms. Alberta: Feline Barn Manager by Diana Tuorto, illustrated by Ava Bucci

  • SeaMouse Builds a Boat by David Youell

  • Why Don’t You Just Grow Some Fur? by Nick Moreland, illustrated by QBN Studios

  • Michael and the Walking Talking Mustache by Traci Strahlendorf

  • My Good Friend, Ted! in Ted’s Tale of the Tangled-Up Whale by Robyn Gram-Barclay

  • Trueberry Town by Diane Green, illustrated by Judith Gosse

  • Marty the Mailbox Monster by Kim Walker, illustrated by Julia Radishevska

  • Millie’s Magic by Hilary Hawkes, illustrated by Andrea Petrlik

  • The Bouncing Ant by Sally Sunflower, illustrated by Stephen Stone

  • How Happy Is a Lark? by Gail Kuhnlein, illustrated by Jenny Kalejs

  • Livy Little Honey Bee by Celia Straus, illustrated by Mira Hirabayashi

  • Oscar and the Awful, Horrible Smell by Betty Cetas and Amanda Hanson, illustrated by Ugur Kose

  • I Love the Sparkle in You by Mandy Woolf, illustrated by Elmira Georgieva

  • Margarette’s Summer Vacation by La Verne Fox, illustrated by CJ Love

  • The Dancing Darlings by Angela Kyparissis

  • Luna Blanca! by David Lane, illustrated by Caleb McBee

  • Era la Vispera de Navidad / ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Bilingual Edition by Sally

  • Veillette and Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Marco Nifosì

  • Blue is the Only Color in the Rainbow by Deanna Hart, illustrated by Chrish Vindhy

  • Boomer the Curious Bunny by Diann Floyd Boehm, illustrated by Judy Gaudet

  • Ho Ho Nooooooo! by Yvonne Craig

  • I Believe in Me: A–Z Positive Affirmations Book by Rich Grogan

  • Nature Ninja Saves the Natural World by Tania Moloney, illustrated by Jelena Sardi

  • Squirrels in Antarctica by Sari Karplus

  • The Boy and the Butterfly by Julie Cornu

  • The Groobs by Julie Le Cornu

  • The Lady of Rara-Jou by Julie Le Cornu

  • Nel & the Fling by Julie Le Cornu

Picture Books Nonfiction

  • Shoe Print Art: Step Into Drawing Second Edition by Karen S. Robbins, illustrated by Sally Marts

  • Antoinette and the Story of the Invisible Giraffes by Alison McGregor

  • Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun, illustrated by Laura Watson

  • When Fred the Snake and Friends explore USA-West by Peter Cotton, illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire

  • Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book by Pey Carter and Abigail Bailey, illustrated by Katarina Stevanovic

  • Billie the Brain by John Hutton, illustrated by Gabriella Vagnoli

Early Readers Fiction

  • My Rainbow and Me! by Marissa Marston      

  • Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project by Ellie Smith, illustrated by Eyen Johnson

  • Gummy Worms for Fishing by Chan Blue, illustrated by Jochema Avendano Nieto

  • Nishka’s Golden Heart by Mel Kucenic, illustrated by Mariya Stoyanova

  • The Monster Only Riley Could See by Dr. Melia Meichelbock, illustrated by Carolyn Hicks

  • Coco’s Trip to the Zoo: A Maths Picture Book by H. H. Tang, illustrated by Sam Rapp

  • Listen To the Night Mary Dreamer by Cher Knightingale, illustrated by Teya Knightingale Cambridge and Clyde by Alysen Bayles

  • Bentley’s Purpose by Sandra Harry, illustrated by Nikki Boetger

  • Bentley’s Treasure by Sandra Harry, illustrated by Nikki Boetger

  • Era la Vispera de Navidad / ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Bilingual Edition by Sally Veillette and Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Marco Nifosì

  • Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles by Susan Sullivan, illustrated Lauren Reeves

  • A Sofia Special by Julie Falatko, illustrated Vivian Mineker

  • Journey to the Name Maker by Maxine Johone-Smith, illustrated Joanna Scott

  • Grandpa Kevin’s...Chicken Little by Kevin Brougher, illustrated by Jessica Warrick

  • Where My Imaginations Come to Life by Younwoo Cho

  • Mr Mouthful and the Monkeynappers by Joseph Kimble, illustrated by Kerry Bell

  • My Robot Grandpa by Shannon K. Mazurick

Early Readers Nonfiction

  • This Kitten Has Blue Eyes by Carolyn Wild       

  • Toby’s Big Adventure by Bonnie Schreiner      

  • Laila’s ABC’s of Art by Alice Bey-Pugh, illustrated by Sameer Kassar

  • Caravan of Camels by Julie Le Cornu

Chapter Books Fiction

  • Journey to the Name Maker by Maxine Johone-Smith, illustrated Joanna Scott

  • He’s Not A Pig; He’s My Brother! by Mark Tiffany, illustrated by Mark Brayer

  • Oliver the Oyster and the Lost Lab by J.B. Auchter, illustrated by Ayan Mansoori

  • Cat Care Heroes by Julie Hundman, illustrated by Elizabeth Wright

  • Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles by Susan Sullivan, illustrated by Lauren Reeves

  • Stitch by Stephen Devaney and Kevin Devaney, illustrated by Penny Weber

  • Sadie and Max Have the Best Christmas in the Entire World by Brenda Sue and Sadie Belle, illustrated by Terri Schultz

  • Teamwork! Betty the Iditarod Sled Dog by Jack Rotifer

  • Unknown Waters by Cynthia Bordelon, illustrated by Mariya Prytula

Middle Grade Fiction

  • The Adventures of Jeremy Perrywhistle by Carol Dellinges     

  • Wimps of the Wild Book 1: Gator Getters by Brooke C Thomas, illustrated by John Ramsey

  • Nelly the Jelly and Camille the Eel Visit the Bermuda Triangle by John DeGuire          

  • Time Traveling Through Yellowstone National Park: The Adventures of Bubba Jones #5 by Jeff Alt, illustrated by Hannah Tuohy

  • Kwesi and the Ogre by Kenneth Braswell, illustrated by Ruben Gonzalez

  • Drifters Realm (Book 1) by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia         

  • Mirror Tree (Drifters Realm Book 2) by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia  

  • The Ghost in the Garden by Alisse Lee Goldenberg     

  • The Water Door by Aggie L. Jae           

  • The Tales of Scuba Steve: Isfjell Point by Steven Kamlet, illustrated by Shannon Marsolais

  • A Home in the Wilderness by Amanda M Cetas

  • The Flabbergast Farm Fights Back by E.J. Daubert

  • Thrown to the Wind by Amanda M. Cetas

Middle Grade Nonfiction

  • Finally...HORSES! by Janet Wolanin Alexander, illustrated by Lesley A.J. Baumann

  • Nurse Florence®, How Do We Understand Time? by Michael Dow, illustrated by Lindsay Roberts

Tween Novels Fiction

  • A Home in the Wilderness by Amanda M. Cetas

  • Erifft’s Journeys: Secrets of The Sealed Forest by J.T. Tenera  

  • Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner

  • Drifters Realm (Book 1) by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia         

  • Mirror Tree (Drifters Realm Book 2) by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia

Young Adult Novels

  • Visitant: The Hidden Genome by Pamela Cannalte

  • Sword Heiress (Violet Moon Series Book 3) by Alisa Hope Wagner, illustrated by Albert Morales

  • Shield of the King by MB Mooney

Young Author Fiction

  • A Galon of Water by Aiden Lee

  • Looking for Happiness by Michelle Choi

  • Emma and Belley: Sister Detectives, A Bilingual Book by Emma Barrett and Belley Barrett

Cultural Diversity

  • Painting Joy: The Art and Life of Fernando Llort by Teddi Ahrens        

  • Black History: Tina and Gina Discover Twelve People of Color by Barbara Freeman, illustrated by Ruth Araceli Rodriguez

  • Maya Moves to a New Country by Pearl Alimo, illustrated by Sayani Mukherjee

  • Momma Llama’s ABC Book of Latin America by Momma Llama and Friends   

  • Shanti and the Knot of Protection: A Rakhi Story by Amita Roy Shah, illustrated by Faariha Mastur

  • Simran & Sehaj Visit Ukraine by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova Cambridge and Clyde by Alysen Bayles

  • Emma and Belley: Sister Detectives, A Bilingual Book by Emma Barrett and Belley Barrett     

  • Fin-A-Lee Pea Not a Princess by the Sea by Michele Marra     

  • Kwesi and the Ogre by Kenneth Braswell, illustrated by Ruben Gonzalez

  • Era la Vispera de Navidad / ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Bilingual Edition by Sally Veillette and Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Marco Nifosì

  • Let’s Talk! Celebrating the Holidays by Lisa Jacovsky, illustrated by Blueberry Illustrations

  • Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle by Lea Aschkenas, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu

  • Kisaan by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova

  • The Land of Five Rivers by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova

Education/Reference

  • Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher by Mindy Hudon, illustrated by Barbara Szepesi Szucs

  • How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

  • Five Little Dumplings Get Ready for School by Kelsey Chen     

  • What Is the Shape of My Egg? by Lisa Weckbacher, illustrated by Gabriela Vega

  • Caravan of Camels by Julie Le Cornu, illustrated by Julie Le Cornu

Family Matters

  • How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

  • Harmony Dances On by Mandy Woolf

  • Rascal Cat Brothers by Lisa Jacovsky   

  • Finding Mummy’s Glow by Mandy Woolf, illustrated by Elmira Georgieva

  • The Last First Tooth by Kat Hyde, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

  • The Sapphire Ring by Donna DeMaio Hunt, illustrated by Ethan Hunt

  • Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner        

  • Sword Heiress (Violet Moon Series Book 3) by Alisa Hope Wagner, illustrated by Albert Morales

  • Marie Discovers Her Superpowers by Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, illustrated by Penny Weber

First-Time Author

  • Journey to the Name Maker by Maxine Johone-Smith, illustrated Joanna Scott

  • How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

  • Cool Hat Trick Kilpatrick by Traci Strahlendorf 

  • Fin-A-Lee Pea Not a Princess by the Sea by Michele Marra, illustrated by Michele Marra

  • A Dive into the Deep: The Adventurous Readers Series by Tessa Pfeifer

  • The Last First Tooth by Kat Hyde, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

  • The Dancing Darlings by Angela Kyparissis      

  • The Green-eyed Monster in a Maltese Suit by Mark Tiffany, illustrated by Mark Brayer

  • Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book by Pey Carter and Abigail Bailey, illustrated by Katarina Stevanovic

  • Good Boy Lukey & the Dream Crumbs by Linda Beck  

  • My Rainbow and Me! by Marissa Marston      

  • Verna Vizsla by Sherry W. Royer         

  • How Happy Is a Lark? by Gail Kuhnlein, illustrated by Jenny Kalejs

  • Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times by Pam Gittleman

Green Living/Environmental Issues

  • And The Trees Talked Back by Frederick J. Burns

  • Livy Little Honey Bee by Celia Straus, illustrated by Mira Hirabayashi

  • Flora The Fish And The Plastic Plight by Teya Knightingale, illustrated by Teya Knightingale

  • My Good Friend, Ted! in Ted’s Tale of the Tangled-Up Whale by Robyn Gram-Barclay

  • The Grateful Grizzlies by La Verne Fox and Tavell Fox

  • The Tales of Scuba Steve: Isfjell Point by Steven Kamlet, illustrated by Shannon Marsolais

  • Nature Ninja Saves the Natural World by Tania Moloney, illustrated by Jelena Sardi

Health and Wellness

  • How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

  • Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher by Mindy Hudon, illustrated by Barbara Szepesi Szucs

  • The Day Bert Smiled by Christine Maier, illustrated by Aviva Brueckner

  • Looking for Happiness by Michelle Choi          

  • Dance On The Moon by Floree Williams Whyte, illustrated by Sandamali Kamalchandra

  • Kip’s Funny Little Feet by Taylor Hindermann, illustrated by Lezanne Bianchina

  • Where My Imaginations Come to Life by Younwoo Cho

  • So, Long Paci! by Paola Perrone, illustrated by Lisa Ciccone

  • Landmarks On The Move by Dr K.P. George, illustrated by Laura Mocellin

  • You Can Do It, Tex by Maria Luisa Salcines and Maelia Salcines, illustrated by Maria Ballarin

  • A Sofia Special by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Vivian Mineker

Illustrations/Photography/Artwork 

  • Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project by Ellie Smith, illustrated by Eyen Johnson

  • The Girl and the Lock on Her Heart by Lauren Lee       

  • Emerge: The Art of Heather Maerten by Heather Maerten     

  • And So They Say by Lauren Kim          

  • Oscar and Otto by Betty Cetas and Amanda Hanson, illustrated by Ugur Kose

  • Looking for Happiness by Michelle Choi

  • The Last First Tooth by Kat Hyde, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

  • Turning Pennies Into Dimes (Doc the Wolf) by Kevin Chu        

  • The Bouncing Ant by Sally Sunflower, illustrated by Stephen Stone

  • How Happy Is a Lark? by Gail Kuhnlein, illustrated by Jenny Kalejs

  • Oscar and the Awful, Horrible Smell by Betty Cetas and Amanda Hanson, illustrated by Ugur Kose

  • Sword Heiress (Violet Moon Series Book 3) by Alisa Hope Wagner, illustrated by Albert Morales

  • Bentley’s Purpose by Sandra Harry, illustrated by Nikki Boetger

  • Bentley’s Treasure by Sandra Harry, illustrated by Nikki Boetger

  • Toby’s Big Adventure by Bonnie Schreiner      

  • Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea by Miki Taylor, illustrated by Eunhye Shin

  • Mr Mouthful and the Monkeynappers by Joseph Kimble, illustrated by Kerry Bell

  • Super Doople by K.A. Cummins           

  • When Fred the Snake and Friends explore USA-West by Peter Cotton, illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire

  • A Sofia Special by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Vivian Mineker

  • Naptime with Imani and The Fox by Lena Bee, illustrated by Jesse Navarette

  • The Tales of Scuba Steve: Isfjell Point by Steven Kamlet, illustrated by Shannon Marsolais

Making a Difference

  • Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project by Ellie Smith, illustrated by Eyen Johnson

  • Wimps of the Wild Book 1: Gator Getters by Brooke C Thomas, illustrated by John Ramsey

  • Purrrfect As I Am by Lisa Jacovsky       

  • Cat Care Heroes by Julie Hundman, illustrated by Elizabeth Wright

  • The Day Bert Smiled by Christine Maier, illustrated by Aviva Brueckner

  • Let Your Light So Shine by Toluwalola Kasali, illustrated by Kateryna Hubaidulina

  • My Good Friend, Ted! in Ted’s Tale of the Tangled-Up Whale by Robyn Gram-Barclay

  • Firewood and Christmas Potatoes by Robin Carole, illustrated by Sally Fantasia

  • Can Dribbles Read???? by Peggy Coward and Troy Watts

  • The Hummingbird & The Narwhal by Annie Higbee    

  • Luke the Rescue Pup by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova

  • Nel & the Fling by Julie Le Cornu

  • The Lady of Rara-Jou by Julie Le Cornu

  • The Empathetic Elephant by Jennifer Randazzo, illustrated by Lauren Sparks

  • And So They Say by Lauren Kim

  • Blue is the Only Color in the Rainbow by Deanna Hart, Illustrated by Chrish Vindhy

  • What I See is Love by Gabriella Fiorletta, illustrated by Nyrryl Cadiz

School Life

  • Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher by Mindy Hudon, illustrated by Barbara Szepesi Szucs

  • A Galon of Water by Aiden Lee

  • Mirror, Mirror by Barbara Freeman, illustrated by Ruth Araceli Rodriguez

  • The Kittens and The Possum by Finley Keller

  • My Rainbow and Me! by Marissa Marston      

  • Maddie’s Scary Exam: Conquer Stress Before the Test by Tosh Cole, illustrated by Cameron Wilson

  • Sam Says: You Are Born To Shine by Sam Hirschmann, illustrated by Amelina Jomes

  • Cool Hat Trick Kilpatrick by Traci Strahlendorf 

  • Question Question Questions by Troy Watts and Simone Vincent, illustrated by Priya Balasubramanian

  • Marie Discovers Her Superpowers by Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, illustrated by Penny Weber

  • The Farting Machine by Katherine Spencer, illustrated by Bettina Brasko

  • A Sofia Special by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Vivian Mineker

  • Naptime with Imani and The Fox by Lena Bee, illustrated by Jesse Navarette

  • Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book by Pey Carter and Abigail Bailey, illustrated by Katarina Stevanovic

  • The Groobs by Julie Le Cornu

  • Becoming Bully Proof by Rich Grogan

  • The Boy and the Butterfly by Julie Cornu

Special Needs/Disability Awareness

  •  Adventure with Moose by Renée Tessier & Samantha Clusiau-Lawlor

Spirituality/Religion

  • Sweet Dreams, Boone by Susan Grant, illustrated by Kelly Artieri

  • Five Days in June 1984 by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova

  • What is Mool Mantra? by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova