2016 Winners
Grand Prize Winner
Fabulous Me, Piper Lee and the Peanut Butter Itch by Tolya L. Thompson, illustrated by Terence Gaylor
$100 Drawing Winner
Luella Agnes Owen: Going Where No Lady Had Gone Before by Billie Holladay Skelley, illustrated by Rachel Bowman
Activity Books
1st Place: A Mommy's Promise by Connie Cabrina
2nd Place: An Awesome Afternoon at Apple Avenue by Cathy A. Carroll
Honorable Mention: Doodles: Sea Life Coloring Fun by Setria James
Animals/Pets
1st Place: Cody, The Teeny, Tiny Alpaca by Amber Isaac
2nd Place: A Home for Abigail by S. Marriott Cook
Honorable Mentions:
Sashi Adopts a Brother by Linda Greiner, illustrated by Morgan Spicer
The Rabbit Rescuers by Cindy Howard, illustrated by Nancy Lane
Hoofprints on the Moon by Patricia Duncan, illustrated by Wes Lowe
Howling Yowling Growling With The Lost River Wolf Pack by Joanna Dymond
The Magic of Esmerelda (Tuesday) ebook by Khristin Wierman, illustrated by Page Collins
White Butterfly and Her Wings of Many Colors by Susan Andra Lion
I Wish Raisins Could Float by Gerald Walker, illustrated by Jesse Bergin
Wild Ones: Observing City Critters by Carol L. Malnor, illustrated by Cathy Morrison
Gifts of Spirit: Animals and Their Natural Gifts by Kimberly Heil
Winston the Duck and His Big Orange Bill by Kristina Wolf Dreisbach, illustrated by Austin Lee and Foreman/Kristina Wolf Dreisbach
Nurtured and Nuzzled (Criados y Acariciados) by Mike Speiser
Best Cover Design
1st Place (tie): The Day Dad Blew Up the Cowshed by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern
1st Place (tie): The Grumpy Unicorn by Jennifer Hodge
2nd Place: Daddy's Heart, My Heart, The Purple Heart by Angela Kohout, Madeline Murillo, and Elizabeth Sagi, illustrated by Michael Ryan
Honorable Mentions:
Dinosaurs Living in My Hair by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee, illustrated by Anni Matsick
Once Upon A Zombie Book One: The Color of Fear by Billy Phillips and Jenny Nissenson
Hungry Tummysaurus by Thomas Bartholomew, illustrated by Christopher Akins
Best Illustrations
1st Place: Fabulous Me, Piper Lee and the Peanut Butter Itch by Tolya L. Thompson, illustrated by Terence Gaylor
2nd Place (tie): Dinosaurs Living in My Hair by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee, illustrated by Anni Matsick
2nd Place (tie): Wakanda Whooper - The Curious Cinnamon Crane by Sandia Kosmo, illustrated by Lisa Kosmo
Honorable Mentions:
Asthma is Not Stopping Me, Featuring Fabulous Me, Piper Lee! by Tolya L. Thompson, illustrated by Terence Gaylor
Hungry Tummysaurus by Thomas Bartholomew, illustrated by Christopher Akins
The Magic of Esmerelda (Monday) by Khristin Wierman, illustrated by Page Collins
The Magic of Esmerelda (Tuesday) ebook by Khristin Wierman, illustrated by Page Collins
Cat + Girl by Rebecca Ashe
The Day Dad Blew Up the Cowshed by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern
What a Bragger! by Lee Ann Mancini, illustrated by Dan Sharp
The Grumpy Unicorn by Jennifer Hodge
Beasties by Pat Hall, illustrated by Emmeline Hall Forrestal
Best Interior Design
Honorable Mentions:
The Day Dad Blew Up the Cowshed by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern
Dinosaurs Living in My Hair by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee, illustrated by Anni Matsick
Best Photography
1st Place: Daddy's Heart, My Heart, The Purple Heart by Angela Kohout, Madeline Murillo, and Elizabeth Sagi, illustrated by Michael Ryan
Biography
1st Place: Luella Agnes Owen: Going Where No Lady Had Gone Before by Billie Holladay Skelley, illustrated by Rachel Bowman
Book Series
1st Place (tie): Star Sapphire and the Land of Gems by Anthony Pardoe
1st Place (tie): Liv on Life series by Elizabeth Gorcey, illustrated by Kajiah Jacobs
Book Trailer
1st Place: Don't Play With Your Food: Fu-Fu's Bistro by Giddy Gragert, illustrated by Christina Mattison Ebert
Chapter Books
1st Place: Sammie Street Adventures: Stormy Saturday by Jennifer Blyth, illustrated by Kathy Kerber
2nd Place: The Flightless Adventures of Princess and Pearl by Michelle Seelye Drucker, illustrated by Caroline O'Neal
Honorable Mentions:
Ballerina Detective and the Missing Jeweled Tiara by Karen Rita Rautenberg
It's a Buggy Summer Break! by Patricia Ralphs
Wakanda Whooper - The Curious Cinnamon Crane by Sandia Kosmo, illustrated by Lisa Kosmo
Charity/Making a Difference
1st Place (tie): The Rabbit Rescuers by Cindy Howard, illustrated by Nancy Lane
1st Place (tie): Why Can't You Just Like Me? by Cathy A. Carroll
2nd Place: Daddy's Heart, My Heart, The Purple Heart by Angela Kohout, Madeline Murillo, and Elizabeth Sagi, illustrated by Michael Ryan
Honorable Mention: The Magic of Esmerelda (Monday) by Khristin Wierman, illustrated by Page Collins
Children’s Nonfiction
1st Place (tie): If You Love Honey by Martha Sullivan, illustrated by Cathy Morrison
1st Place (tie): Mighty Mole and Super Soil by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Chad Wallace
1st Place (tie): One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! by Eric Yoder and Natalie Yoder
2nd Place: The Old Man and the Tree by Richard Schlatter
Cultural Diversity
1st Place (tie): The Legend of the Colombian Mermaid by Janet Balletta, illustrated by Estella Mejia
1st Place (tie): Where is My Grandma? by Niyati Desai-Kadakia, illustrated by Deepa Shah-Chordia
2nd Place: Mystery of the Giant Masks of Sanxingdui by Icy Smith, illustrated by Gayle Garner Roski
Honorable Mentions:
There is Roti in My Lunchbox! by Niyati Desai-Kadakia, illustrated by Shaunak Samvatsar
Nana Luna's Bedtime Stories to Dream by Nora Girón-Dolce, illustrated by Paloma Mayorga
Monster Slayer/Exterminadora De Monstruos by Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri, illustrated by Lina Safar
Educational/Instructional
1st Place: One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! by Eric Yoder and Natalie Yoder
2nd Place: Should, Could, and Would by Kel Thompson, Casey Thompson, and Charlotte Thompson, illustrated by Rebecca A. Lowe
Honorable Mention: Ten Zany Birds by Sherry Ellis, illustrated by Charu Jain
Family Matters
1st Place (tie): "Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator?" An Explanation of Alzheimer's Disease for Children by Max Wallack and Carolyn Given
2nd Place: Daddy's Heart, My Heart, The Purple Heart by Angela Kohout, Madeline Murillo, and Elizabeth Sagi, illustrated by Michael Ryan
Honorable Mentions:
Monster Slayer/Exterminadora De Monstruos by Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri, illustrated by Lina Safar
B at Home: Emma Moves Again by Valérie Besanceney, illustrated by Agnes Loonstra
Emma's Dilemma by Molly McCluskey-Shipman, illustrated by Valerie Bouthyette
Fiction: Collection of Short Stories
1st Place: Tales for Your Monkey's Mind by Steve Michael Reedy, illustrated by Tom Fee
General
1st Place: Bee in the Sea by Adam Reed, illustrated by Izzy Bean
2nd Place: The Grumpy Unicorn by Jennifer Hodge
Honorable Mentions:
Misha Learns About Money by Namrata Agarwal, illustrated by Emily Zieroth
My Imagination: Lukas by Cathy A. Carroll
Skyla's Hat Adventures: The Magic of Discovery by Skyla Spencer, illustrated by Bonnie Beckeman
Green Books/Environmental
1st Place: Green is Good by Elizabeth Gorcey, illustrated by Kajiah Jacobs
2nd Place: Cry of the Sea by D.G. Driver
Honorable Mention: Wakanda Whooper - The Curious Cinnamon Crane by Sandia Kosmo, illustrated by Lisa Kosmo
Growing Pains
1st Place: Grandma's Garden by Julie Ann Dolle', illustrated by Gaston Hauviller
Health
1st Place: Fabulous Me, Piper Lee and the Peanut Butter Itch by Tolya L. Thompson, illustrated by Terence Gaylor
2nd Place: Asthma is Not Stopping Me, Featuring Fabulous Me, Piper Lee! by Tolya L. Thompson, illustrated by Terence Gaylor
Honorable Mention: "Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator?" An Explanation of Alzheimer's Disease for Children by Max Wallack and Carolyn Given
Historical Fiction
1st Place (tie): The Day Dad Blew Up the Cowshed by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern
1st Place (tie): Tucks and Me: Crispus Attucks and America 1766-1773 by Katherine V. Stevens
1st Place (tie): Wakanda Whooper - The Curious Cinnamon Crane by Sandia Kosmo, illustrated by Lisa Kosmo
2nd Place: Chicken Charlie's Year by Susan Manzke
Honorable Mention: Castle in Danger by Karen Rita Rautenberg
Historical Nonfiction
1st Place: Luella Agnes Owen: Going Where No Lady Had Gone Before by Billie Holladay Skelley, illustrated by Rachel Bowman
Middle Grade Fiction
1st Place (tie): Cole's Perfect Puppy - Perfect Puppies Book One by Frances Crossno
1st Place (tie): Star Sapphire and the Land of Gems Book Two: The Raging Torrent by Anthony Pardoe
1st Place (tie): The Rain of Blood by S.P. Kumar
2nd Place: Magora: The Gallery of Wonders (Book 1) by Marc Remus
Honorable Mentions:
Cave of Mystic Dreams by S.P. Kumar
Cosmic Chaos by CM Shelton
I Wish Raisins Could Float by Gerald Walker, illustrated by Jesse Bergin
Chicken Charlie's Year by Susan Manzke
Warrior Kids: A Tale of New Camelot by Michael J. Bowler
Hoofprints on the Moon by Patricia Duncan, illustrated by Wes Lowe
The Bigfoot Paradox (ebook) by Rebecca Coyte
Castle in Danger by Karen Rita Rautenberg
Scream Vacation by Dr. I. Seymour Youngblood
Outdoor Recreation
1st Place: Goodnight, Campsite by Loretta Sponsler, illustrated by Olga Shevchenko
Picture Books 5 & Younger
1st Place (tie): Going to the Park by Elizabeth Gorcey, illustrated by Kajiah Jacobs
1st Place (tie): Max and Bear by Pam Saxelby, illustrated by Stephen Adams
1st Place (tie): Narla and the Hidden Treasure by Lisa Domeny
2nd Place (tie): Dinosaurs Living in My Hair by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee, illustrated by Anni Matsick
2nd Place (tie): My Imagination: Lukas by Cathy A. Carroll
Honorable Mentions:
Dee and Deb Off They Go: Kindergarten First Day Jitters by Donna M. McDine, illustrated by Jack Foster
Too Much Broccoli by Barbara Beard
Why Can't You Just Like Me? by Cathy A. Carroll
Let's Change That! If Animals Can, We Can, Too! by Dr. Bashar Salame, illustrated by Rainer M. Osinger
Sleep Sweet by Julianne DiBlasi Black
Sashi Adopts a Brother by Linda Greiner, illustrated by Morgan Spicer
The Magic Straw Hat by Karen Jonice Bricker, illustrated by Valerie Bouthyette
Nola the Nurse Remembers Hurricane Katrina by Dr. Scharmaine L. Baker, NP, illustrated by Marvin Alonso
The Grumpy Unicorn by Jennifer Hodge
An Awesome Afternoon at Apple Avenue by Cathy A. Carroll
Hungry Tummysaurus by Thomas Bartholomew, illustrated by Christopher Akins
Escape into the Mall by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik
Bee in the Sea by Adam Reed, illustrated by Izzy Bean
Friends Here … There … Everywhere!!! by Rosella Calauti, illustrated by Irene Olds
Picture Books 6 & Older
1st Place (tie): Beasties by Pat Hall, illustrated by Emmeline Hall Forrestal
1st Place (tie): Escape into the Mall by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik
1st Place (tie): My Forgotten Self: A Story About a Girl, A Powerful Encounter, and a Universal Message by Lynyetta G. Willis, Ph.D
1st Place (tie): Mystery of the Giant Masks of Sanxingdui by Icy Smith, illustrated by Gayle Garner Roski
1st Place (tie): Somebody Cares: A Guide for Kids Who Have Experienced Neglect by Susan Farber Straus, PhD, illustrated by Claire Keay
1st Place (tie): The Day Dad Blew Up the Cowshed by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern
1st Place (tie): What a Bragger! by Lee Ann Mancini, illustrated by Dan Sharp
2nd Place (tie): A Home for Abigail by S. Marriott Cook
2nd Place (tie): Maxx Airborne and the Legends of Rucker Park by Scot Barnett, illustrated by Kimberly Root
2nd Place (tie): Ouch Moments: When Words are Used in Hurtful Ways by Michael Genhart, PhD, illustrated by Viviana Garofoli
2nd Place (tie): White Butterfly and Her Wings of Many Colors by Susan Andra Lion
Honorable Mentions:
Atalanta (ebook) by Simon Spence, illustrated by Colm Lawton
Destination Adventure by Karen Jonice Bricker, illustrated by Sally McCarthy
Dinosaurs Living in My Hair by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee, illustrated by Anni Matsick
Fearne Fairy and the Dandelion Clocks by Sarah Hill, illustrated by Sarah Mauchline
Move Your Mood! by Brenda S. Miles, PhD and Colleen A. Patterson, MA, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
Everything is Different by Ann Morris, illustrated by Melissa Wright
The Grumpy Unicorn by Jennifer Hodge
Green Bean! Green Bean! by Patricia Thomas, illustrated by Trina L. Hunner
An Awesome Afternoon at Apple Avenue by Cathy A. Carroll
Explorations of Commander Josh Book Two: "In Tahiti" (ebook) by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik
Lonnie the Loon Flies South for the Winter by Barbara Renner, illustrated by Davina Kinney
Over on the Farm by Marianne Berkes, illustrated by Cathy Morrison
The Magic of Esmerelda (Tuesday) ebook by Khristin Wierman, illustrated by Page Collins
Dexter's Wonderful Day by Madge H. Gressley
Explorations of Commander Josh Book Two: "In Tahiti" by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik
Sashi Adopts a Brother by Linda Greiner, illustrated by Morgan Spicer
Emberlina Sprite-a-Light: The Fairy Who Lights Up the Night! by Rita Campbell
My Imagination: Lukas by Cathy A. Carroll
Pumpus Has a Glowing Idea! by Praba Soundararajan, illustrated by Jack Spellman
Why Can't You Just Like Me? by Cathy A. Carroll
The Magic of Esmerelda (Monday) by Khristin Wierman, illustrated by Page Collins
Sammie Street Adventures: Stormy Saturday by Jennifer Blyth, illustrated by Kathy Kerber
Xalien the Purple Alien by Michelle Path, illustrated by Charlotte Robers
Don't Play With Your Food: Fu-Fu's Bistro by Giddy Gragert, illustrated by Christina Mattison Ebert
Rose and Her Amazing Nose by Andrew Fairchild, illustrated by George A. Raggett
It's Snowing Gold by Kimberly Brown, illustrated by Gaston Hauviller
Poetry
1st Place: Dinosaurs Living in My Hair by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee, illustrated by Anni Matsick
2nd Place: The Dark Mister Snark by Lori L. Lopez
School Issues
1st Place (tie): Ms. Abrams' Everything Garden by Lisa and Samantha Colodny, illustrated by Ashley Scott
1st Place (tie): The Alien Logs of Super Jewels by BK Bradshaw, illustrated by Travis Hanson
2nd Place (tie): Daddy's Heart, My Heart, The Purple Heart by Angela Kohout, Madeline Murillo, and Elizabeth Sagi, illustrated by Michael Ryan
2nd Place (tie): Rose and Her Amazing Nose by Andrew Fairchild, illustrated by George A. Raggett
2nd Place (tie): The Magic of Esmerelda (Monday) by Khristin Wierman, illustrated by Page Collins
Honorable Mentions:
Why Can't You Just Like Me? by Cathy A. Carroll
A Cat Named Mouse by Patti Tingen, illustrated by Mary Erikson Washam
Not Everyone Likes Peas by Diana Lee Sherman, illustrated by Rebecca Michael Zeissler
Jordy the Jaguar: A Bully's Tale by Meryl D. Day, illustrated by J.A. Enoy
The Grumpy Unicorn by Jennifer Hodge
Science Fiction/Fantasy/Paranormal
1st Place: Inside the Palisade by K.C. Maguire
2nd Place: Escaped the Night by Jennifer Blyth, illustrated by Greg Percy
Honorable Mention: The Bigfoot Paradox (ebook) by Rebecca Coyte
Social Issues
1st Place: Let's Change That! If Animals Can, We Can, Too! by Dr. Bashar Salame, illustrated by Rainer M. Osinger
Spiritual/Religious
Honorable Mentions:
My Forgotten Self: A Story About a Girl, A Powerful Encounter, and a Universal Message by Lynyetta G. Willis, Ph.D
The Book of Carmichael by Denise Dewald
Unpublished Manuscript
Honorable Mention: Believe by Sue Nykanen Martin
Young Adult Fiction
1st Place (tie): Once Upon A Zombie Book One: The Color of Fear by Billy Phillips and Jenny Nissenson
1st Place (tie): The Phantom of Faerie Mountain by E.M. McIntyre
2nd Place: Doll by Miracle Austin
Honorable Mentions:
Escaped the Night by Jennifer Blyth, illustrated by Greg Percy
Hoofprints on the Moon by Patricia Duncan, illustrated by Wes Lowe
Warrior Kids: A Tale of New Camelot by Michael J. Bowler
Youth Author Fiction
1st Place: Daddy's Heart, My Heart, The Purple Heart by Angela Kohout, Madeline Murillo, and Elizabeth Sagi, illustrated by Michael Ryan
2nd Place: The Rain of Blood by S.P. Kumar
Honorable Mentions:
EJ's Exciting Road Trip by Edwin Bonilla, Jr. and Suze Guillaume, illustrated by Abira Das
Cave of Mystic Dreams by S.P. Kumar