2017 Winners

Grand Prize Winner

• The Crystal Chronicles by Alessia Dickson

$100 Drawing Winner

• Edison's Tackle Box by Meghan Colvin

Activity Books

• 1st Place: The Adventures of Hope & Trusty: Sky Cloud City, Activity Book by Maria Kamoulakou-Marangoudakis, illustrated by Mary Blaxland

• 2nd Place: Chick Heather's New Neighborhood: Read, Imagine, Draw by Sandy Hill

Animals/Pets

• 1st Place (tie): A Very Greedy Tale by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern

• 1st Place (tie): Treasure's Gift by Laurie Hanson, illustrated by Darcy Bell-Myers

• 2nd Place: Toad and the Boy by Jo Miles Schuman

• Honorable Mentions:
  Sashi and the Puppy Mill Girl by Linda Greiner, illustrated by Morgan Spicer
  The Lonely Little Pony by Maria C. Hillegas, illustrated by Ros Webb
  Baby on Board: How Animals Carry Their Young by Marianne Berkes, illustrated by Cathy Morrison
  Rescued by Janice Howden, illustrated by Erika Folnovic
  Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them by Martha Heineman Pieper, PhD, illustrated by Jo Gershman
  Annie Aardvark, Mathematician by Suzie Olsen, illustrated by Davina Kinney
  Pixie's Adventure by Jenna Grodzicki, illustrated by Kerri Lockwood-Doody
  Oscar and Emmy Get Rescued by Terri Sabol, illustrated by Anna Edwards
  Whack, Whack, Whack, Goes the Tail! by Mark Rouillard, illustrated by David Burk
  Bobbi Finds a Forever Home by Diana L. Likely, illustrated by Kate Cook
  Pilgrim Pups by Nancy K. Arnold, illustrated by Ellen L. Berger
  Super Speed Sam: Hide and Panic Stations by Monty J. McClaine
  That Curious Sign on Aisle Nine by Kyle Morey and Laren Bright, illustrated by Dwayne Bruce

Arts/Music

• Honorable Mention: Musically Grown: Our First Years by Jakova Pen

Best Cover Design

• 1st Place (tie): The Amazing Journey of Solomon the Sockeye Salmon by Pamela Cannalte, illustrated by Steven Beutler, Graphics by Jody Mattics

• 1st Place (tie): The Horses of Lost Valley by Aileen Kilgore Henderson

• 2nd Place: Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them by Martha Heineman Pieper, PhD, illustrated by Jo Gershman

• Honorable Mentions:
  Growing Up with the River by Dan and Connie Burkhardt, illustrated by Bryan Haynes
  The Adventures of Henry the Squirrel: In Search of the Golden Heart by Eric S. Roth, illustrated by Matthew Czuprynski
  The Strange Tail of Oddzilla by Lori R. Lopez
  Voiceless Whispers by Jane Frances Ruby
  A Very Greedy Tale by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern
  The Forgotten Princess by F.H. Mickel, illustrated by Nicole Guido
  The Fabulous Glitter Girl by Morgan Lee Scheel, illustrated by Angela Sbandelli

Best Illustrations

• 1st Place (tie): Grammy Likes Me Best by Bonnie Apperson Jacobs and Terri Mainwaring, illustrated by Adam Turner

• 1st Place (tie): The Amazing Journey of Solomon the Sockeye Salmon by Pamela Cannalte, illustrated by Steven Beutler, graphics by Jody Mattics

• 1st Place (tie): The Family Tree: The Night of the Storm by Laurie Copmann, illustrated by Laurie Copmann and Shirley Kraus

• 2nd Place (tie): Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them by Martha Heineman Pieper, PhD, illustrated by Jo Gershman

• 2nd Place (tie): The Defense of Kenilworth Avenue by Kathleen Cook, illustrated by Lauren Wozny and Peter Bex

• Honorable Mentions:
  Bedtime for Buzzy by T.J. Hackworth, illustrated by Sean Baptist
  Fizzle & Giggle's Amazing Monster Maze Adventure! by Chris Hyde
  The Land of Walloo/La Tierra de Walloo by Georgia L. Lininger, illustrated by Jo Gershman
  The Strange Tail of Oddzilla by Lori R. Lopez
  Getting Home by J.R. Poulter, illustrated by Muza Ulasowski
  That Curious Sign on Aisle Nine by Kyle Morey and Laren Bright, illustrated by Dwayne Bruce
  Toad and the Boy by Jo Miles Schuman
  A Thousand No's by DJ Corchin, illustrated by Dan Dougherty
  10 Secrets of Being a Lady by Sheba Matheu, illustrated by Meredith Rushing
  A Very Greedy Tale by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern
  The Adventures of Henry the Squirrel: In Search of the Golden Heart by Eric S. Roth, illustrated by Matthew Czuprynski
  Bailey and the Magic Cupcake Truck by Pamela Cannalte, illustrated by Steven Beutler, designed by Jody Mattics
  Josie the Great by Pam Saxelby, illustrated by Anne Saxelby
  When a Child Cries by Cassie Lee, illustrated by Reginal Byers

Best Interior Design

• 1st Place: Growing Up with the River by Dan and Connie Burkhardt, illustrated by Bryan Haynes

• 2nd Place: A Very Greedy Tale by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern

• Honorable Mention: The Amazing Journey of Solomon the Sockeye Salmon by Pamela Cannalte, illustrated by Steven Beutler, designed by Jody Mattics

Biography

• 1st Place: Ruth Law: The Queen of the Air by Billie Holladay Skelley, illustrated by Rachel Bowman

Book Series

• 1st Place: Glitter the Unicorn by Callie Chapman

• 2nd Place: Don't Play with Your Food: Oliver's Pub by Giddy Gragert, illustrated by Christina Mattison Ebert

• Honorable Mention: The Adventures of Piratess Tilly: Easter Island by Elizabeth Lorayne, illustrated by Karen Watson

Book Trailer

• 1st Place: Don't Play with Your Food: Oliver's Pub by Giddy Gragert, illustrated by Christina Mattison Ebert

Chapter Books

• 1st Place: The Pathway to Dragons: The Portal to Pyranis by Hannah Hoffman, illustrated by Tiffany Tutti

• 2nd Place: The Defense of Kenilworth Avenue by Kathleen Cook, illustrated by Lauren Wozny and Peter Bex

• Honorable Mentions:
  The Expectant Chair by Caroline Leland
  The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing by George Chiang
  Gloppy by Pat Hall, illustrated by Emmeline Hall Forrestal
  Nickerbacher by Terry John Barto, illustrated by Kim Sponaugle
  The Cantankerous Bed and The Blue Heron by Caroline Leland
  Rory Aqua Adventure Man by Michelle Path
  Magic Moon: Two Worlds by Shirley Moulton
  Saving Chocolate Thunder by Erin Slavik, illustrated by Drew Rose
  Magic Moon: A Sister's Turn by Shirley Moulton, illustrated by Marilyn Whitchurch

 Charity/Making a Difference

• 1st Place: Magic Moon: A Young Boy's Journey by Shirley Moulton, illustrated by Marilyn Whitchurch

• 2nd Place: My Elephant-Sized Dream by Bena Hartman, illustrated by Shelly Lipscomb

 Children’s Nonfiction

• 1st Place (tie): Being Me: A Kid's Guide to Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem by Wendy L. Moss, PhD

• 1st Place (tie): Eagle, Eagle, What Do You Need? by David Jacob

• 1st Place (tie): Ice Queen: Exploring Icebergs and Glaciers by Anna Prokos, illustrated by Jamie Meckel Tablason

• 1st Place (tie): The Amazing Journey of Solomon the Sockeye Salmon by Pamela Cannalte, illustrated by Steven Beutler, designed by Jody Mattics

• 2nd Place: Bobbi Finds a Forever Home by Diana L. Likely, illustrated by Kate Cook

• Honorable Mention: Mapping My Day by Julie Dillemuth, illustrated by Laura Wood

Comic Books

• 1st Place: Comics for Change - Sundarvan Adventures: Waste of Taste by Diksha Shenoy Kini, illustrated by Abhijeet Kini Studios

• 2nd Place: Comics for Change - Sundarvan Adventures: The Big Blackout by Diksha Shenoy Kini, illustrated by Abhijeet Kini Studios

• Honorable Mention: Comics for Change - Sundarvan Adventures: Mystery of the Missing Water by Diksha Shenoy Kini, illustrated by Abhijeet Kini Studios

 Cultural Diversity

• 1st Place: Megumi's First Trip to Kyoto by Alexandra Parsons, illustrated by Beatrice Favereau

• 2nd Place: ¡Todos A Comer! A Mexican Food Alphabet Book by Dr. Ma. Alma Gonzalez Perez, illustrated by Maricia Rodriguez

• Honorable Mentions:
  The Adventures of Hope & Trusty: Sky Cloud City by Maria Kamoulakou-Marangoudakis, illustrated by Aspasia Arvanitis
  The Legend of Roberto Cofresí: A Puerto Rican Hero by Janet Balletta, illustrated by Estella Mejia
  I am Hapa by Crystal Smith, photography by Michael Satoshi Garcia
  The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing by George Chiang
  The Forgotten Princess by F.H. Mickel, illustrated by Nicole Guido
  Journey to Appleville by Veronica Appleton, illustrated by Lisa Pangborn
  The Art of Memory / El arte de recorder by Ten Various Artists
  10 Secrets of Being a Lady by Sheba Matheu, illustrated by Meredith Rushing

Educational

• 1st Place: Queen Vernita Journeys on an Old-Fashioned Paddleboat by Dr. Dawn Menge, illustrated by Pamela Snyder

• 2nd Place: A Rocky Start by Anthony Tucker, illustrated by Breanne "Cari" Carlson

• Honorable Mentions:
  Annie Aardvark, Mathematician by Suzie Olsen, illustrated by Davina Kinney
  ¡Hola! Let's Learn Spanish by Judy Martialay

Family Matters

• 1st Place (tie): Josie the Great by Pam Saxelby, illustrated by Anne Saxelby

• 1st Place (tie): The Reading Promise by Troy Kent, illustrated by Elisa Moriconi

• 2nd Place: When a Child Cries by Cassie Lee, illustrated by Regina Byers

• Honorable Mentions:
  Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them by Martha Heineman Pieper, PhD, illustrated by Jo Gershman
  Waiting Patiently by Karen Brough
  Denis and His American Trunk by Theresa Maloney Schoen, illustrated by Addie Hirschten
  Chick Heather's New Neighborhood: New Friends by Sandy Hill
  The Family Tree: The Night of the Storm by Laurie Copmann, illustrated by Laurie Copmann and Shirley Kraus

Food Related

• 1st Place: Hamilton Troll Cookbook: Easy to Make Recipes for Children by Kathleen J. Shields and Carol W. Bryant, illustrated by Leigh A. Klug

General

• 1st Place: Glitter the Unicorn by Callie Chapman

• 2nd Place: The Adventures of Henry the Squirrel: In Search of the Golden Heart by Eric S. Roth, illustrated by Matthew Czuprynski

• Honorable Mentions:
  Emily Goes to Philadelphia by Patricia Guth, illustrated by Dayna Barley-Cohrs
  Ol’Cephus and Betsy the Milk Cow by J Alan, illustrated by Albert Sorrentino Jr.
  Eagle, Eagle, What Do You Need? by David Jacob
  Super Speed Sam: Santa's Rescue Dog by Monty J. McClaine

Green Books/Environmental

• 1st Place (tie): Ace, King of My Heart: An Assateague Pony's Tale of Strength and Survival by Lea Herrick

• 1st Place (tie): Growing Up with the River by Dan and Connie Burkhardt, illustrated by Bryan Haynes

• 2nd Place: It Starts with a Raindrop by Michael Smith, illustrated by Angela Alvarenga and Jonathon E. Goley

• Honorable Mentions:
  Comics for Change - Sundarvan Adventures: Mystery of the Missing Water by Diksha Shenoy Kini, illustrated by Abhijeet Kini Studios
  Comics for Change - Sundarvan Adventures: The Big Blackout by Diksha Shenoy Kini, illustrated by Abhijeet Kini Studios
  Comics for Change - Sundarvan Adventures: Waste of Taste by Diksha Shenoy Kini, illustrated by Abhijeet Kini Studios

Growing Pains

• 1st Place: Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them by Martha Heineman Pieper, PhD, illustrated by Jo Gershman

• 2nd Place: Please Don't Call Me Chubby Roni! by Roni Roth Beshears, EdD, RDN, illustrated by Rob Peters

Health

• 1st Place: Itchy Pig by Nicole Bruno Cox, illustrated by Jessie Judge

• 2nd Place: Sloth the Lazy Dragon by Regan W.H. Macaulay, illustrated by Alex Zgud

Historical Fiction

• 1st Place (tie): A Buss from Lafayette by Dorothea Jensen

• 1st Place (tie): Anni's Attic: A Story of the Civil War by Anne Loader McGee

• 2nd Place: The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing by George Chiang

• Honorable Mentions:
  The Adventures of Hope & Trusty: Sky Cloud City by Maria Kamoulakou-Marangoudakis, illustrated by Aspasia Arvanitis
  Growing Up with the River by Dan and Connie Burkhardt, illustrated by Bryan Haynes

Historical Nonfiction

• 1st Place: Ruth Law: The Queen of the Air by Billie Holladay Skelley, illustrated by Rachel Bowman

Humor

• 1st Place: That Curious Sign on Aisle Nine by Kyle Morey and Laren Bright, illustrated by Dwayne Bruce

• 2nd Place: Stinky Blinky by Troy Kent, illustrated by Elisa Moriconi

• Honorable Mention: The Strange Tail of Oddzilla by Lori R. Lopez

LGBT

• 1st Place: The Adventures of Mrs. Patropolis by Diana C. Silverman, PhD, illustrated by Ellie Shapiro

Middle Grade Fiction

• 1st Place (tie): A Raccoon's Tale: Seven Saves the Notch by Fran Hodgkins

• 1st Place (tie): Barley Soup and Slug Spit by Susan Manzke

• 1st Place (tie): The Seasons of a Giant by Pamela Hartley

• 1st Place (tie): Hope Girl by Wendy Dunham

• 1st Place (tie): My Name is River by Wendy Dunham

• 2nd Place: The Horses of Lost Valley by Aileen Kilgore Henderson

• Honorable Mentions:
  The Defense of Kenilworth Avenue by Kathleen Cook, illustrated by Lauren Wozny and Peter Bex
  Esme Dooley and the Kirkkomaki Circus by Jane Donovan, illustrated by Holly Trechter
  The Forgotten Princess by F.H. Mickel, illustrated by Nicole Guido
  The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing by George Chiang
  The Mystery Beneath Midville Museum by Anne Loader McGee
  Growing Up with the River by Dan and Connie Burkhardt, illustrated by Bryan Haynes
  Vampire Boy by Aric Cushing, illustrated by Max Lawson

Outdoor Recreation

• 1st Place: Edison's Tackle Box by Meghan Colvin

Picture Books 5 & Younger

• 1st Place: Zoe the Zebra by Roxy Morgan, illustrated by Laura Winslow

• 2nd Place (tie): Bailey and the Magic Cupcake Truck by Pamela Cannalte, illustrated by Steven Beutler, designed by Jody Mattics

• 2nd Place (tie): Praxx and the Ringing Robot by Paul Ian Cross, illustrated by Andy Green

• Honorable Mentions:
  Andi's Perfect Toy by Rae Abshire, illustrated by Kelsey Wilson
  Josie the Great by Pam Saxelby, illustrated by Anne Saxelby
  My Super Cool Friends by Lectura Books Preschool Team
  Whack, Whack, Whack, Goes the Tail! by Mark Rouillard, illustrated by David Burk
  Gracie Lou by Larissa Juliano. illustrated by Stephen Adams
  Sir Walter Farluba by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik
  Annie Aardvark, Mathematician by Suzie Olsen, illustrated by Davina Kinney
  Whistling Whales: Beyond the Sounds of ABC by Denise Eide, illustrated by Ingrid Hess
  Knitting Knights: Beyond the Sounds of ABC by Denise Eide, illustrated by Ingrid Hess
  The Land of Walloo/La Tierra de Walloo by Georgia L. Lininger, illustrated by Jo Gershman
  Bedtime for Buzzy by T.J. Hackworth, illustrated by Sean Baptist
  It's Just So … Little! by Brenda Faatz, illustrated by Peter Trimarco
  Toby: Adventures of a Curious Whynoceros by Christina Minutoli and Alexandria Regilio
  Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them by Martha Heineman Pieper, PhD, illustrated by Jo Gershman
  Getting Home by J.R. Poulter, illustrated by Muza Ulasowski
  The Gift of Gift by Sanjay Nambiar, illustrated by Sedi Pak

Picture Books 6 & Older

• 1st Place (tie): Cub's Wish by Angie Flores, illustrated by Yidan Yuan

• 1st Place (tie): Delivering Dreams by Lori Preusch

• 1st Place (tie): Grammy Likes Me Best by Bonnie Apperson Jacobs and Terri Mainwaring, illustrated by Adam Turner

• 1st Place (tie): Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them by Martha Heineman Pieper, PhD, illustrated by Jo Gershman

• 1st Place (tie): Sashi and the Puppy Mill Girl by Linda Greiner, illustrated by Morgan Spicer

• 1st Place (tie): That Curious Sign on Aisle Nine by Kyle Morey and Laren Bright, illustrated by Dwayne Bruce

• 1st Place (tie): The Fabulous Glitter Girl by Morgan Lee Scheel, illustrated by Angela Sbandelli

• 1st Place (tie): Sir Walter Farluba by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik

• 1st Place (tie): The Reading Promise by Troy Kent, illustrated by Elisa Moriconi

• 2nd Place (tie): The Adventure Story by Russel Wolter II

• 2nd Place (tie): The Amazing Journey of Solomon the Sockeye Salmon by Pamela Cannalte, illustrated by Steven Beutler, designed by Jody Mattics

• Honorable Mentions:
  A Thousand No's by DJ Corchin, illustrated by Dan Dougherty
  The Greatest Wish by Amanda Yoshida
  Pixie's Adventure by Jenna Grodzicki, illustrated by Kerri Lockwood-Doody
  Xalien the Purple Alien: Xalien Goes to School by Michelle Path, illustrated by Charlotte Roberts
  Frilly & Trilly: Where Does all the Money Go? by Nickie Hough, illustrated by Emily Zieroth
  Gracie Lou by Larissa Juliano, illustrated by Stephen Adams
  King Calm: Mindful Gorilla in the City by Susan D. Sweet and Brenda S. Miles, illustrated by Bryan Langdo
  Whack, Whack, Whack, Goes the Tail! by Mark Rouillard, illustrated by David Burk
  A Very Greedy Tale by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern
  It's Just So by Brenda Faatz, illustrated by Peter Trimarco
  Kohana: A Native American Creation Myth by J.E. Rogers, illustrated by Guy Atherfold
  Midnight and Moonlight by Peggy Sullivan
  Jar of Hugs by Catherine E. Bennett, illustrated by Christine M. Bennett
  Stinky Blinky by Troy Kent, illustrated by Elisa Moriconi
  The Art of Memory / El arte de recorder by Ten Various Artists
  Jim Rat by Ann Marie Gilligan, illustrated by Keziat
  Luminaries: A Children's Book Anthology by Tracy Simpson
  Quincy the Quail Leads His Family on an Adventure by Barbara Renner, illustrated by Amanda M. Wells
  Aunt Melissa's Honeybee Farm by Scot Barnett, illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root

Poetry

• 1st Place: Growing Young Spirits by Christy Olson, illustrated by Melissa Marroquin

• 2nd Place: Where Love Begins / Donde comienza el amor by Helen Nieto Phillips

• Honorable Mentions:
  Put On Your Silly Pants by Daniel Klawitter
  The Junk Drawer by Ryan Karten, illustrated by Sabrina Symington

School Issues

• 1st Place (tie): Courageous Gilbert the Groundhog by Regina E. McCarthy, illustrated by Sue Dettman

• 1st Place (tie): Each Step I Take by Lila Dooley

• 2nd Place: Tyler the Fish and the Lake Erie Bully by Meaghan Fisher, illustrated by Tim Rowe

• Honorable Mentions:
  Sarafina and the Not-So-Wonderful Day by Carol A. Bacon, illustrated by Marvin Alonso
  The Forgotten Princess by F.H. Mickel, illustrated by Nicole Guido
  Clarence: The Story of an Italian Boy with Big Ears and Big Problems by Stephanie Baruffi, illustrated by Michela Cardelli
  No Mask, No Home! by The Sisters Spurlock
  Boomer Be Nice! by Stacy Roberts, illustrated by Kaviya Rathinamala
  Bug Off Big Bully by Shawnie Clark, illustrated by Amy Koch Johnson
  The Secret to Life by Estefana Johnson, LMSW

Science Fiction/Fantasy

• 1st Place: The Seasons of a Giant by Pamela Hartley

• 2nd Place: The Adventures of Biker Frog and Lady White Bear: Revenge of the Widow by C. Kindler

• Honorable Mention: Sleep of Fools by Lori R. Lopez

Special Needs/Disability Awareness

• 1st Place: Mary's Song: Dream Horse Adventures by Susan Count, illustrated by Ruth Sanderson

• 2nd Place: Hope Girl by Wendy Dunham

• Honorable Mentions:
  My Belly Has Two Buttons by Meikele Lee, illustrated by Rebecca Robertson
  Miles to the Moon by Jennifer Kuhns, illustrated by Edward Luena
  No One Needed to Know by D.G. Driver

Spiritual/Religious

• 1st Place (tie): Growing Young Spirits by Christy Olson, illustrated by Melissa Marroquin

• 1st Place (tie): My Name is River by Wendy Dunham

• 2nd Place: Mary's Song: Dream Horse Adventures by Susan Count, illustrated by Ruth Sanderson

Young Adult Fiction

• 1st Place: Lizardville: The Ghost Story by Steve Altier

• 2nd Place: Voiceless Whispers by Jane Frances Ruby

• Honorable Mentions:
  Mistasiniy: Buffalo Rubbing Stone by Mary Harelkin Bishop, illustrated by Heaven Starr
  The Secret of Berry Brae Circleby EM McIntyre
  Molly Greyson's Ghost by Roberta Hoffer
  An Evening in Wonderland: A Brief Story About Maths, Physics & The Universe by Jacqueline Koay, illustrated by Kerry Robinson

Youth Author Fiction

• 1st Place: The Crystal Chronicles by Alessia Dickson

• 2nd Place: The Pathway to Dragons: The Portal to Pyranis by Hannah Hoffman, illustrated by Tiffany Tutti

• Honorable Mention: Kate the Cat's Christmas Mystery by Nicole Nageli

E-Book Award Winners 

Animals/Pets

• 1st Place: Fun at the Aves Convention by Dawn Cardin, illustrated by Dodot Asmoro

• 2nd Place: The Tale of Prince by Bianca Claudia Staines, illustrated by Marco Andrew Staines

Best Illustrations

• 1st Place: Herakles by Simon Spence, illustrated by Colm Lawton

Middle Grade Fiction

• 1st Place: Lost in Time by L.G. McFerren

• 2nd Place: Quizzical by Leanne Davidson

• Honorable Mention: Motley Education by S.A. Larsen

Picture Books 6 & Older

• 1st Place: Herakles by Simon Spence, illustrated by Colm Lawton

• 2nd Place: The Land Behind the Moon by Thelma Fanstone Haffner

• Honorable Mention: Fun at the Aves Convention by Dawn Cardin, illustrated by Dodot Asmoro

School Issues

• Honorable Mention: The Buddy Bench by Angela Peterson, illustrated by Fatima Stamato

Special Needs/Disability Awareness

• Honorable Mention: Alby the Cat by Leanne Davidson, illustrated by Rae Dale

Young Adult Fiction

• Honorable Mention: Maya's Magical Adventures by Malcolm McCoard