Winners
Best New Voice: Children's / Young Adult
2024 WINNERS - BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2024 winners in the BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2023.
Sister
2024 Gold Winner
Author/Illustrator: written by Leia M. Johnson, illustrated by S.J. Winkler
Publisher: Phoenix Media & Books
ISBN: 9781736130308
Written by a mother of four whose journey inspired this heartwarming story, Sister is an homage to the families who step into the gap when children need a soft place to land, for a short time or forever.
A Little More Beautiful: The Story of a Garden
2024 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: written by Sarah Mackenzie, illustrated by Breezy Brookshire
Publisher: Waxwing Books
ISBN: 9781956393002
A picture book that does, indeed, leave the world a little more beautiful than it found it. Sly as a fox and swift as a bird, Lou Alice is determined to leave each day a little more beautiful. When she moves away from her little house, no one notices she's gone except a little girl. A story about seeing and being seen.
Looking for the Cherries
2024 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: writtten by Kay Karcher Mijangos, illustrated by Laura Mijangos
Publisher: Material Media Press
ISBN: 9781947460263
Looking for the Cherries, with its charming illustrations, is a delight for children of all ages. It encourages children to “Do what you love,” for that is the answer the renowned artist, Bobbis gives to his granddaughter, Frankie. The book brims with optimism and joy.
2023 WINNERS - BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2023 winners in the BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2022.
Mason Goes Mushrooming
2023 Gold Winner
Author/Illustrator: written by Melany Kahn, illustrated by Ellen Korbonski
Publisher: Green Writers Press
ISBN: 978-1-950584-88-8
Mason Goes Mushrooming demystifies mushroom foraging through the talents of Mason, and his trusty dog, Buddy. The premise is simple: four seasons, four woodland adventures, four mushrooms, four delicious recipes. Future foragers are invited to accompany Mason into the extraordinary world of edible fungi, while enjoying the escapades of his hunts.
Dancing Devi
2023 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: written by Priya S. Parikh, illustrated N. Dejeshwini
Publisher: Modern Marigold Books
ISBN: 978-1-7350319-3-4
An inspiring story that shares the beauty of traditional Indian dance and a message of dedication, grit and self-love. When Devi loses the big dance competition she vows to practice until her dance is flawless, but she keeps making mistakes! Devi learns that failure is an important part of learning.
Surrounded by Love: An Adoption Story
2023 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: written by Allison Olson, illustrated by Darlee Urbiztondo
Publisher: Kids Are Awesome Publishing
ISBN: 979-8-9851629-1-2
This modern take on the "where did you come from" adoption book celebrates open adoption. Through words and illustrations, the characters express the immense amount of love that everyone involved in the process has for the adoptee.
2022 WINNERS - BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2022 winners in the BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2021.
The Legend of Jet the Gerbil: Could be the Greatest Gerbil Story Ever Told
2022 Gold Winner
Author/Illustrator: by Michael Keller, illustrated by Patrizia Donaera
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-63489-418-0
The true story of an amazing pet gerbil and his human, Michael. One day, while cleaning Jet’s tank, something goes terribly wrong, setting Michael and his dad on a fast-paced adventure to find and rescue Jet. The Legend of Jet the Gerbil could be the greatest gerbil story ever told!
Curiosity Makes the Engineer: La curiosidad hace a la ingeniera
2022 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: by Vanessa Lopez, illustrated by Michelle Simpson
Publisher: Nirshell LLC
ISBN: 978-0-578-8881-6
When young Julia takes apart the TV remote to see how it works, she can’t figure out how to put it back together. Her mom, an electrical engineer, shows Julia how to put the remote back together while discussing misconceptions about who can become an engineer.
A Picnic in the Rain
2022 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: by Corinne Delporte, illustrated by Célia Molinari Sebastiá
Publisher: Chouette Publishing, CrackBoom! Books Imprint
ISBN: 9782898023187
A rainy day in spring is the perfect time for the snail family to go out on a picnic. But no sooner have they set off that the clouds make way for sunshine. Their picnic is ruined! Unless…This story is a gentle reminder to always look on the bright side.
2021 WINNERS - BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2021 winners in the BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2020. Click here to watch the Gold and Silver winner speeches.
Mrs. Mullendeck's Big Sneeze
2021 Gold Winner
Authors: Suzanne Hansford Evans, illustrated by David V. Hansford
Publisher: The HillHelen Group LLC
ISBN: 978-1-7333626-6-5
Mrs. Mullendeck’s Big Sneeze is a whimsical rhyming book detailing the calamitous effects of a big sneeze on the inhabitants of Snaky Creek. The book is beautifully illustrated with paintings that tell the story and provide opportunities to further engage a child and spark their imagination. Lexile® level AD780L
Between Wild and Ruin: Book one, in the 'Wild and Ruin' Trilogy
2021 Silver Winner
Author: Jennifer G. Edelson
Publisher: Bad Apple Books
ISBN: 978-1733514002
After moving to small-town New Mexico and meeting Ezra, a secretive recluse whose once-perfect face was destroyed in an inexplicable accident, Ruby discovers an ancient pueblo ruin behind her house and finds herself teetering between love, mystery, monsters, and other worlds.
The Peacemakers
2021 Silver Winner
Author: Rebecca Suter Lindsay
Publisher: Shadelandhouse Modern Press, LLC
ISBN: 978-1945049088
Manny, a Mennonite boy living near Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1861, would do anything to protect Father and Uncle Davy from being forced to join the Confederate army. “A rich coming-of-age tale that sheds light on an uncommon Civil War perspective.” Kirkus Reviews
2020 WINNERS - BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2020 winners in the BEST NEW VOICE: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2019.
Ty the Quiet Giraffe
Authors: Carrie Hasler
Publisher: San Diego Zoo Global Press
ISBN: 978-1-943198-08-5
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Ty the giraffe is quiet and beginning to feel very small, until he shows that everyone has something important to say.
Hundredth Day Disaster
Author: Bridget Reistad
Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press
ISBN: 978-1-64343-987-7
The arrival of the Hundredth Day of School triggers trouble for the teacher. The students must solve the mystery of miscalculations to save the day!
Molly Gets Her Wheels
Author: Sherry Carnahan
Publisher: FlyHigh Media, LLC
ISBN: 978-0-9600527-0-7
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Molly is a disabled dog with an unstoppable spirit! “Heartwarming story with adorable illustrations! My students with disabilities will love this book!” – L. Hanson, 5-Star review.
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