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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2025 CBI WINNERS AND FINALISTS!
2025 CBI BOOK OF THE YEAR
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Jar of Laughter
AUTHOR NAME: Joy Yi
PUBLISHER NAME: Wavelina Publishing
Joy is a Korean-American children’s book author, mom, and a supporter of the arts and education. After earning her B.A. in Communication and a Master’s in Education from UCSD, Joy worked as a Creative Arts Director, promoting and developing music and arts ministries.
Eventually, she chose to channel her energy into raising her two bo
Joy is a Korean-American children’s book author, mom, and a supporter of the arts and education. After earning her B.A. in Communication and a Master’s in Education from UCSD, Joy worked as a Creative Arts Director, promoting and developing music and arts ministries.
Eventually, she chose to channel her energy into raising her two boys. Around the same time, she discovered a passion for photography and started a photography business. She also teaches music to preschoolers and leads a children’s choir once a week.
Her debut picture book, The Jar of Laughter, celebrates the infectious nature of laughter and how it can bring people together.
Joy is based in Orange County, California.
Follow Joy on @hellojoyyi or www.hellojoyyi.com
2025 CBI CATEGORY WINNERS AND FINALISTS
ADVENTURE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Adventures of Lucky Rocky: Two-in-One Edition
AUTHOR NAME: Ricardo Demi
PUBLISHER NAME: Magic of Discoveries LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: AGLIO AND OLIO'S FIRST ADVENTURE
AUTHOR NAME: LUCIANO ANDREAS VALLONE
PUBLISHER NAME: TESOROS PUBLISHING
FULL BOOK TITLE: Dillo & Dove: Where does trash go?
AUTHOR NAME: LR Martin
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Heroes of the Nebula
AUTHOR NAME: Riya Goswami
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Lulu, Lou and YOU – A Volcano Voyage
AUTHOR NAME: Dennis Kavak
PUBLISHER NAME: Maria Marsky Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Ichi-ban Goes Hiking
AUTHOR NAME: Julie Maurer
PUBLISHER NAME: Puppy Paws Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Pita the Cabo Dog
AUTHOR NAME: Colleen Stark
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Grace Retraces Her Day
AUTHOR NAME: Cheryl Lock
PUBLISHER NAME: Mindstir Media
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Conversation
AUTHOR NAME: Michelle Massie
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
ANIMALS/PETS
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight
AUTHOR NAME: Christine Mott
PUBLISHER NAME: Lantern Publishing & Media
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Joe Wala the Keeper
AUTHOR NAME: Molly J. Hoffman
PUBLISHER NAME Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: If I had a...
AUTHOR NAME: Emily Messner
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Rolph the Concert Wolf
AUTHOR NAME: Aina Elina Roenningen
PUBLISHER NAME: Barnes & Noble Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Brutus and the Relay Race
AUTHOR NAME: Tif E. Boots
PUBLISHER NAME: ShelteringTree.Earth, LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: KARA AND THE MAGIC CAMPER
AUTHOR NAME: JESSICA POLICARPO
PUBLISHER NAME: JESSICA POLICARPO
FULL BOOK TITLE: Ichi-ban Goes Hiking
AUTHOR NAME: Julie Maurer
PUBLISHER NAME: Puppy Paws Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gertie Braves the River
AUTHOR NAME: Louis Papadakis
PUBLISHER NAME: Louis Papadakis
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sammys Voyage to a New Home: True Adventures of a Small Cat Finding His Place in a Big World-Ages 4-8
AUTHOR NAME: Debra Siraco, Zareen Wilhelm
PUBLISHER NAME: BrainBloom
ART
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
BEDTIME
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Things I Love
AUTHOR NAME: Christina M. Carroll ILLUSTRATOR NAME: Jenny Slife
PUBLISHER NAME: The Orange Chair, LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Night Night Cat
AUTHOR NAME: Maria Ashworth
PUBLISHER NAME: Big Belly Book Co.
FULL BOOK TITLE: Lore of the Dugal Bears
AUTHOR NAME: Howard Palmer
PUBLISHER NAME: HEPalmer
FULL BOOK TITLE: Where Have You Been, Little Max?
AUTHOR NAME: Ricardo Demi
PUBLISHER NAME: Magic of Discoveries LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Conversation
AUTHOR NAME: Michelle Massie
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Nanuk
AUTHOR NAME: Chayton Alexander Tecumseh
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Miausi: The Calico Cat
AUTHOR NAME: Karen Castellanos Vasquez
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Eli the Eagle
AUTHOR NAME: Barbara Anderson
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gators Are Great
AUTHOR NAME: Leann Edwards
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
BEST COVER DESIGN-FICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: John and His Magical Pig
AUTHOR NAME: Haoying Zhang
PUBLISHER NAME: Children Pay Children Corporation
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Christmas Eve Blizzard
AUTHOR NAME: Scott Withers
PUBLISHER NAME: Severe Wx Live LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Things I Love
AUTHOR NAME: Christina M. Carroll ILLUSTRATOR NAME: Jenny Slife
PUBLISHER NAME: The Orange Chair, LLC
BIOGRAPHY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Adopted for Good
AUTHOR NAME: Dede Kolb
PUBLISHER NAME: Inspiring Light
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Roger Staubach: A Winner Both On and Off the Field
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
BOARD BOOKS
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Miss Mouse Baked a Cake
AUTHOR NAME: Laura Payne
PUBLISHER NAME: Laura Craft LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gigglet: The Happy Little Piglet Goes to School
AUTHOR NAME: A.M. Berkowitz
PUBLISHER NAME: A.M. Berkowitz
FULL BOOK TITLE: Nanuk
AUTHOR NAME: Chayton Alexander Tecumseh
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
CHAPTER BOOK
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: UP SO FLOATING
AUTHOR NAME: Maureen Hourihan
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Clan of Critters
AUTHOR NAME: Marcy Ray Dodd
PUBLISHER NAME: Pegasus Publishers
FULL BOOK TITLE: SAVE THE QUEEN
AUTHOR NAME: Chelsea Grimes
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chloe, The “Military Brat”
AUTHOR NAME: Al Zeine
PUBLISHER NAME: Al Zeine Books
FULL BOOK TITLE: Garden Fairies
AUTHOR NAME: C.L. Watson
PUBLISHER NAME: Sidhe Productions
FULL BOOK TITLE: Black Hole Radio - Furilani
AUTHOR NAME: Ann Birdgenaw
PUBLISHER NAME: DartFrog Books
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Charlotte’s Ghosts: The Mystery of the Vanishing Boy
AUTHOR NAME: L. P. Simone
PUBLISHER NAME: Dragon Song Publishing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Toys Come Alive
AUTHOR NAME: Evelyn Wong
PUBLISHER NAME: Evelyn Wong
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Words I Wrote: A Collection of Children’s Short Stories
AUTHOR NAME: Shambhavi Manoj
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Wings of Glitter
AUTHOR NAME: Miranda Sada
PUBLISHER NAME: Miranda Valdés Sada
FULL BOOK TITLE: Matti and Anty. The Secret World of Icelandic Ants
AUTHOR NAME: Marco Mancini /Laufey Jónsdóttir
PUBLISHER NAME: Bókafélagið
FULL BOOK TITLE: Going to Live with Auntie
AUTHOR NAME: Andria Williams
PUBLISHER NAME: AW Books, LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Girl & The Ocean
AUTHOR NAME: Lei’a Haff
PUBLISHER NAME: Self-Published
FULL BOOK TITLE: Noah Guy Who Likes to Paint
AUTHOR NAME: Jeanne & Tyler Ward
PUBLISHER NAME: Mindstir Media
FULL BOOK TITLE: HEAR ME ROAR
AUTHOR NAME: MARIANNA BUFFOLINO
PUBLISHER NAME: IANNOTTA CREATIONS CORP
FULL BOOK TITLE: Joe Wala the Keeper
AUTHOR NAME: Molly J. Hoffman
PUBLISHER NAME Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Jua The Kikuyu Sun Princess
AUTHOR NAME: Esther Kamoche Robinson
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
EDUCATIONAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: What Is The Law?
AUTHOR NAME: Aisha Gokada
PUBLISHER NAME: Swathi Chandrala in partnership with Amazon KDP
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Joe Wala the Keeper
AUTHOR NAME: Molly J. Hoffman
PUBLISHER NAME Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: MACIE AND THE MAGIC VEGGIES
AUTHOR NAME: PETER CONTARDO
PUBLISHER NAME: MINDSTIR MEDIA
FULL BOOK TITLE: Jealous Jitzey
AUTHOR NAME: Stevi Reed
PUBLISHER NAME: Anchored Hope Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Puff and Spotzie Adventures Oregon Trail
AUTHOR NAME: Courtney Morstatter
PUBLISHER NAME: Weeva
FULL BOOK TITLE: Terrible de la Sierra Morena
AUTHOR NAME: Patricia A. Schechter Gómez
PUBLISHER NAME: UNPUBLISHED
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sue’s Splashy Surprise: A Pond-ering Adventure
AUTHOR NAME: Mamimo Chan
PUBLISHER NAME: Partridge Singapore
FULL BOOK TITLE: How to Draw 111 Amazing and Cute Animals, Fairy-tale, Characters, Flowers, Foods, Gifts, and other Themes. The Magic of Creativity for Kids
AUTHOR NAME: Ricardo Demi
PUBLISHER NAME: Magic of Discoveries LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: Our Choices
AUTHOR NAME: Dr. Chisato Hotta
PUBLISHER NAME: Barnes & Noble Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
FABLE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Frog Prince in His Little Kingdom
AUTHOR NAME: Ailin Iwan
PUBLISHER NAME: Newman Springs Publishing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Flight to the Light
AUTHOR NAME: Danny Barron
PUBLISHER NAME: WestBow Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Silent Song of Harpo
AUTHOR NAME: Charles Presti
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: GREAT GRANNY GOOSE SAYS: A Tale of New Orleans
AUTHOR NAME: Jo Ann Schmitt
PUBLISHER NAME: AuthorHouse
FULL BOOK TITLE: Charlie and the Scavenger Hunt
AUTHOR NAME: Tif E. Boots
PUBLISHER NAME: ShelteringTree.Earth, LLC
FAIRY TALE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Science Behind the Three Little Pigs
AUTHOR NAME: Igor Lima
PUBLISHER NAME: Igor Lima
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Oleyn
AUTHOR NAME: Olive Wang
PUBLISHER NAME: Children Pay Children Corporation
FANTASY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: DELILAH VERSUS THE GHASTLY GRIM
AUTHOR NAME: T. L. McCoy
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished--Expected publication date: May 2025
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Dinosaur Carnival
AUTHOR NAME: S.P. Somtow
PUBLISHER NAME: Diplodocus Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Mica Powers and the Legend of the Superstitions
AUTHOR NAME: M.S.V. Walker pen.
PUBLISHER NAME: Desert Star Media, LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: SUPER SUPER CHARRO
AUTHOR NAME: Carlos Lozano
PUBLISHER NAME: N/A
FULL BOOK TITLE: Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks: The Emerald Tablets
AUTHOR NAME: Jabril Yousef Faraj
PUBLISHER NAME: DANK ONION
FICTION-GENERAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Creatures of Intuiland
AUTHOR NAME: Ana Usero
PUBLISHER NAME: Ana Usero
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Wings and Whispers: Tales of Friendship, Volume 1
AUTHOR NAME: Kaelen Felix
PUBLISHER NAME: Prolific Pulse Press LLC
FOLKLORE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Mica Powers and the Legend of the Superstitions
AUTHOR NAME: M.S.V. Walker pen.
PUBLISHER NAME: Desert Star Media, LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Terrible de la Sierra Morena
AUTHOR NAME: Patricia A. Schechter Gómez
PUBLISHER NAME: UNPUBLISHED
HISTORICAL FICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Tiny Tales for the Teeming Mind
AUTHOR NAME: Prabha Girish
PUBLISHER NAME: Self-Published through Amazon and Ingramspark
HISTORICAL NONFICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: What Can I Be? I Can Be Anything!
AUTHOR NAME: Maurice Jones
PUBLISHER NAME: Tellwell Publishing
HISTORICAL NONFICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Theodore Roosevelt and the Summit that Saved FootballAUTHOR NAME: A.J. ChilsonPUBLISHER NAME: KDP
HOLIDAY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Christmas Eve Blizzard
AUTHOR NAME: Scott Withers
PUBLISHER NAME: Severe Wx Live LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Santa’s Kid of The Year
AUTHOR NAME: David Knoll
PUBLISHER NAME: Christian Faith Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Bones is Back: A Family Tradition for Halloween
AUTHOR NAME: Marc Fetscherin
PUBLISHER NAME: Bones & Friends
FULL BOOK TITLE: Little Fir With a Big Wish
AUTHOR NAME: Maria Ashworth
PUBLISHER NAME: Big Belly Book Co.
FULL BOOK TITLE: ECHO
AUTHOR NAME: Kayli Armstrong
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Valentine’s Day for Ladybug
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
HUMOR
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: This Fart Needs a Mom
AUTHOR NAME: Samuel Senter
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Way the Cookie Crumbled (and Other Positively Preposterous Poems) 2nd Edition
AUTHOR NAME: Lizzy Judge
PUBLISHER NAME: The Armadillo’s Pillow Ltd
INTERACTIVE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Bones is Back: A Family Tradition for Halloween
AUTHOR NAME: Marc Fetscherin
PUBLISHER NAME: Bones & Friends
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Barbara the Capybara
AUTHOR NAME: Grace Liu
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: High Hopes Big Dreams
AUTHOR NAME: Yolanda S Pascal
PUBLISHER NAME: Amphitrite Publishing
INSPIRATIONAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Beyond the Other Side of the Pond
AUTHOR NAME: Lynn Van Allen
PUBLISHER NAME: Illumen Books
FULL BOOK TITLE: Little Caddy’s Big Dream
AUTHOR NAME: Virginia O’Brien
PUBLISHER NAME: Virginia O’Brien
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Just a Jam Jar: Filled with Endless Possibilities
AUTHOR NAME: Dylan & Erica Turzak
PUBLISHER NAME: Sage Books Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Do you know?
AUTHOR NAME: Rochelle Bourn Guidry
PUBLISHER NAME: Rochelle Bourn Guidry
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chameleon and the Color of Brave: A Story about Domestic Violence
AUTHOR NAME: Amanda Moore
PUBLISHER NAME: Amanda Moore
FULL BOOK TITLE: I AM Affirmations: Volume 1
AUTHOR NAME: Ma’at CC
PUBLISHER NAME: Presto Pages
FULL BOOK TITLE: A Heart’s Tale
AUTHOR NAME: Katy Grant
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Sons & The Stars
AUTHOR NAME: Rey A. Banda
PUBLISHER NAME: Northopolis Publishing Company
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Phobia Club
AUTHOR NAME: Jessica Russo
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Emotion Tamer
AUTHOR NAME: Dorit Geifman Lugasy
PUBLISHER NAME: Niv-books
FULL BOOK TITLE: Hazel’s Wishy Musical Wish
AUTHOR NAME: John Stuart
PUBLISHER NAME: Amazon KDP
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gertie Braves the River
AUTHOR NAME: Louis Papadakis
PUBLISHER NAME: Louis Papadakis
INSPIRATIONAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Little Caddy’s Big Dream
AUTHOR NAME: Virginia O’Brien
PUBLISHER NAME: Virginia O’Brien
FULL BOOK TITLE: Beyond the Other Side of the Pond
AUTHOR NAME: Lynn Van Allen
PUBLISHER NAME: Illumen Books
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Just a Jam Jar: Filled with Endless Possibilities
AUTHOR NAME: Dylan & Erica Turzak
PUBLISHER NAME: Sage Books Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Do you know?
AUTHOR NAME: Rochelle Bourn Guidry
PUBLISHER NAME: Rochelle Bourn Guidry
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chameleon and the Color of Brave: A Story about Domestic Violence
AUTHOR NAME: Amanda Moore
PUBLISHER NAME: Amanda Moore
FULL BOOK TITLE: I AM Affirmations: Volume 1
AUTHOR NAME: Ma’at CC
PUBLISHER NAME: Presto Pages
FULL BOOK TITLE: A Heart’s Tale
AUTHOR NAME: Katy Grant
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Sons & The Stars
AUTHOR NAME: Rey A. Banda
PUBLISHER NAME: Northopolis Publishing Company
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Phobia Club
AUTHOR NAME: Jessica Russo
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Emotion Tamer
AUTHOR NAME: Dorit Geifman Lugasy
PUBLISHER NAME: Niv-books
FULL BOOK TITLE: Hazel’s Wishy Musical Wish
AUTHOR NAME: John Stuart
PUBLISHER NAME: Amazon KDP
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gertie Braves the River
AUTHOR NAME: Louis Papadakis
PUBLISHER NAME: Louis Papadakis
LEGACY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Red Eyes
AUTHOR NAME: Lee Ching Kai
PUBLISHER NAME: The Inspiration Hub
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Jesse and Luz: A Special Friendship
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
MULTICULTURAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Who Dries These Sad Eyes?
AUTHOR NAME: Lisa Baker
PUBLISHER NAME: 3 R Press
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Harriet and Her Freedom Lamp
AUTHOR NAME: Dr. Elizabeth Uchegbu
PUBLISHER NAME: EUchegbu Publications
FULL BOOK TITLE: Terrible de la Sierra Morena
AUTHOR NAME: Patricia A. Schechter Gómez
PUBLISHER NAME: UNPUBLISHED
FULL BOOK TITLE: Tiny Tales for the Teeming Mind
AUTHOR NAME: Prabha Girish
PUBLISHER NAME: Self-Published through Amazon and Ingramspark
FULL BOOK TITLE: Tomás Returns to School
AUTHOR NAME: Xiomara Gallego-Bernard
PUBLISHER NAME: Xiomara Gallego-Bernard
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Things I Love
AUTHOR NAME: Christina M. Carroll ILLUSTRATOR NAME: Jenny Slife
PUBLISHER NAME: The Orange Chair, LLC
MYSTERY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Silent Witness Mystery – A Case Twins Adventure
AUTHOR NAME: Dorian Rockwood
PUBLISHER NAME: Insundry Productions Books
NATURE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Cora’s Garden Rescue: Nurturing Nature, Growing Kindness, and Saving Our Community’s Green Spaces
AUTHOR NAME: Sally Kashner
PUBLISHER NAME: Sally Kashner
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Mr. Germ: A Germ’s Mission
AUTHOR NAME: Irene Eun
PUBLISHER NAME: Irene Eun
FULL BOOK TITLE: Nanuk
AUTHOR NAME: Chayton Alexander Tecumseh
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Grandpa Loved Wild Things
AUTHOR NAME: Melissa Rousu
PUBLISHER NAME: Melissa Rousu
FULL BOOK TITLE: Meet the Trees
AUTHOR NAME: Emily Dangremond
PUBLISHER NAME: Orange Hat Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Crickets in Austin
AUTHOR NAME: Maria Ashworth
PUBLISHER NAME: Big Belly Book Co.
PARENTING AND FAMILY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Don’t Wake the Dragon
AUTHOR NAME: Craig Ohlau
PUBLISHER NAME: Craig Ohlau
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Her And Her Phone
AUTHOR NAME: LaRon Bledsoe
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sian’s Adventures With Grandma and Grandpa
AUTHOR NAME: Jocilyn Carver
PUBLISHER NAME: Williams Commerce
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chubby the Bear’s Big Choice
AUTHOR NAME: Daryl McCullough
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Kabibbles A-B-C
AUTHOR NAME: Amy R. Connelly
PUBLISHER NAME: Iuniverse
FULL BOOK TITLE: Bertha the Ordinary Chicken
AUTHOR NAME: Danna Southwell
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Guardian Wings
AUTHOR NAME: Susan Kennard
PUBLISHER NAME: Balboa Press UK
FULL BOOK TITLE: Bones is Back: A Family Tradition for Halloween
AUTHOR NAME: Marc Fetscherin
PUBLISHER NAME: Bones & Friends
FULL BOOK TITLE: I’m Proud of You
AUTHOR NAME: Callie Blixrud
PUBLISHER NAME: Amazon KDP
PICTURE BOOK
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Jar of Laughter
AUTHOR NAME: Joy Yi
PUBLISHER NAME: Wavelina Publishing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Hemi Bunny Finds a Mommy
AUTHOR NAME: Nicole Metas
PUBLISHER NAME: Bibliobunnies
FULL BOOK TITLE: Zee Zee The Humble Bee
AUTHOR NAME: Michael Obiora
PUBLISHER NAME: Troubador Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Not-so-little Tree
AUTHOR NAME: Marcus Addison
PUBLISHER NAME: Starfish Bay Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: John and His Magical Pig
AUTHOR NAME: Haoying Zhang
PUBLISHER NAME: Children Pay Children Corporation
FULL BOOK TITLE: Magic Ballet Shoes
AUTHOR NAME: Raquel Lesser & Avital Ron
PUBLISHER NAME: StoryBird
FULL BOOK TITLE: Like Mother Like Daughter
AUTHOR NAME: Robert F. Byrne
PUBLISHER NAME: Robert F. Byrne
FULL BOOK TITLE: Mousey Mornings
AUTHOR NAME: Fiona Lowry
PUBLISHER NAME: Three Geese and a Gander
FULL BOOK TITLE: Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs
AUTHOR NAME: P.E. Shadrick
PUBLISHER NAME P.E. Shadrick
FULL BOOK TITLE: FORGET ME NOT
AUTHOR NAME: Ying Song
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Queen of the Mountain
AUTHOR NAME: TAK Erzinger
PUBLISHER NAME: Rowanvale Books, Cardiff UK
FULL BOOK TITLE: Jewel’s Curls: Being Me
AUTHOR NAME: Dr. Shon Shree Lewis
PUBLISHER NAME: Dr. Shon Shree Lewis
FULL BOOK TITLE: Dream Big: Peyton’s Hip-Hop Adventure
AUTHOR NAME: Paula Banks
PUBLISHER NAME: Paula Banks
FULL BOOK TITLE: Cora’s Garden Rescue: Nurturing Nature, Growing Kindness, and Saving Our Community’s Green Spaces
AUTHOR NAME: Sally Kashner
PUBLISHER NAME: Sally Kashner
POETRY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Way the Cookie Crumbled (and Other Positively Preposterous Poems) 2nd Edition
AUTHOR NAME: Lizzy Judge
PUBLISHER NAME: The Armadillo’s Pillow Ltd
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Brave Little Wings
AUTHOR NAME: Amy Steele
PUBLISHER NAME: Amy Steele
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sun Hair, Good Hair
AUTHOR NAME: Ma’at CC
PUBLISHER NAME: Presto Pages
FULL BOOK TITLE: Minka and the Mouse
AUTHOR NAME: Sabine Garvey
PUBLISHER NAME: Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers LTD.
REALISTIC FICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Elusive Common Sense – Why is Common Sense so hard to find? Book One in Series Growing Up Alex
AUTHOR NAME: Betts Arney (Gail Buntin Blohowiak)
PUBLISHER NAME: GAB Publishing
RELIGIOUS
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: This I Know: Seeing God in the World He Made
AUTHOR NAME: Clay Anderson
PUBLISHER NAME: Swing High
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Wheezy & Goliath – An Anti-Bullying Tale
AUTHOR NAME: David Mendoza III
PUBLISHER NAME: Books for His Glory
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Holy Lizard
AUTHOR NAME: David Lane
PUBLISHER NAME: Bear’s Place Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Adopted for Good
AUTHOR NAME: Dede Kolb
PUBLISHER NAME: Inspiring Light
FULL BOOK TITLE: I’m Proud of You
AUTHOR NAME: Callie Blixrud
PUBLISHER NAME: Amazon KDP
SCIENCE FICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Black Hole Radio - Furilani
AUTHOR NAME: Ann Birdgenaw
PUBLISHER NAME: DartFrog Books
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Time Warped
AUTHOR NAME: Micky O’Brady
PUBLISHER NAME: Micky O’Brady
SPORTS
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Stephen Curry: The Children’s Book: The Boy Who Never Gave Up
AUTHOR NAME: Anthony Curcio
PUBLISHER NAME: Anthony Curcio
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Catch the Ball!
AUTHOR NAME: Bryan Smith
PUBLISHER NAME: Boys Town Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Roger Staubach: A Winner Both On and Off the Field
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
FULL BOOK TITLE: Frank Robinson: Fulfilling Jackie Robinson's Final Dream
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
TRAVEL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Who Dries These Sad Eyes?
AUTHOR NAME: Lisa Baker
PUBLISHER NAME: 3 R Press
YOUNG ADULT
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sour Apples: A Novel for Those Who Hate to Read
AUTHOR NAME: Paul Jantzen
PUBLISHER NAME: Black Rose Writing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Poems for Puppies
AUTHOR NAME: Joe Smalling
PUBLISHER NAME: XlibrisUS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Forever Boy
AUTHOR NAME: Michael J. Bowler
PUBLISHER NAME: Michael J. Bowler
FULL BOOK TITLE: Brown Girl, Brown Girl, Hasn’t Anyone?: A Child’s Memoir
AUTHOR NAME: Michele Jeanmarie
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Red Boots Adventures: Wild West Young Stories of a Young Girl on Mt. Hood Lumberjacks, Native Americans and Mountain Lions
AUTHOR NAME: Heather Bradrick
PUBLISHER NAME: Balboa Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Tale of Oknytt & Gray Gnomes: Book 1 of the Ella Trilogy
AUTHOR NAME: Catarina Hansson
PUBLISHER NAME: AuthorHouse UK
FULL BOOK TITLE: Haunting Melody
AUTHOR NAME: Chloe Spencer
PUBLISHER NAME: Tiny Ghost Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chris Parr
AUTHOR NAME: Micky O’Brady
PUBLISHER NAME: Micky O’Brady
2026 Children's Book International (CBI)-One-Category
$39.00
A single-category Book Submission qualifies a piece for a category prize as well as "Book of the Year" consideration. A full list of our 38 categories is available below or on page 3 of the entry form.
$39 per title/per category
(Example: One book in two categories equals $78.00--requires separate $39 transactions)
Deadline to Enter--March 15, 2026
Announcement of Prizes--April 2, 2026
2026 CATEGORIES
OFFICIAL 2026 AWA CHILDREN'S BOOK INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
Did you know we have a unique category for OLDER children's books? The Legacy category accepts books older than 4 years. Give your timeless book a chance at an award. Check out our full list of categories.
-Adventure
-Animals/Pets
-Art
-Bedtime
-Best Cover Design-Fiction
-Best Cover Design-Nonfiction
-Biography
-Board Book
-Chapter Book
-Children’s Literature
-Educational
-Fable
-Fairy Tale
-Fantasy
-Fiction-General
-Folklore
-Graphic Novel
-Historical Fiction
-Historical Nonfiction
-Holiday
-Humor
-Interactive
-Inspirational
-Legacy
-LGBTQ
-Multicultural
-Mystery
-Nature
-Nonfiction-General
-Parenting and Family
-Picture Book
-Poetry
-Realistic Fiction
-Religious
-Science Fiction
-Sports
-Travel
-Young Adult
WHY US?
Children's Book International was created to provide an avenue of recognition and pride for children's book authors, illustrators and publishers all over the world. We pride ourselves in offering the most inclusive, affordable and influential award competitions and services available to authors, illustrators and publishers worldwide. These awards and services provided through our popular website--ranked 98/100 on website traffic and user interaction--are perfect promotional vessels to help launch careers, open markets, and compete on the global stage. Our team is ALWAYS here to support you, answer any questions, and provide a most fulfilling experience. Children's Book International is unique as it offers small presses, academic presses, micro presses, self-publishers, unpublished manuscripts, and even "Big 5" publishers, illustrators and authors a chance to compete in the same arena for the same prize. Entry fees are always low--well below the industry standard for competitions of a similar caliber, and there are multiple categories for entry--any author or publisher can nominate one or more of their books for an award, in multiple categories--a full list of AWA Children's Book International categories can be found either above or on page 1 of the entry form. All entrants submit their book digitally, as a PDF or eBook--avoiding the expenses and headaches of traditional mail. Our team of expert judges--Industry Professionals, Authors, Artists, Illustrators, College Professors--assesses your work in a fair and competent manner. Entries are judged based on multiple criteria, which include an author's story-telling ability, illustrations, relevance, characters, engagement of the text, grammar, punctuation, and overall impact and enduring theme of the book. Each year, authors and publishers release extraordinary books to little or no recognition. Children's Book International recognizes excellence in all types of publishing and in every genre. A SINGLE-CATEGORY REGISTRATION gives you TWO WAYS TO WIN—by genre category and the prize of Book of the Year. There is a category for every book. The least expensive way to promote your book is with point-of-sale award recognition and press coverage. We are your chance to get noticed and we are dedicated to awarding excellence. You’ve put tremendous time and energy into your work and by winning an award, you permanently build your credibility as an established author. Register now and get your work the attention it deserves.
