Part of a series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. The category of Fiction Picture Books would appear clearcut as books that are fictional with pictures. Oh, but that simplicity is deceptive. The genre contains titles for toddlers and third graders, funny stories and moving tales, history and fantasy, traditions and diversity, elegance and silliness, education and entertainment. An …

Part of a series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. The first thing that stands out about books in these two genres is their shape. They're sized for their audience to hold while reading aloud (roughly 6 x 9 inches). Think "reading by nine" and you can visualize this K through 3 audience. Other helpful hints: Easy Readers usually …

Part of our series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. Comics FTW! The graphic novels category covers a wide range of stories–everything from wordless picture books appealing to the very young to intense, issue-based young adult novels–all of which tell their stories through serial artwork. All of these stories are welcome. We give an award for both the younger …

Part of our series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. Welcome to the Nonfiction Middle Grade & YA category.  Nonfiction is defined as work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be FACT.  For Middle Grade and Young Adult, these books are often biographies and histories, but can also encompass a wide range of subjects.  There are teen travel …

Part of a series to introduce each genre, written by the organizer. Welcome to Middle Grade Fiction, a category that is very often magical, sometimes action-packed, and sure to be crowd-pleasing. (Note: we're talking about magic without spells and wizards and elves and vampires, and action without the superheroes plus superpowers. Just to be clear). Middle Grade Fiction is where …

Another in our series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. For your consideration: The world as it was and is. Not as it could, or would, or should be.  Send the dystopias and space operas, the fairies and angels, the blood-suckers, zombies, and alternate realities to SFF. In YA Fiction we want the real world of the past and present …

Another in our series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. Boing! Zoom! Zap! Is that your book making all those noises? Are you making things dance, bounce and sing? You must be reading a Book App, maybe on your smart phone or iPad. Digital publishing is certainly changing the way we experience books, but we’ve been especially fascinated by …

Starting today, we'll be running short introductions to each genre. If you haven't nominated a book yet, this may give you some guidelines and maybe inspirations. Each is written by that genre's organizer. Kids are curious about absolutely anything, so that's what the books in the non-fiction picture book category will be about–absolutely anything! As long as it's true and …

Peeee-pull! Some of you have NOT read the rools that clearly state you don't need to KEEP nominating the same book or app over and over and freaking over. Stop that right now. Did you hear me? This isn't a popularity contest. You don't get to vote. You get to nominate. We wouldn't need judges otherwise, would we? And what …

Welcome to our sixth annual awards. Here's the nomination form for books published between last year's contest and this one. New eligibility rules here. Also check out our contest info. Genres are listed in the sidebar — titles are added continuously until October 15th, when nominations close. Here's that form again. It'll be kicked back to you if you try …