Story Monsters Approved

2023 Winners

Book of the Year Winner:

A Galon of Water by Aiden Lee

$100 Drawing Winner:

Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher

By Mindy Hudon MS CCC-SLP, illustrated by Barbara Szepesi Szucs

Board Books

• Play With Me by Kat Chen, illustrated by Lorraine Nam

Picture Books Fiction

• How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

• I Think My Cat is a Spy! by Rayla Ray, illustrated by Ruya Karakaya

• Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code by Rick Felty

• Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project by Ellie Smith, illustrated by Eyen Johnson

• Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait! by Mary Bleckwehl, illustrated by Gabby Correia

• Raccoons Go Rafting by Rachel Vogel

• A Galon of Water by Aiden Lee

• Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea by Miki Taylor, illustrated by Eunhye Shin

• Adventures in Couch Cove As told by Jack the Raccoon by Kendyll Norris, illustrated by Joe Huffman

• Little White Cat by Anders Roseberg

• Spooky Oooky Dance Party by Lisa Jacovsky

• Flora The Fish And The Plastic Plight by Teya Knightingale, illustrated by Teya Knightingale

• The Empathetic Elephant by Jennifer Randazzo, illustrated by Lauren Sparks

• Listen To The Night Mary Dreamer by Cher Knightingale, illustrated by Teya Knightingale

• My Favorite Season is Spring by Patrice Wilkerson, illustrated by Brooke Beaver

• Guinea Pig Power by Ben St. James

• When Bugs Fly; Tale of the Nite Kite by Joni Nowak

• Gibble the Goblin Has a Problem by Cad E. Wampus and Bill Sugg III

• Oscar and Otto by Betty Cetas and Amanda Hanson, illustrated by Ugur Kose

• The Day Bert Smiled by Christine Maier, illustrated by Aviva Brueckner

• Brave Millie by Hilary Hawkes, illustrated by Andrea Petrlik

• Charlie Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy by Brad Mason

• Looking for Happiness by Michelle Choi

• Millie’s Rainbow by Hilary Hawkes, illustrated by Andrea Petrlik

• Musical Soul Mates by Cindy B Witty, illustrated by Estelle Corke

• Oscar Goes to the Vet by Sam Baker, illustrated by Lisa Morris

• The Flower Story by Sean Feeny

• The Last First Tooth by Kat Hyde, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

• A Bell for Maury’s Bicycle by David Maurice Sharp, illustrated by Franklin Silva

• Good Boy Lukey & the Dream Crumbs by Linda Beck

• My Rainbow and Me! by Marissa Marston

• Turning Pennies Into Dimes (Doc the Wolf) by Kevin Chu

• Haunted House Day & Night by Jaybie D

• The Not So Funny Bunny (Happy Tails) by Michele L Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

• The Unluckiest Leprechaun by Far (Happy Tails) by Michele L Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

• What I Would Wish to Be (Wonders of Childhood & Beyond) by Michele L Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

• Monstrously Clever (Happy Tails) by Michele L Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

• I Can Do Bad All by Myzelf (Happy Tails) by Michele L. Sayre, illustrated by Christina Cartwright

• Adventure with Moose by Renée Tessier & Samantha Clusiau-Lawlor

• Ms. Alberta: Feline Barn Manager by Diana Tuorto, illustrated by Ava Bucci

• SeaMouse Builds a Boat by David Youell

• Why Don’t You Just Grow Some Fur? by Nick Moreland, illustrated by QBN Studios

• Michael and the Walking Talking Mustache by Traci Strahlendorf

• My Good Friend, Ted! in Ted’s Tale of the Tangled-Up Whale by Robyn Gram-Barclay

• Trueberry Town by Diane Green, illustrated by Judith Gosse

• Marty the Mailbox Monster by Kim Walker, illustrated by Julia Radishevska

• Millie’s Magic by Hilary Hawkes, illustrated by Andrea Petrlik

• The Bouncing Ant by Sally Sunflower, illustrated by Stephen Stone

• How Happy Is a Lark? by Gail Kuhnlein, illustrated by Jenny Kalejs

• Livy Little Honey Bee by Celia Straus, illustrated by Mira Hirabayashi

• Oscar and the Awful, Horrible Smell by Betty Cetas and Amanda Hanson, illustrated by Ugur Kose

• I Love the Sparkle in You by Mandy Woolf, illustrated by Elmira Georgieva

• Margarette’s Summer Vacation by La Verne Fox, illustrated by CJ Love

• The Dancing Darlings by Angela Kyparissis

• Luna Blanca! by David Lane, illustrated by Caleb McBee

• Era la Vispera de Navidad / ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Bilingual Edition by Sally

• Veillette and Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Marco Nifosì

• Blue is the Only Color in the Rainbow by Deanna Hart, illustrated by Chrish Vindhy

• Boomer the Curious Bunny by Diann Floyd Boehm, illustrated by Judy Gaudet

• Ho Ho Nooooooo! by Yvonne Craig

• I Believe in Me: A–Z Positive Affirmations Book by Rich Grogan

• Nature Ninja Saves the Natural World by Tania Moloney, illustrated by Jelena Sardi

• Squirrels in Antarctica by Sari Karplus

• The Boy and the Butterfly by Julie Cornu

• The Groobs by Julie Le Cornu

• The Lady of Rara-Jou by Julie Le Cornu

• Nel & the Fling by Julie Le Cornu

Picture Books Nonfiction

• Shoe Print Art: Step Into Drawing Second Edition by Karen S. Robbins, illustrated by Sally Marts

• Antoinette and the Story of the Invisible Giraffes by Alison McGregor

• Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun, illustrated by Laura Watson

• When Fred the Snake and Friends explore USA-West by Peter Cotton, illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire

• Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book by Pey Carter and Abigail Bailey, illustrated by Katarina Stevanovic

• Billie the Brain by John Hutton, illustrated by Gabriella Vagnoli

Early Readers Fiction

• My Rainbow and Me! by Marissa Marston      

• Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project by Ellie Smith, illustrated by Eyen Johnson

• Gummy Worms for Fishing by Chan Blue, illustrated by Jochema Avendano Nieto

• Nishka’s Golden Heart by Mel Kucenic, illustrated by Mariya Stoyanova

• The Monster Only Riley Could See by Dr. Melia Meichelbock, illustrated by Carolyn Hicks

• Coco’s Trip to the Zoo: A Maths Picture Book by H. H. Tang, illustrated by Sam Rapp

• Listen To the Night Mary Dreamer by Cher Knightingale, illustrated by Teya Knightingale Cambridge and Clyde by Alysen Bayles

• Bentley’s Purpose by Sandra Harry, illustrated by Nikki Boetger

• Bentley’s Treasure by Sandra Harry, illustrated by Nikki Boetger

• Era la Vispera de Navidad / ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Bilingual Edition by Sally Veillette and Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Marco Nifosì

• Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles by Susan Sullivan, illustrated Lauren Reeves

• A Sofia Special by Julie Falatko, illustrated Vivian Mineker

• Journey to the Name Maker by Maxine Johone-Smith, illustrated Joanna Scott

• Grandpa Kevin’s...Chicken Little by Kevin Brougher, illustrated by Jessica Warrick

• Where My Imaginations Come to Life by Younwoo Cho

• Mr Mouthful and the Monkeynappers by Joseph Kimble, illustrated by Kerry Bell

• My Robot Grandpa by Shannon K. Mazurick

Early Readers Nonfiction

• This Kitten Has Blue Eyes by Carolyn Wild       

• Toby’s Big Adventure by Bonnie Schreiner      

• Laila’s ABC’s of Art by Alice Bey-Pugh, illustrated by Sameer Kassar

• Caravan of Camels by Julie Le Cornu

Chapter Books Fiction

• Journey to the Name Maker by Maxine Johone-Smith, illustrated Joanna Scott

• He’s Not A Pig; He’s My Brother! by Mark Tiffany, illustrated by Mark Brayer

• Oliver the Oyster and the Lost Lab by J.B. Auchter, illustrated by Ayan Mansoori

• Cat Care Heroes by Julie Hundman, illustrated by Elizabeth Wright

• Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles by Susan Sullivan, illustrated by Lauren Reeves

• Stitch by Stephen Devaney and Kevin Devaney, illustrated by Penny Weber

• Sadie and Max Have the Best Christmas in the Entire World by Brenda Sue and Sadie Belle, illustrated by Terri Schultz

• Teamwork! Betty the Iditarod Sled Dog by Jack Rotifer

• Unknown Waters by Cynthia Bordelon, illustrated by Mariya Prytula

Middle Grade Fiction

• The Adventures of Jeremy Perrywhistle by Carol Dellinges     

• Wimps of the Wild Book 1: Gator Getters by Brooke C Thomas, illustrated by John Ramsey

• Nelly the Jelly and Camille the Eel Visit the Bermuda Triangle by John DeGuire          

• Time Traveling Through Yellowstone National Park: The Adventures of Bubba Jones #5 by Jeff Alt, illustrated by Hannah Tuohy

• Kwesi and the Ogre by Kenneth Braswell, illustrated by Ruben Gonzalez

• Drifters Realm (Book 1) by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia         

• Mirror Tree (Drifters Realm Book 2) by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia  

• The Ghost in the Garden by Alisse Lee Goldenberg     

• The Water Door by Aggie L. Jae           

• The Tales of Scuba Steve: Isfjell Point by Steven Kamlet, illustrated by Shannon Marsolais

• A Home in the Wilderness by Amanda M Cetas

• The Flabbergast Farm Fights Back by E.J. Daubert

• Thrown to the Wind by Amanda M. Cetas

Middle Grade Nonfiction

• Finally...HORSES! by Janet Wolanin Alexander, illustrated by Lesley A.J. Baumann

• Nurse Florence®, How Do We Understand Time? by Michael Dow, illustrated by Lindsay Roberts

Tween Novels Fiction

• A Home in the Wilderness by Amanda M. Cetas

• Erifft’s Journeys: Secrets of The Sealed Forest by J.T. Tenera  

• Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner

• Drifters Realm (Book 1) by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia         

• Mirror Tree (Drifters Realm Book 2) by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia

Young Adult Novels

• Visitant: The Hidden Genome by Pamela Cannalte

• Sword Heiress (Violet Moon Series Book 3) by Alisa Hope Wagner, illustrated by Albert Morales

• Shield of the King by MB Mooney

Young Author Fiction

• A Galon of Water by Aiden Lee

• Looking for Happiness by Michelle Choi

• Emma and Belley: Sister Detectives, A Bilingual Book by Emma Barrett and Belley Barrett

Cultural Diversity

• Painting Joy: The Art and Life of Fernando Llort by Teddi Ahrens        

• Black History: Tina and Gina Discover Twelve People of Color by Barbara Freeman, illustrated by Ruth Araceli Rodriguez

• Maya Moves to a New Country by Pearl Alimo, illustrated by Sayani Mukherjee

• Momma Llama’s ABC Book of Latin America by Momma Llama and Friends   

• Shanti and the Knot of Protection: A Rakhi Story by Amita Roy Shah, illustrated by Faariha Mastur

• Simran & Sehaj Visit Ukraine by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova Cambridge and Clyde by Alysen Bayles

• Emma and Belley: Sister Detectives, A Bilingual Book by Emma Barrett and Belley Barrett     

• Fin-A-Lee Pea Not a Princess by the Sea by Michele Marra     

• Kwesi and the Ogre by Kenneth Braswell, illustrated by Ruben Gonzalez

• Era la Vispera de Navidad / ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Bilingual Edition by Sally Veillette and Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Marco Nifosì

• Let’s Talk! Celebrating the Holidays by Lisa Jacovsky, illustrated by Blueberry Illustrations

• Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle by Lea Aschkenas, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu

• Kisaan by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova

• The Land of Five Rivers by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova

Education/Reference

• Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher by Mindy Hudon, illustrated by Barbara Szepesi Szucs

• How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

• Five Little Dumplings Get Ready for School by Kelsey Chen     

• What Is the Shape of My Egg? by Lisa Weckbacher, illustrated by Gabriela Vega

• Caravan of Camels by Julie Le Cornu, illustrated by Julie Le Cornu

Family Matters

• How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

• Harmony Dances On by Mandy Woolf

• Rascal Cat Brothers by Lisa Jacovsky   

• Finding Mummy’s Glow by Mandy Woolf, illustrated by Elmira Georgieva

• The Last First Tooth by Kat Hyde, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

• The Sapphire Ring by Donna DeMaio Hunt, illustrated by Ethan Hunt

• Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner        

• Sword Heiress (Violet Moon Series Book 3) by Alisa Hope Wagner, illustrated by Albert Morales

• Marie Discovers Her Superpowers by Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, illustrated by Penny Weber

First-Time Author

• Journey to the Name Maker by Maxine Johone-Smith, illustrated Joanna Scott

• How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

• Cool Hat Trick Kilpatrick by Traci Strahlendorf 

• Fin-A-Lee Pea Not a Princess by the Sea by Michele Marra, illustrated by Michele Marra

• A Dive into the Deep: The Adventurous Readers Series by Tessa Pfeifer

• The Last First Tooth by Kat Hyde, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

• The Dancing Darlings by Angela Kyparissis      

• The Green-eyed Monster in a Maltese Suit by Mark Tiffany, illustrated by Mark Brayer

• Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book by Pey Carter and Abigail Bailey, illustrated by Katarina Stevanovic

• Good Boy Lukey & the Dream Crumbs by Linda Beck  

• My Rainbow and Me! by Marissa Marston      

• Verna Vizsla by Sherry W. Royer         

• How Happy Is a Lark? by Gail Kuhnlein, illustrated by Jenny Kalejs

• Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times by Pam Gittleman

Green Living/Environmental Issues

• And The Trees Talked Back by Frederick J. Burns

• Livy Little Honey Bee by Celia Straus, illustrated by Mira Hirabayashi

• Flora The Fish And The Plastic Plight by Teya Knightingale, illustrated by Teya Knightingale

• My Good Friend, Ted! in Ted’s Tale of the Tangled-Up Whale by Robyn Gram-Barclay

• The Grateful Grizzlies by La Verne Fox and Tavell Fox

• The Tales of Scuba Steve: Isfjell Point by Steven Kamlet, illustrated by Shannon Marsolais

• Nature Ninja Saves the Natural World by Tania Moloney, illustrated by Jelena Sardi

Health and Wellness

• How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD by Ella Kim, illustrated by Andi Andriansyah

• Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher by Mindy Hudon, illustrated by Barbara Szepesi Szucs

• The Day Bert Smiled by Christine Maier, illustrated by Aviva Brueckner

• Looking for Happiness by Michelle Choi          

• Dance On The Moon by Floree Williams Whyte, illustrated by Sandamali Kamalchandra

• Kip’s Funny Little Feet by Taylor Hindermann, illustrated by Lezanne Bianchina

• Where My Imaginations Come to Life by Younwoo Cho

• So, Long Paci! by Paola Perrone, illustrated by Lisa Ciccone

• Landmarks On The Move by Dr K.P. George, illustrated by Laura Mocellin

• You Can Do It, Tex by Maria Luisa Salcines and Maelia Salcines, illustrated by Maria Ballarin

• A Sofia Special by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Vivian Mineker

Illustrations/Photography/Artwork 

• Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project by Ellie Smith, illustrated by Eyen Johnson

• The Girl and the Lock on Her Heart by Lauren Lee       

• Emerge: The Art of Heather Maerten by Heather Maerten     

• And So They Say by Lauren Kim          

• Oscar and Otto by Betty Cetas and Amanda Hanson, illustrated by Ugur Kose

• Looking for Happiness by Michelle Choi

• The Last First Tooth by Kat Hyde, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

• Turning Pennies Into Dimes (Doc the Wolf) by Kevin Chu        

• The Bouncing Ant by Sally Sunflower, illustrated by Stephen Stone

• How Happy Is a Lark? by Gail Kuhnlein, illustrated by Jenny Kalejs

• Oscar and the Awful, Horrible Smell by Betty Cetas and Amanda Hanson, illustrated by Ugur Kose

• Sword Heiress (Violet Moon Series Book 3) by Alisa Hope Wagner, illustrated by Albert Morales

• Bentley’s Purpose by Sandra Harry, illustrated by Nikki Boetger

• Bentley’s Treasure by Sandra Harry, illustrated by Nikki Boetger

• Toby’s Big Adventure by Bonnie Schreiner      

• Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea by Miki Taylor, illustrated by Eunhye Shin

• Mr Mouthful and the Monkeynappers by Joseph Kimble, illustrated by Kerry Bell

• Super Doople by K.A. Cummins           

• When Fred the Snake and Friends explore USA-West by Peter Cotton, illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire

• A Sofia Special by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Vivian Mineker

• Naptime with Imani and The Fox by Lena Bee, illustrated by Jesse Navarette

• The Tales of Scuba Steve: Isfjell Point by Steven Kamlet, illustrated by Shannon Marsolais

Making a Difference

• Tex the Explorer and The Jared Box Project by Ellie Smith, illustrated by Eyen Johnson

• Wimps of the Wild Book 1: Gator Getters by Brooke C Thomas, illustrated by John Ramsey

• Purrrfect As I Am by Lisa Jacovsky       

• Cat Care Heroes by Julie Hundman, illustrated by Elizabeth Wright

• The Day Bert Smiled by Christine Maier, illustrated by Aviva Brueckner

• Let Your Light So Shine by Toluwalola Kasali, illustrated by Kateryna Hubaidulina

• My Good Friend, Ted! in Ted’s Tale of the Tangled-Up Whale by Robyn Gram-Barclay

• Firewood and Christmas Potatoes by Robin Carole, illustrated by Sally Fantasia

• Can Dribbles Read???? by Peggy Coward and Troy Watts

• The Hummingbird & The Narwhal by Annie Higbee    

• Luke the Rescue Pup by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova

• Nel & the Fling by Julie Le Cornu

• The Lady of Rara-Jou by Julie Le Cornu

• The Empathetic Elephant by Jennifer Randazzo, illustrated by Lauren Sparks

• And So They Say by Lauren Kim

• Blue is the Only Color in the Rainbow by Deanna Hart, Illustrated by Chrish Vindhy

• What I See is Love by Gabriella Fiorletta, illustrated by Nyrryl Cadiz

School Life

• Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher by Mindy Hudon, illustrated by Barbara Szepesi Szucs

• A Galon of Water by Aiden Lee

• Mirror, Mirror by Barbara Freeman, illustrated by Ruth Araceli Rodriguez

• The Kittens and The Possum by Finley Keller

• My Rainbow and Me! by Marissa Marston      

• Maddie’s Scary Exam: Conquer Stress Before the Test by Tosh Cole, illustrated by Cameron Wilson

• Sam Says: You Are Born To Shine by Sam Hirschmann, illustrated by Amelina Jomes

• Cool Hat Trick Kilpatrick by Traci Strahlendorf 

• Question Question Questions by Troy Watts and Simone Vincent, illustrated by Priya Balasubramanian

• Marie Discovers Her Superpowers by Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, illustrated by Penny Weber

• The Farting Machine by Katherine Spencer, illustrated by Bettina Brasko

• A Sofia Special by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Vivian Mineker

• Naptime with Imani and The Fox by Lena Bee, illustrated by Jesse Navarette

• Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book by Pey Carter and Abigail Bailey, illustrated by Katarina Stevanovic

• The Groobs by Julie Le Cornu

• Becoming Bully Proof by Rich Grogan

• The Boy and the Butterfly by Julie Cornu

Special Needs/Disability Awareness

•  Adventure with Moose by Renée Tessier & Samantha Clusiau-Lawlor

Spirituality/Religion

• Sweet Dreams, Boone by Susan Grant, illustrated by Kelly Artieri

• Five Days in June 1984 by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova

• What is Mool Mantra? by Simarjeet Sandhu, illustrated by Anastasiia Sokolova