The Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Middle Grade Fiction. The Gertrude Warner Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

The Gertrude Warner Book Awards competition is named for Gertrude Chandler Warner, the wonderful author of The Boxcar Children.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Contemporary Middle Grade, SFF & Paranormal Middle Grade, Mystery Middle Grade, Historical Middle Grade, Adventure Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them. For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards here and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards here.

These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2025 GERTRUDE WARNER Middle Grade entries to the 2025 Gertrude Warner Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Gertrude Warner Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference. 

These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2025 Gertrude Warner Book Awards novel competition for Middle Grade Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!

• Alex Paul – Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals Book 8 the Slave Rebellion
• Almendra Vila – Mission Red Beetle
• Ann Huchingson – The Watchwood Inheritance
• Assaf Becker – Three Quarters of a Bucket of Milk
• Brent Golembiewski – The Boy the Cube and the Elf
• Carolyn Armstrong – Make Way for Monarchs Eco Warriors Book 3
• Daniel Wolfman – The Forest Cat and the Fire Monster
• Debbie Noble Black – The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon
• Diana Davis – Liv Forever Never Say Zombie
• Diana Schaffter – Armando and the Amazing Animal Race
• Donna Galanti – Loon Cove Summer
• Dorothea N Buckingham – Forgotten Oath
• Eli Kern – Brother of Chaos
• Eliza Kelley and Debra Whiting Alexander – Eliza Jane Finds Her Dog Squad
• Faisal Mirza – Porsche the Frog Adventures Porsche Goes Hiking
• Gary Gabel – The Constitution Kids
• Hans Ness – Rolo on the Planet of the Cats
• J.F. Mccarney – A Not So Misfit Odyssey
• Jason Colpitts – Miss Adventures Misadventures
• Jeffrey Hope – Real Spies Don’t Use Rowboats
• Joseph J. Ridgway – Ava’s Dream
• Julie A. Swanson – North of Tomboy
• Kira Bruner – Nora and the Nightmare King
• Lawrey Goodrick – Half-Life the AA Battery Adventure
• Lee Y. Miao – Take a Shot Kipp
• Lynne Howard – Dylan Dover Orion’s Quest
• N. Degen – Ray Taylor and the Torn and Tattered Treasure Map
• Nancy F. Goodfellow – Special
• Nina Wachsman – Battery Boy
• P. Lynn Halliday – Disaster Around the Bend
• Paul Cicchini – The Central Park Irregulars
• Ruth Amanda – Cried the Raven
• Silvia Acevedo – Mail-Order Monsters Crash Course
• Steven Joseph – Snoodles in Space Escape From Zoodletraz
• Sue C. Dugan – Morse Code
• Tim Chapman – Outcasts
• Tim Chapman – The Song of the Bees
• Trevor Pacelli – Summer of the Fruit Virus
• V.N. Mcirvin – The Story of Small Things

Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS! 

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Congratulations once more to the 2024 Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner

Back to Bainbridge

By Norah Lally

Click here to see the full list of 2024 Gertrude Warner Book Award Winners for Middle Grade Fiction.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2026 OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 17 – 19, 2026! Save the Date for Registration!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887)  has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our annual conference  and discover why!