Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: denise-ditto

The 2024 Little Peeps Book Awards Hall of Fame for Children’s Books and Early Readers!

Need a book for your Little Peep?

***The CIBAs wants your Children’s Literature Today!***

You have until September 30th to share your children’s story and enter the 2o24 CIBAs

Enter Here

The Little Peeps Book Awards features the best of the books that we read to our children and the young people who matter so much in our lives! Love of literature starts right away, and we’re proud to support these books for kids!

Let’s Take a look at the Grand Prize Winners for the Little Peep Awards!

The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans
By Shaziya M Jaffer, Brad Rudover and Jessica Alexanderson (Scrap University)
Illustrated by Adam Trask

The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, by Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover, & Jessica Alexanderson, is perfectly written for children between three and eight years old.

Eye-catching colorful graphics by Adam Trask, fun characters, and a wonderfully lighthearted storyline uphold this book’s message of protecting the environment. Both children and adults will feel empowered to help our planet one can at a time.

An adventurous young girl named Ellie wants to buy a Unicorn. To earn the money she needs, Ellie plans to collect and recycle one million cans. But she soon realizes that her plans may need to take a different track. Together with her community of friends, who show great teamwork and perseverance, environmental lessons continue on with fantastic results.

Read More Here

Ravens Roost
Written & Illustrated by Maggie Bates

Maggie Bates’s Ravens Roost is a Children’s book that explores the illustrated nighttime adventures of a woman with her friend, a small frog.

This story teaches children how to be curious about forest animals, even in the middle of a wind storm. Bates is new to writing Children’s books, and cares deeply for the natural world. Her rapport with animals likely inspired her debut tale.

Ravens Roost begins with a frog sitting on a roof, wondering where ravens go at night. The woman who lives in the house decides to help the frog follow his curiosity on an adventure. First, she climbs up a tree to watch ravens soar overhead. She admires the moon and notices the birds perching in her favorite tree. She climbs down and starts her trek along a forest path as night falls and the wind picks up. The woman tucks her frog friend into her pocket for safety. Along their journey, the frog and the woman share a special friendship.

Read More Here

Victoria and The Big, Brave Breath
By Andrea Vaughan
Illustrated by Ryan Feltman

Andrea Vaughan’s Victoria and the Big Brave Breath is a beautifully illustrated children’s book, written to ease conversations about anxiety and worry with a child.

This story teaches children how to calm their nerves by focusing on their breath, using a clever onomatopoeia to help. Vaughn’s book is a timely must-read!

Victoria and the Big, Brave Breath starts with a little girl named Victoria recognizing that she is often worried. She lists examples (trying new foods, going to the doctor, playing in the park) of her anxieties. Physically-speaking, Victoria’s hands sweat, her knees shake and her tummy hurts when her feelings appear. Her teddy bear best friend Baxter has a suggestion for her to ease these unfamiliar (and uncomfortable) feelings.

Read More Here

Great as a Button
By Masoud Malekyari
Illustrated by Sebastiao Peixoto

Masoud Malekyari’s Great As a Button is a delightful children’s book that places a soulful little plastic adornment at center stage in a thought-provoking story that offers up a positive lesson about self-worth.

This tale unfolds from a first person POV as a lonely, black plastic button falls off a shirt. The button ruminates over its plight of feeling too plain to be noticed, and wishes perhaps to be a sock, a key, or a pair of glasses, i.e., a more important item that the button surmises someone would go out of their way to look for.

Read More Here

Galdo’s Gift: The Boovie
By Trevor Young and Eleanor Long

In Galdo’s Gift: The Boovie, Eleanor Long & Trevor Young create an interactive animated story that helps children learn about their unique gifts through an imaginative tale and diverse vocabulary.

The first page opens with a poem sharing a personalized gift with the reader. Then, we meet the frog King, and his kingdom Galdovia. His land is “where the wild wind whistles while the songbird sings” and he narrates the story, voiced by Brian Murphy.

The townsfolk of Galdovia move on the page in textured illustrations. They need a hero to undertake an important adventure, with the promise of a gift from the King to whoever completes this quest. Enter four great heroes who start their journeys in the hope of earning the King’s reward.

Read More Here

The Tooth Collector Fairies: Home From Decay Valley Book 2
By Denise Ditto
Illustrated by Gabhor Utomo

The need for good dental care and its effect on the tooth fairies working behind the scenes is colorfully highlighted in this action-packed book for children of all ages.

Author Denise Ditto has created a delightful fantasy realm where fairies — like the prankster Jolene, the dedicated Batina, and proud, fast-flying Lucas — learn to collect and process teeth left for them by children everywhere. Jolene has finally gotten her Tooth Collector credentials and can join friends in their assignments. The story follows Batina into the messy room of a boy named Scooter, whose tooth shows signs of deplorable brushing habits. When she brings the tooth back to Brushelot for inspection, she fears the worst.

Read More Here

Now that you’re set on your next reads, what are you waiting for? The only way to join this amazing list of Hearten Winners is to submit today!

Those who submit and advance will have the chance to win the Overall Grand Prize of the CIBAs and $1000!

Are you a Chanticleer Author who has some good news to share? Let us know! We’re always looking for a reason to crow about Chanticleerians! Reach out with your news to info@ChantiReviews.com

September 29, 2024
Back to School with the Little Peeps Awards that Recognize the Best Early Readers and Picture Books – Chanticleer Hall of Fame!

Start your Early Readers out right with the Winners of the Chanticleer Little Peeps Awards—a Diverse and Imaginative Collection!

Back-to-school books are easier than ever for those who are just learning to read as we can look at the marvelous First Place and Grand Prize Winners of The Little Peeps Awards!

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience for Early Readers with the Little Peeps. Story books, Beginning Chapter Books, Picture Books, Activity Books, and Educational Books. These books have advanced to the Long List for the 2021 CIBAs. (For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards, for Middle Grade Readers see our Gertrude Warner Awards.)

The Following our the Little Peeps Grand Prize Winners over the past 5 years!

Victoria and the Big, Brave Breath

by Andrea Vaughan

Andrea Vaughan’s Victoria and the Big Brave Breath is a beautifully illustrated children’s book, written to ease conversations about anxiety and worry with a child.

This story teaches children how to calm their nerves by focusing on their breath, using a clever onomatopoeia to help. Vaughn’s book is a timely must-read!

Victoria and the Big, Brave Breath starts with a little girl named Victoria recognizing that she is often worried. She lists examples (trying new foods, going to the doctor, playing in the park) of her anxieties. Physically-speaking, Victoria’s hands sweat, her knees shake and her tummy hurts when her feelings appear. Her teddy bear best friend Baxter has a suggestion for her to ease these unfamiliar (and uncomfortable) feelings.

See the full list of 2021 Winners here.

Great As A Button

By Masoud Malekyari

Masoud Malekyari’s Great As a Button is a delightful children’s book that places a soulful little plastic adornment at center stage in a thought-provoking story that offers up a positive lesson about self-worth.

This tale unfolds from a first person POV as a lonely, black plastic button that falls off a shirt. The button ruminates over its plight of feeling too plain to be noticed, and wishes perhaps to be a sock, a key, or a pair of glasses, i.e., a more important item that the button surmises someone would go out of their way to look for.

Amidst encounters with an inquisitive dog and some playful ants, the button has longings to reside in a big castle while adorning a king’s coat, or to sail across the ocean while attached to a boat captain’s slicker. Fate suggests that the button might be in trouble if snatched up by birds; lucky if used by a seamstress; or forlorn when not chosen like the more ornate accessories in a tailor’s shop. When given to a young boy, surprising opportunities send the button in an unexpected direction where ultimately, he discovers newfound importance on a sunny winter’s day.

See the Full List of 2020 Winners here!

Galdo’s Gift: The Boovie

By Trevor Young & Eleanor Long

In Galdo’s Gift: The Boovie, Eleanor Long & Trevor Young create an interactive animated story that helps children learn about their unique gifts through an imaginative tale and diverse vocabulary.

The first page opens with a poem sharing a personalized gift with the reader. Then, we meet the frog King, and his kingdom Galdovia. His land is “where the wild wind whistles while the songbird sings” and he narrates the story, voiced by Brian Murphy.

The townsfolk of Galdovia move on the page in textured illustrations. They need a hero to undertake an important adventure, with the promise of a gift from the King to whoever completes this quest. Enter four great heroes who start their journeys in the hope of earning the King’s reward.

Tapocketa is pleased and excited to be supported by Creative Enterprise 2022. This support will enable us to explore and build knowledge in the possibilities for our work in combining AR, animation and print media. Visit their site for more information on the interactive journey that is Galdo’s Gift. www.tapocketa.com

See the Full List of 2019 Winners here!

The Tooth Collector Fairies: Home from Decay Valley

By Denise Ditto

The need for good dental care and its effect on the tooth fairies working behind the scenes is colorfully highlighted in this action-packed book for children of all ages.

Author Denise Ditto has created a delightful fantasy realm where fairies — like the prankster Jolene, the dedicated Batina, and proud, fast-flying Lucas — learn to collect and process teeth left for them by children everywhere. Jolene has finally gotten her Tooth Collector credentials and can join friends in their assignments. The story follows Batina into the messy room of a boy named Scooter, whose tooth shows signs of deplorable brushing habits. When she brings the tooth back to Brushelot for inspection, she fears the worst.

Sure enough, Batina is banished to Decay Valley until Scooter learns how to treat his teeth better, based on a letter she will leave for him encouraging better habits. Meanwhile, Jolene, who tried to help Batina by painting the ugly tooth white, is in big trouble with Crown Mistress Molar. Lucas, the fastest flyer, delivers Batina’s note to Scooter. But who will collect Scooter’s next tooth and rescue Batina from Decay Valley?

https://www.toothcollectorfairies.com/ Denise Ditto, a native Texan, is a freelance writer who loves writing for children. She started working on The Tooth Collector Fairies series in 2012. She also enjoys writing about a variety of other topics, often focusing on recollections from her childhood and growing up in Houston. Her short story The Art of Ironing was published in OMG, That Woman!, a woman’s fiction anthology released in April 2013. Her short story City of Angels was published in Tales of Texas Short Stories Volume 2 – 2019.

Denise recently retired her position of Exe Director at Houston Writers House to concentrate on her writing. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and is the American Business Women’s Association – Woven since 2012.

See the Full List of 2018 Winners Here!

Lessons from a Cat: The Moon and Star; Midnight and Moonlight

By Peggy Sullivan, M. Ed.

In Peggy Sullivan’s award-winning book, The Moon and Star: Lessons From a Cat, readers learn how a charming, tiny white cat finds solace in her connection with the Moon as she goes through life’s challenges and changes.

Star lives happily with a tall girl and two other cats. She runs, dances, and hunts for goldfish in a backyard pond. But this mindful cat soon realizes that life is full of unpredictable circumstances. Though she moves to a college town and has new and fun experiences, Star feels sad when she loses a feline friend, even more so when the tall girl goes off on her adventures.

Luckily Star is a cat with an attraction to the Moon. Its magical glow helps the little cat gain a sense of calm. The peacefulness Star feels stays with her, regardless of changes in her life or surroundings. Though Star and the tall girl move many more times, this sensitive cat realizes the light of the Moon offers a unique sense of serenity wherever her journey takes her.

Peggy Sullivan is a licensed mental health counselor (retired), relationship and children’s expert, mother, and lover of cats. She retired from Okanogan County Juvenile Department after serving as the staff guardian ad litem, court services manager and CASA program director. She recently retired from her private mental health counseling practice in Bellingham, Washington. She makes her home in a cozy cottage amidst old growth cedar trees with her two Russian Blue cat sisters.

See the Full List of 2017 Winners Here!

Again, a huge congratulations to Andrea Vaughan, the most recent Little Peeps Grand Prize Winner. We are honored to continue to promote and celebrate the winning books of the CIBAs.

Have a Heartwarming story that kids need to read? The Little Peeps Awards closes at the end of September! Submit today!

Chanticleerians in the News? We love celebrating our Chanticleer Authors! Anytime you have something to crow about, email us at info@ChantiReviews.com to let us know!

2021 Overall Grand Prize Winner’s Book now being performed as a play in California

Nellie Bly Award First Place and Grand Prize Winner featured across the nation

Laramie Grand Prize Winner spotlighted by the Mark Twain House Museum

Grand Prize Winner for the Shorts Collections Awarded Artistic Grant in New York

From Little Peeps and beyond, we’re proud to have you as part of our community!

September 16, 2022
At the Writing Desk with the Little Peeps Grand Prize for Children’s Books award winning author Denise Ditto
Inspiration and Going Back to the Drawing Board – the making of The Tooth Collector Series

a Little Peeps Book Awards Spotlight blog post featuring Denise Ditto and The Tooth Collector Series

Do Early Reader Books and Picture Books Require Narrative Arcs?

The original story about Batina was intended to be a picture book. It had 1078 words – words that I loved. It was tentatively titled, The Real Tooth Fairy Story – What Happens to all those Teeth? In this version, Batina did not have any unusual characteristics nor did she have any fairy friends. The whole story centered on what happens to well-brushed teeth. It introduced the concept that a well-brushed tooth makes fairy dust, the very dust that enables tooth fairies to fly. Each fairy delivered a tooth to Mr. Gizmo for inspection. All the teeth declared well-brushed were transferred to the manufacturing department. They were placed into the Super-Duper Magic Dust-Making Machine where they underwent a magical transformation that produced canisters of rainbow-colored fairy dust – one tooth, one canister, for each fairy. That was it.

When I presented this story for a professional review, I learned that if I intended the story to be a picture book it would need to be cut in half because 1078 words were too many. Ideally, a picture book should have around 500 words – give or take a few hundred. The idea of cutting the story in half was more than I could handle. Fortunately, there was a second option. I was encouraged to increase the word count, add a narrative arc and make it a chapter book. That was great advice – advice I decided to take.

Batina’s Best First Day now has nine chapters, over 4000 words, and includes a narrative arc. Below is the structure used to transform the original work into a chapter book.

Denise Ditto’s Story Plot Diagram The Tooth Collector Series

Timeless method for making the characters in your children’s book unique and interesting

In the original short version of Batina’s Best First Day, discussed in an earlier blog post, Batina did not have any unusual characteristics. When redeveloping the picture book to a chapter book I felt the need to give Batina a distinctive appearance – a feature that made her stand out from others – a feature to make her more interesting. It was time to ponder ideas. Here is what I came up with.

There are many children’s books and movies with characters that are unique in their own way. For example, look at Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. You got a double dose of character uniqueness in this story. Rudolph and his red nose. Everyone knows that the other reindeer teased him and called him names. And what about Hermey, the Elf. He wanted to be a dentist, for goodness sake. I guess it would be easy to conclude that this is where I got my inspiration considering my book has a dental element to it, as well, but I didn’t.

I was inspired by the story Dumbo. I’ll tell you why.

First and foremost, as a child I loved Dumbo. But there’s more to it than that. Dumbo had large ears and people made fun of him. With the help of his friend, Timothy the mouse, Dumbo learned how to use his ears as wings and he learned to fly. WHAT? Yes, an elephant learned to fly. What an accomplishment! Dumbo overcame his perceived defect and turned it into an asset.

What an inspiration it would be to read about a little tooth fairy with oversized wings whose primary job was to fly. Consider how difficult would it be for her to navigate in the air with oversized wings. Consider how scary it would be to learn that she had the fear of being caught in a rogue gust of wind that could stand in the way of her completing her mission. How awesome it would be to learn that she was not deterred. My little Batina became a motivated fairy determined to do a good job no matter the obstacles. Like Dumbo, Batina overcame a perceived defect and turned it into an asset.

Here’s the nugget – Embrace your differences because that’s what makes you, YOU! And no matter your differences, you can achieve your goals.

PS – Dumbo was released on October 23, 1941. Many years later, I was born on that day, too. Another reason Dumbo was my inspiration. That’s the truth.

Camelot and Tooth Fairies?

The name of the place where your children’s story will take place should spark the imagination!

Brushelot is the name given to the magical land where Tooth Collector Fairies live.

You might think a name for a tooth fairy’s magical land would come easy but it didn’t. Originally, the name was to be Panteen – a little play on Peter Pan and Preteens. It was a wonderful name and quite clever if you ask me. However, after a handful of people read a draft of the story and said, “I thought it was going to have something to do with hair,” I knew I had to make a change. It seemed the name Panteen was too similar to Pantene – the shampoo. Hmmm. Back to the drawing board.

After a long period of grieving the loss of this fabulous name, I found myself back to square one. How about Flossalot? Did you know there is a rapper named Flossalot? Really, there is. Can’t use that one. Brushalot came to mind. After a Google search, I learned that name was already taken, as well.

Camelot

How about simply changing the “a” to an “e” – to Brushelot? Brilliant idea. Now the question was, “Will that work?”

A Google search did not turn up any other usage of this word. Visually, the name reminded me of Camelot so I set out to research Camelot. Could there be a sensible reason to suggest a comparison between the word Camelot and Brushelot? My research revealed several interesting facts. First, Camelot, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is a time, place, or atmosphere of idyllic happiness. So far so good. Second, I found that an Arthurian scholar named Norris J. Lacy wrote, “Camelot, located nowhere in particular, can be anywhere.” BINGO! I thought. This sounds exactly like the place where the tooth fairy’s magical land is located. And it was declared that its name shall be Brushelot!

[Editor’s note: As authors and writers, sometimes we need to go back to the drawing board aka the writing desk to work out the little bits that will make our works stronger. -kb]

Check out Parade Magazine’s article about Denise Ditto by Tamra Bolton and how Denise is “changing the lives of thousands of children while enriching their imaginations.”

Photo courtesy of the Ronald McDonald House near M.D. Anderson Hospital, Texas.

To learn more about Denise Ditto and The Tooth Fairy, please visit her website: https://toothcollectorfairies.com/

The Tooth Collector Fairies series by Denise Ditto has the Little Peeps Book Awards Grand Prize.

Congratulations to these Little Peeps Book Awards Hall of Fame Authors
- The Tooth Collector Fairies by Denise Ditto
- Yoga Fox by Sylva Fae
- Oscar’s Christmas Wish by Veronica Ruth Fischer
- The Universe a Work of Art by Eva Newermann
- Midnight The One-Eyed Cat by Sheree K. Nielsen & Pat Wahler
- Tevye the Magical Theater Cat by Peggy Sullivan
- Lessons from a Cat: The Moon and Star; Midnight and Moonlight by Peggy Sullivan
- A Tall Tale About a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be by Kizzie Jones
- Rainbow Monsters by Sylva Fae
- Angel on Assignment by Wanda Carter Roush
- Wishes and Kisses by Heather Pallotta
- The Blue Beetle by Sara Dahmen
- Rikki & the Rocket Twins Adventure 1: Discovering the Solar System by Kneko Burney
- The Adventures of Frank and Mustard: Stuck in the Mud by Simon Calcavecchia
- The Mouse and the Mole Hill by Donna Washington
The submission deadline for the 2019 Little Peeps Book Awards is September 30, 2019 – midnight (Pacific Standard Time).

To enter or to find out more information about the Little Peeps, please click here: https://www.chantireviews.com/services/Little-Peeps-Fiction-Writing-Contests-Chanticleer-Book-Reviews-p58078150

The 2019 Little Peeps Book Awards winners will be announced on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Chanticleer International Book Awards ceremony and banquet that takes place during the Chanticleer Authors Conference that is held annually in Bellingham, Wash.
September 25, 2019
The Chanticleer International Book Awards Grand Prize and First Place Category Winners 2018 (CIBAs)
We are deeply honored to announce the 2018 Winners of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs). The winners were recognized at the annual Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Banquet Ceremony on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham, Wash.

We want to thank all of the authors and publishers who participated in the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards (the CIBAs). Each year, we find the quality of the entries and the competitiveness of the division competitions increasing exponentially. We added a new level to the judging rounds in 2018—the SemiFinalists. The CIBA judges wanted to add Semi-Finalists as a way to recognize and validate the entries that were not selected for the very few First Place Award positions within each genre division.

PublishDrive, a global distribution platform, and Hindenburg Systems, audiobooks and podcasts software, awarded more than $30,000 (cash value) in additional prizes to the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Award winners. Thank you!

A Recap of the CIBA Selection Process
- There are 16 divisions of the CIBAs: 14 fiction genre divisions and 2 non-fiction divisions.
- First Place Category award winners were selected for each one of the 16 divisions from an overall field of titles that progressed to the Semi-Finalists positions from the Shortlists, the Long List, and the infamous beginning slush pile rounds.
- One Grand Prize award winner was selected from the First Place Category Award Winners for each of the 16 CIBA divisions.
- One Overall Grand Prize award winner was selected from the 16 divisions of Grand Prize Award Winners
All CIBA Semi-Finalists in attendance at the CIBA awards ceremony were recognized with their respective division at the CIBA awards ceremony along with receiving a Semi-Finalist ribbon and digital badge and a significant discount to attend the Chanticleer Authors Conference.

Additional Prize from the DONALD MAASS LITERARY AGENCY

An additional prize was awarded to the 2018 CIBA Grand Prize Award Winners by the Donald Maass Literary Agency (that represents more than 150 novelists and sell more 100 novels each year to leading publishers in the U.S. and overseas). Donald Maass has offered “a high priority submission” process opportunity to the 2018 Grand Prize CIBA winners and a “priority submission” process opportunity to the 2018 CIBA 1st Place Category winning titles for consideration by his agency.

An email will go out to all 2018 CIBA grand prize award winners prior to June 10, 2019 with instructions, links, and more information about the awards packages. We appreciate your patience. As stated in the Semi-Finalist notification email, “One does not need to be present at the CIBA ceremony and banquet to win. But it sure is a lot more fun!”

And now to present the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards Grand winning titles and their authors who were announced on April 27, 2019, at the CIBA ceremony and banquet.

You read testimonials from the 2019 Chanticleer Authors Conference and the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony at  https://www.chantireviews.com/chanticleer-conference/conference-testimonials/

The CYGNUS Book Awards for Science Fiction Grand Prize Winner

The Korpes File by J.I Rogers took home the 2018 CYGNUS Book Awards for Science Fiction Grand Prize Ribbon.

View the 2018 CYGNUS 1st Place Category Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/04/29/cygnus-book-awards-for-science-fiction-novels-the-grand-prize-winner-and-first-place-category-winners-2018-cibas/

The JOURNEY Book Awards for Narrative Non-Fiction

From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream by Janice S. Ellis took home the 2018 JOURNEY Book Awards for Narrative Non-Fiction Grand Prize Ribbon!

View the 2018 JOURNEY First Place Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/04/30/journey-book-awards-for-narrative-non-fiction-the-grand-prize-winner-and-first-place-category-winners-2018-cibas/

The M & M Book Awards for Mystery and Mayhem

A PROMISE GIVEN by Michelle Cox took home the M&M Book Awards for Mystery & Mayhem Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 M&M First Place Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/01/the-mm-book-awards-for-mystery-and-mayhem-grand-prize-division-winner-and-first-place-category-winners-2018-cibas/

The GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers

A manuscript titled The PORTALS of PERIL by Jules Luther took home the Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers

View the 2018 Gertrude Warner First Place Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/04/the-gertrude-warner-book-awards-for-middle-grade-readers-grand-prize-and-first-place-catergory-winners-2018-cibas/

The DANTE ROSSETTI Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction

WHISPERS by Lynn Yvonne Moon took home the Dante Rossetti Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction

View the 2018 Dante Rossetti First Place Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/05/the-dante-rossetti-book-awards-for-young-adult-fiction-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-2018-cibas/

The CHAUCER Book Awards for pre-1750s Historic Fiction

The SERPENT and The EAGLE  by Edward Rickford took home the CHAUCER Book Awards Grand Prize Blue Ribbon

View the 2018 Chaucer First Place Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/05/the-chaucer-book-awards-for-pre-1750s-historical-fiction-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-2018-cibas/

The GOETHE Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Post-1750s Historical Fiction

The Lost Years of Billy Battles by Ronald E. Yates took home the Goethe Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 Goethe First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/07/the-goethe-book-awards-for-post-1750s-for-historical-fiction-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-2018-cibas/

The LARAMIE Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Western Fiction

Blood Moon: A Captive’s Tale by Ruth Hull Chatlien took home the Laramie Grand Prize Ribbon.

View the 2018 Laramie First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/06/the-laramie-book-awards-for-western-fiction-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-2018-cibas/

The CHATELAINE Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Romantic Fiction

The House at Ladywell by Nicola Slade took home the 2018 Chatelaine Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 CHATELAINE First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/07/the-chatelaine-book-awards-for-romantic-fiction-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-2018-cibas/

The LITTLE PEEPS Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Early Readers

The Tooth Collector Fairies: Home from Decay Valley by Denise Ditto took home the Little Peeps Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 LITTLE PEEPS First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/08/the-little-peeps-book-awards-for-early-readers-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-cibas-2018/

The Clue Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Mystery Suspense & Thriller Novels

California Son by Timothy Burgess  took home the Clue Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 CLUE First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/08/the-clue-book-awards-for-mystery-suspense-thriller-novels-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-cibas-2018/

The OZMA Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Fantasy Fiction Novels

Dragon Speaker by Elana A. Mugdan took home the OZMA Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 OZMA First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/09/the-ozma-book-awards-for-fantasy-fiction-novels-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-cibas-2018/

The PARANORMAL Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Supernatural & Paranormal Novels

The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove, a manuscript by Joy Ross Davis took home the Paranormal Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 PARANORMAL First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/09/the-paranormal-book-awards-for-supernatural-paranormal-novels-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-cibas-2018/

The Global Thriller Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Lab Lit & High Stakes Thriller Novels

The Moving Blade by Michael Pronko
took home the Global Thrillers Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 Global Thriller First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/09/the-global-thriller-book-awards-for-lab-lit-high-stakes-thriller-novels-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-cibas-2018/

The SOMERSET Book Awards for Contemporary, Literary, Satire Novels

Hard Cider – a novel by Barbara A. Stark-Nemon
took home the Somerset Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 SOMERSET First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/10/the-somerset-book-awards-for-contemporary-literary-satire-novels-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-cibas-2018/

The Instruction & Insight Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Non-Fiction, Non-Narrative

Explore Europe on Foot by Cassandra Overby took home the Instruction & Insight Grand Prize Ribbon

View the 2018 I & I First Place Category Award Winners at https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/05/10/the-instruction-insight-book-awards-for-non-fiction-non-narrative-grand-prize-and-first-place-category-winners-cibas-2018/

CONGRATULATIONS to Ronald E. YATES for The LOST YEARS of BILLY BATTLES (Book 3 of the Finding Billy Battles Trilogy) taking home the CHANTICLEER OVERALL Grand Prize for BEST BOOK in the 2018 CIBAS

“…the reader experiences that all too rare sense of complete transport to another world, one fully realized in these pages because the storytelling is so skillful and thoroughly captivating.”

The photo below is of Ronald E. Yates with his GOETHE Grand Prize Ribbon and his Chanticleer Overall Best Book Ribbon

“Reading a Book is Like Life: You Live it One Page at a Time.” (Ron Yates) Ron is a former foreign correspondent and Professor Emeritus of Journalism, Dean of the College of Media and is an award-winning historical novelist. Read more about this Pulitzer nominated journalist and Chanticleerian by clicking on this link.

Twelve of the Sixteen Grand Prize Division Winners were present to receive their ribbons on stage at the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards Ceremony.

We will post more photographs and information. Do check back and subscribe to the Chanticleer Reviews e-news letter.

We have exciting news for the Chanticleer Community on the horizon so do stay tuned!

You know you want a coveted Chanticleer Reviews Blue Ribbon!

Submit your works (manuscripts or novels published after or on January 1, 2017, are accepted) to the prestigious Chanticleer International Book Awards today! Entries are being accepted into the 2019 CIBAs in all 16 divisions.

Be sure to register early for the 2020 Chanticleer Authors Conference that will take place on April 16, 17, 18, & 19, 2020 with the 2019 CIBA banquet and ceremony scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 18th, 2020 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash.

An email will go out to all 2018 CIBA award winners prior to June 10, 2019, with instructions, links, and more information about the awards packages. We appreciate your patience. As stated in the Semi-Finalist notification email, “One does not need to be present at the CIBA ceremony and banquet to win. But it sure is a lot more fun!”

As always, please contact us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions!

We have begun planning for the 2020 Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 16, 17, & 18, 2020) and the 2019 CIBA Banquet and Ceremony that will take place on April 17, 2020, at the Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham, Wash.
May 12, 2019
The GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers – Grand Prize and First Place Catergory Winners – 2018 CIBAs
We are excited and honored to officially announce the Grand Prize Winner and the First Place Category Winners for the 2018 Gertrude Warner Book Awards at the annual Chanticleer Authors Conference and the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards ceremony. This year’s ceremony and banquet were held on Saturday, April 27th, 2019 at the Hotel Bellwether by beautiful Bellingham Bay, Wash.

We want to thank all of those who entered and participated in the 2018 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers, a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards.

Denise Ditto Satterfield, the author of the Bettina’s Best First Day, The Tooth Collector Fairies, Grand Prize Winner of the Little Peeps Book Awards for Early Readers (CIBA), announced the First Place Award Winners at the Chanticleer International Book Awards Banquet and Ceremony.

PublishDrive and Hindenburg Systems awarded additional prizes to the 2018 Gertrude Warner Book Award winners. Thank you!

2018 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers First in Category Winners
- Keelic and the Pathfinders of Midgarth by Alexander Edlund
- Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend by Cheryl Carpinello
- The Portals of Peril by Jules Luther
- From the Shadows by KB Shaw
- Tallulah’s Flying Adventure by Gloria Two-Feathers
- Vampire Boy by Aric Cushing
- The Adventures of Rug Bug by Kay M. Bates
Congratulations to the First Place Category Winners of the 2018 Gertrude Warner Book Awards!

And now for the Gertrude Warner Book Awards GRAND PRIZE WINNER for Middle-Grade Readers

Manuscript

The PORTALS of PERIL by Jules Luther took home the Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers

An email will go out to all First Place Category Winners and Grand Prize Winners with more information, the timing of awarded reviews, links to digital badges, and more before May 31st, 2019 (approximately four weeks after the awards ceremony). Please look for it in your email inbox.

When we receive the digital photographs from the Official CAC19 professional photographer, Dwayne Rogge of Photo Treehouse, we will post the Gertrude Warner award winners on this page.

Click here for the link to the 2018 Gertrude Warner Semi-Finalists.

This post will be updated with photos and more information. Please do visit it again!

The deadline for submissions into the 2019 Gertrude Warner Book Awards May 31, 2019 Midnight (PST).

Our next Chanticleer International Book Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 18th, 2020, for the 2019 CIBA winners. Enter your book or manuscript in a contest today!

As always, please contact me directly at KBrown@ChantiReviews.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions.
May 4, 2019
The TOOTH COLLECTOR FAIRIES: Batina’s Best First Day by Denise Ditto – Children’s Literature, Early Reader Chapter Book, Fantasy & Magic

In Denise Ditto’s The Tooth Collector Fairies: Batina’s Best First Day, Batina wants one thing, to be the best Tooth Collector in all of Brushelot. Batina is a Tooth Fairy, and she can’t wait to get her first collecting assignment. Unfortunately, her first day doesn’t go quite as she planned. With her huge wings (three times the size of most of the fairies), she’s clumsy and a little awkward, but Batina has a job to do, collecting well-brushed teeth which can be turned magically into the rainbow dust that gives all of the fairies the ability to fly.

Despite the sneers of Jolene, an unhappy fairy who isn’t allowed to gather the precious teeth, Batina and her friends, Lulu and Lainey, can’t wait to begin their tasks, and each of them hopes to win the Best First Day ribbon awarded by Crown Mistress Molar. However, gathering the teeth from under the pillows of sleeping children is only the first step. When Batina returns with her prized first tooth, she must find a way to help the Tooth Inspector with a sabotaged conveyor belt and to fix the Super-Duper Magic Dust-Making Machine, or her first day might be ruined.

Batina’s story is one of determination and teamwork. Again and again, she must overcome her problems and celebrate her differences. Those huge wings often get in her way, but she remains undaunted. Instead, she finds a way to make the wings work in her favor. She also values the role of her friends and calls on them to help her solve the day’s problems. She recognizes the importance of their individual talents and even finds a way to help Jolene the bully, stop being a bully, and be her friend. The positive message of working together and embracing diversity makes this early-level chapter book, illustrated by Gabhor Utomo, shine.

Young and not-so-young readers alike will be happy to learn that Batina’s Best First Day is the first in the Tooth Collector Fairies series. There is more adventure waiting for all!

Author Denise Ditto not only loves writing children’s books, but she is also the Executive Director at Houston Writers House, a position she shares with her business partner Rebecca Nolen, and is the former Director of the Houston Writers Guild. A graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown, she has also published an award-winning short story. She lives in Texas, her home state, with her husband.

The Tooth Collector Fairies: Batina’s Best First Day won Grand Prize in CIBAs 2016 LITTLE PEEPS Awards for Children’s Literature. Follow this link to the Chanticleer Review of the second book in the series, Home from Decay Valley.

November 27, 2017