A gentle and thoughtful picture book, Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings by Talar Herculian Coursey and her son Riley Herculian Coursey, illustrated by Meri Andreasyan, helps young children understand and manage their emotions.
Ralphy the cheerful school bus-driving dog takes along Jackson Johnson, a wise and compassionate “Furrapist” (furry therapist) for the first day of school. As children board, Jackson gently encourages them to name their feelings and reminds them that all emotions are welcome.
Jackson introduces a creative way for the children to embrace their feelings as normal while taking some control over how they start their year.
Some of the kids are scared, some sad, some tired, and others nervous or embarrassed—only one of them hops onto the bus excited. Instead of telling the children to push aside their negative emotions, Jackson tells them it’s okay to feel that way and that they can sit their feelings down next to them. Once they get to school, they can choose to take the feeling with them or leave it on the seat.
Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings teaches children how to recognize their own emotions and the thoughts behind them.
One of the kids feels sad because she misses her mom, but through Jackson’s gentle guidance shifts her focus to the fun she’ll have jumping rope with her friends at school.
The idea that you can feel your feelings but don’t have to be controlled by them is both powerful and comforting to children in a world that often tells them to simply behave or stop crying.
Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings nails this concept, reassuring kids that it’s okay to first acknowledge their emotions, then study them, and finally decide on how they want to change them. In capturing this insightful message, the book proves to be more than just a story but a practical tool for emotional regulation.
Meri Andreasyan’s, gentle yet vivid illustrations render Jackson’s lessons both playful and soothing.
The characters’ facial expressions capture their feelings without needing lots of extra words, making this book especially welcoming to young children.
Parents, teachers, and counselors can use Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings as a springboard for conversations about difficult emotions, particularly with children who are starting school, navigating change, or dealing with anxiety.
Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings by Talar Herculian Coursey and Riley Herculian Coursey guides kids through its memorable strategies with age-appropriate language and a kind, encouraging tone.
An essential read in every home, classroom, and library, Ralphy’s tale will also help adults talk to children in a more thoughtful way. This friendly and concise lesson in an essential life skill comes highly recommended for ages 3–8 and any adult who wants to teach emotional intelligence in a clear and joyful way.
Lily’s Mysterious Odyssey by Anne Lacourrege, illustrated by Joshua Wichterich, follows a young girl named Lily through her dreaming nautical adventure.
Homes hold onto the history of their families. With only herself to play with in her family’s old house, Lily comes across a hidden chest of antique keepsakes, unaffected by generations of storms and floods across the New Orleans coastal area. Lily and her parents soon find even more items hidden away that paint the history of 1800s sailor Captain Harry and his family.
That night, Lily dreams of Captain Harry’s daughter, Anne, who invites Lily to see her father’s ship. Lily’s mysterious odyssey truly begins as the ship sets sail with Lily still on board. She soon finds herself on an journey to Greece, where she learns about Greek culture and its similarities to her home when a Mediterranean cyclone hits.
Joshua Wichterich’s watercolor illustrations, especially the beautiful landscapes of Greece, add an enchanting and lively feel to the story.
His artistic style has a nostalgic quality to it that will appeal to older siblings and parents of young readers as well as the young readers too.
Anne Lacourrege’s literary voyage encourages readers both to dive into the history of their own surroundings and learn about other cultures.
Embracing the differences and similarities between ourselves and others builds compassion and is an important lesson for children. Readers will grow curious about what life was like a few hundred years ago, and what it’s like in other parts of the world.
Anne Lacourrege ends Lily’s Mysterious Odyssey, “One never knows what stories lie in the heart of old homes if the wall could actually talk,” leaving readers with an invitation to seek out the stories that are all around us.
When your mission is to Discover Today’s Best Books, you come across good news regarding authors!
Five Chanticleer International Book Award winners are headed to the LA Kids Book Festival, showcasing the caliber of children’s literature our awards recognize.
LA Children’s Book Fest is coming up!
Find Chanticleer Award winning authors Norah Lally, Ruth Amanda, M.C. Dingman, Julie Lomax, and our 2024 Overall Grand Prize Winner Reenita Malhotra Hora!
LA’s first and largest event celebrating early education, bilingualism, and multiculturalism will feature an impressive lineup of Chanticleer talent.
Norah Lally, Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner for middle grade fiction, will be representing #1 Amazon bestselling novel Back to Bainbridge about fourteen-year-old Vicki navigating life on Bainbridge Avenue as she searches for her place in the world while discovering that her imperfect family and friends might just be the treasures she’s been looking for all along.
M.C. Dingman, First Place Gertrude Warner Winner, Samantha Smee: A Pirate’s Life, tells the story of Mr. Smee’s daughter who grows up disguised on Captain Hook’s pirate ship, embarking on hilarious adventures that celebrate inclusivity and girl power as she discovers her true self in Neverland.
Julie Lomax, First Place Little Peeps Winner, will showcase Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson from The JuJu Series. When little cow Melissa Moo Moo overhears other cows gossiping about her lack of milk, she learns an important lesson about self-confidence and being herself after a magical encounter with some fallen berries.
Reenita Malhotra Hora, our 2024 Overall Grand Prize Winner for the incredible literary romance Vermilion Harvest, will be there with the much different tale of Sundri and Mundri’s Lohri Adventure. When Badi Ma wraps the sisters in her magical Lohri shawl, they’re whisked away to a bustling village from the past where they invent gadgets, dodge a grumpy king, and call on the famous bandit hero Dulla Bhatti for help—all while celebrating the joyous festival of Lohri.
While Ruth Amanda won’t be attending the festival herself, her award-winning books Geckos in the Garden and Little Peeps Grand Prize Winner Island Moon will be represented. Geckos in the Garden takes young readers on a delightful counting adventure through hidden geckos in a garden, while Island Moon captures the magical tranquility of nighttime on the island of Barbados, following a narrator who witnesses fairies dancing in the moonlight and a sea turtle coming ashore to lay eggs.
We are honored to have so many Award-Winning Authors and Books that we have had the chance to promote and recognize at the LA Children’s Book Fest! If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by and say hello to them!
Our Little Peeps Awards celebrate the artistry and educational value of picture books
The Gertrude Warner Awards honor outstanding middle grade fiction that engages young readers during crucial developmental years
Ready to join the ranks of these celebrated authors?
Whether you’re crafting picture books for our Little Peeps Awards or middle grade fiction for the Gertrude Warner Awards, Chanticleer recognition opens doors to major festivals, bookstore partnerships, and reader communities nationwide. We are proud to be a part of the extraordinary literary careers of these five wonderful authors!
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!
Cheering on the past Grand Prize Winners for the Little Peep Awards!
Island Moon
Written and Illustrated by Ruth Amanda
Ruth Amanda’sIsland Moonis a magical moment captured in a poem.
The narrator lives on an island where the moon sings of fairies and the magic of the night. While out on a nighttime walk, the narrator breathes in the island scents and hears the waves kissing the shore. In the froth of the waves, and in the moon’s magical light reflecting on the water, the narrator sees the fairies dancing.
While describing all the animals active during nighttime, the narrator sees a tired sea turtle coming ashore to lay eggs. The moon blesses the creature, calling in the tide to aid the exhausted turtle back home to the sea. The songs of the night birds and the rays of the moon’s light follow the narrator back to bed and into their dreams.
The rhyming of the poem and illustrations are truly beautiful. In a few short lines and pages, you are transported to a tranquil night on the island of Barbados.
The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans By Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover and Jessica Alexanderson 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Children’s Books and Early Readers. The Grand Prize Winner, Ruth Amanda’s book, Island Moon will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Little Peeps contest page year ’round!
The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the love and attention you get all year ‘round!
Seven-year-old Lorelei doesn’t know what she is more excited about for her upcoming first day of first grade, making a new best friend or finding her “uniquely special thing” that Mee-maw says every child has that makes them stand out. It’s hard to leave her parents, three-year-old brother, and their sasquatch-hunting behind, but after donning the perfect outfit (brightly colored leggings, a tie-dyed tutu, sparkly gold Mary Janes and the perfect headband), she is all bubbly inside with anticipation.
Things at school start off great when Lorelei enters Miss Grim’s room which is as bright and cheery as the teacher herself, and Lorelei is asked by a girl named Adeline to play at recess. Could this be her new best friend? But her optimism is soon darkened by a confrontation with the braggy “superstar” of the classroom, Emily, a.k.a. “Hands,” who always needs to be the center of attention. As the day closes, Lorelei isn’t sure that she’s found this “uniquely special thing,” but she is buoyed by her budding new friendships and all she’s learned about herself.
Lovable, mischievous, and imaginative, Lorelei brings a refreshing twist of kindness and emotional intelligence to the page. Her witty humor, hilarious honesty, and upbeat mindset of life are sure to engage even the most reluctant of young readers.
From Chanticleer:
Lorelei the Lorelei seeks a best friend and to figure out what makes her truly special, all on her first day of public school. InLorelei the Lorelei: The First of Many Firstsby Kristen J. Anderson, young Lorelei finds that not everything is as she expected.
After anxiously waiting for her dad and baby brother J.J. to get ready, and armed with the wisdom of her Mee-maw, Lorelei strides into Hillside Elementary School. She shows off her eclectic fashion and discovers that even a teacher named ‘Miss Grim’ can be welcoming. At first, Lorelei’s plans are coming together. She’s certain that Adeline, a girl who shares her exuberant nature, will be her best friend.
But Lorelei butts heads with Emily, aka “Hands” given her impatience to be called on. As a student of ballet and future sugary-cereal-advertisement star, Emily has little patience for Lorelei taking the spotlight.
As a newcomer to public school, Lorelei has to navigate this conflict while learning new schedules, rules, and terms. But she keeps her heart and mind open, even when she doesn’t quite understand all of her new classmates.
Share the joy of the truck community as children awaken their curiosity about how transportation works. Learn where things belong, various modes of truck use, and the concept of distance as playful animals demonstrate cooperation in our cities and countries.
Julie Lomax (JuJu) – Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson
Melissa Moo Moo is a little cow with big brown eyes and a bigger heart. One day when she overhears the other cows gossiping about why she doesn’t have a lot of milk, Moo Moo feels sad. While crying herself to sleep, Moo Moo worries about what the other cows think of her.
The next morning, Moo Moo hides behind a berry bush and watches the other cows. She thinks that if she is special, then Farmer Jack will love her and the other cows will not talk mean about her. But when Moo Moo eats a few of the berries that have fallen onto the ground, she has no idea that everything is about to change as she learns to love herself and be confident.
Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson is the charming tale of a little cow who learns the importance of just being herself.
Will’s Grandmother has told Will about the Candy Mountain since he was a small child. One night Will is awakened by the Conductor of a train. He is told to hurry to catch the train. “What train?” “The train to the Candy Mountain, of course.” On the train, he meets a boy named Quinn and they decide to go on the adventure together. He can hardly believe he is going to the Candy Mountain. Together there are many decisions they have to make, each more mysterious than the other. What will they find?
In this new adventure, Ellie and her friends have already accomplished the incredible feat of recycling 1 million cans. But their quest for a cleaner environment doesn’t end there! Now, they have set their sights on tackling the problem of other metal items being needlessly thrown in the trash.
Determined to make a difference, they embark on a journey to collect everyone’s wires, Christmas lights, pots and pans, unicorn shoes and other metal items. They then take these treasures to their local scrapyard, turning them into valuable resources through recycling as metal can be recycled forever!
They also learn about the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals. With the help of Mr. Ferrous Magglio and Gallium the Unicorn, they set off on an unforgettable journey to the scrapyard. Get ready for a thrilling and educational experience!
We believe that your kids will not only enjoy this book but also discover that they can earn some extra cash for their piggy bank by participating in neighborhood clean-up efforts. It’s a fun and rewarding way to make a positive impact!
From Chanticleer:
See our review for Book 1 of this series, The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, the 2023 Little Peeps Grand Prize Winner, here!
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.
Few books do such a fine job of combining so many life lessons while still keeping the learning lighthearted and fun.
Meet Carla, our self-appointed social committee of one, who makes everyone at summer camp feel welcome. Carla spots a shy new boy who hides from others in his cabin, closing his curtain. Carla follows her heart and gathers a small group of fellow campers to coax him out to play games. With Carla’s encouragement, our new camper builds up his self-confidence, loses his fear, and learns to enjoy his new friends.
About the authors: Mike Mirabella, an established musician and publisher of children’s books—and Lenny Lipton, who wrote the folk song “Puff the Magic Dragon”—sat in their living rooms writing songs as they babysat their disabled daughters. The bonus song “Little Brown Pony” includes the lyrics and music notations as does “I Used to Be Shy.”
The outstanding illustrations were done by Amy O’Hanlon, an inspired artist in a family of musicians who does stage projection design for several San Francisco musicals, one of which was the Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s She Persisted, based on the book by Chelsea Clinton.
From Chanticleer:
InI Used to Be Shy, from the Carla Stories by Mike Mirabella and Lenny Lipton, Carla meets a nervous boy with physical disabilities at Camp Allbelong. Through their friendship, Carla helps him become confident enough to join in the camp games in this compassionate illustrated story about inclusion told through song.
We begin with Carla’s bright yellow light contrasting with the boy’s deep, lonely blue representation. As their friendship grows, those two colors begin to mix, becoming a vibrant green that paints the heartwarming, pastoral scenes of Camp Allbelong. When the boy joins his peers in the center of these illustrations, his blue color takes on a new tone that reflects the expansive sky in the background.
Amy O’Hanlon’s delightful illustrations show how one friendship can bloom to become a garden full of many relationships.
There’s something magical about watching a child discover the joy of reading – the moment when pictures and words combine to transport young minds to new worlds, teach important lessons, or simply bring smiles and wonder to bedtime routines. The Little Peeps Awards celebrate this magic, recognizing the authors and illustrators who understand that creating exceptional children’s literature is both an art and a responsibility.
The best children’s books plant seeds of imagination, teach valuable lessons without preaching, and create positive associations with reading that can last a lifetime. From board books that introduce babies to the rhythm of language to chapter books that help young readers take their first independent literary steps, these works serve as gateways to a world of lifelong learning and discovery.
The Art of Writing for Young Hearts and Minds
Creating outstanding children’s literature requires a unique blend of skills: the ability to see the world through young eyes, the talent to craft stories that captivate short attention spans, and the wisdom to address important themes in age-appropriate ways. The best children’s books achieve something remarkable: they speak to children on their level while offering layers of meaning that adults can appreciate too.
Whether it’s teaching self-esteem through relatable characters, exploring different cultures and experiences, or simply creating beautiful bedtime stories that soothe and inspire, children’s literature serves crucial developmental purposes. These books help young readers understand emotions, navigate new experiences, and develop the empathy and curiosity that will serve them throughout their lives.
The Little Peeps Awards recognize that children’s literature encompasses a range of genres, including educational books that make learning fun, interactive experiences that engage multiple senses, and beautifully illustrated works that demonstrate how art and words can work together to create something truly special.
Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!
We’re delighted to honor Ruth Amanda, whose enchanting picture book Island Moon claimed the 2024 Little Peeps Grand Prize with a work that perfectly embodies the magic of children’s literature. Set in a Caribbean paradise where “warm night airs fill your heart with magic,” this gorgeously illustrated book captures the sweet sounds and sights of a tropical night—from cooing doves and whistling frogs to fairies dancing on waves of froth.
We love Island Moon as a perfect bedtime story for little ones or a simply peaceful moment for readers during a busy day. Ruth Amanda’s vibrant illustrations, tinted with Caribbean blues and moonbeam silver, transport readers to an island paradise while her gentle, rhyming text creates the kind of soothing rhythm that makes for perfect bedtime reading. The book demonstrates how the finest children’s literature creates experiences that families can share and treasure together. In addition to ongoing promotional features, Island Moon will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Ruth Amanda will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview.
Categories That Nurture Every Stage of Development
The Little Peeps Awards welcome children’s books across every format and developmental stage:
Chapter Books for Grades K & 1 – Early independent reading books that help young readers take their first literary steps
Story Books – Narrative-driven books perfect for reading aloud and sharing family time
Picture Books – The beloved format where illustrations and text work together to create magical experiences
Self-Esteem – Books that help children build confidence and understand their unique worth
Educational Books – Learning-focused works that make education engaging and fun
Experiences – Books that prepare children for new situations or introduce them to different cultures and ways of life
Holidays/Traditions – Seasonal and cultural celebration books that help children understand special occasions
Exploring – Adventure and discovery books that encourage curiosity about the world around us
Interactive & Board Books – Hands-on experiences designed for the youngest readers to touch, manipulate, and explore
Bedtime Stories – Gentle, soothing tales crafted to create peaceful transitions to sleep
Each category serves a different developmental purpose while maintaining the core mission of fostering a love of reading and learning.
Celebrating Record-Breaking Excellence
Last year’s Little Peeps Awards celebrated nearly 100 exceptional books – a testament to the incredible creativity and dedication of today’s children’s book creators. This record turnout wasn’t just about quantity; the quality of submissions demonstrated that children’s literature continues to evolve and flourish, with authors and illustrators pushing creative boundaries while never losing sight of their young audience’s needs.
This tremendous response reflects the growing recognition that children’s literature plays a crucial role in early development and education. Publishers, librarians, educators, and families all understand that investing in quality children’s books means investing in the next generation of readers, thinkers, and dreamers.
Looking at Children’s Literature Excellence
Check out some of these wonderful children’s books we’ve celebrated recently!
Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas and Sewers
By Kristen J. Anderson; Illustrations by Audrey Suau
Lorelei, the charismatic and outspoken seven-year-old, leaps at the chance to save her school’s science fair from disaster in Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas, and Sewers, second book in Kristen J Anderson’s Lorelei the Lorelei series.
Beyond excited for the science fair, Lorelei prepares a project with a mission. She hopes to change people’s perception about cicadas, which most consider a gross nuisance of a bug. On the day of the science fair, during a trip to the restroom, Lorelei encounters a plumbing catastrophe.
With the help of her family and friends, Lorelei put a plan in motion to protect the school fair, while learning valuable lessons about sportsmanship, classroom behavior, and empathy. She may be silly and likeable, but some of her quirks can get her into trouble too!
Even when she gets into trouble, Lorelei is always and unapologetically herself.
Littlest Mano at Bedtime
By Anita Dromey; Illustrations by Taranggana
In Littlest Mano at Bedtime by Anita Dromey, illustrated by Taranggana, Mano wants to keep grazing and playing in the hills when his mamma calls him to come down to the shore.
The rest of the goats wait for Mano, who only comes when his mamma asks him to lead the group. But Mano trips in the evening darkness and loses his chance to lead the procession. Once he and all the other goats reach the ocean, he promises not to make them wait so long next time.
Littlest Mano at Bedtime is a great evening book for children learning to read.
Dromey writes in a consistent rhyming scheme, making the rhythm easy to grasp and read along with.
This story teaches the importance of listening and cooperating with others, and does so with a soft hand fitting for very young readers.
Valley of the Giant Snakes
By Mac Bell; Illustrations by Andy Vanderbilt
After crash-landing his jet, young Ace must embark on an epic adventure through the treacherous Valley of Giant Snakes in this fun tale about imagination by Mac Bell and illustrated by Andrew Vanderbilt.
Valley of the Giant Snakes, the first installment of the Adventure Ace series, takes readers journeying with Ace through a vast and fantastical wilderness.
Ace encounters a humongous moth gliding overhead, casting an ominous shadow on this unknown world. He weaves his way through a forest of colossal mushrooms as he walks to a mountain in the distance.
A pair of mysterious eyes glow inside a tunnel, and a giant snake blocks Ace’s path when he backs away. Ace has only his ingenuity to make it past the beast.
Andy Vanderbilt’s illustrations hearken back to the adventure cartoons of the 70s and 80s, with a fresh look for the modern day.
A Tail of Twirls: Kittina and the Starlight Ballerina
By Once Upon A Dance; Illustrations by Stella Maris
Once Upon a Dance’s captivating children’s picture bookA Tail of Twirls: Kittina and the Starlight Ballerina follows an inquisitive cat as she makes a mysterious discovery.
In Pirouette Pines, small cat Kit peers through the dirty window of an abandoned dance studio. After a desperate initial attempt to enter, Kit spots an opening. The dance photos on the walls fascinate her as soon as she walks in. Curiosity gets the best of her, and she attempts to mimic some of the dance positions.
Her entire world changes in an instant when a voice—coming from a very unexpected source behind her—asks why she has been there every night. Kit has a cordial conversation with the animated mirror, which concludes with a pledge from the mirror to assist Kit in finding her dance.
Kit gains proficiency quickly and is keen to learn more. But as she considers what she has learned and what she still wishes to, she is split between gratitude and despair. To complicate her learning further, Kit is taken aback by yet another startling discovery, which is swiftly followed by a directive that will have an impact on Pirouette Pines as a whole.
These works demonstrate how the best children’s literature combines entertainment with education, creating experiences that delight young readers while supporting their growth and development.
See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!
We’re excited about all the exceptional children’s books we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!
The Little Peeps Awards provide recognition for the often-undervalued but incredibly important work of creating literature for our youngest readers. Whether you’re an author crafting your first picture book, an illustrator bringing stories to vivid life, or a publisher committed to quality children’s literature, these awards celebrate the dedication required to nurture young minds and foster lifelong love of reading.
Plant Seeds of Literary Love
Creating children’s literature means accepting a beautiful responsibility—the chance to introduce young minds to the joy of reading and the power of imagination. Your book could be a child’s first favorite story, the bedtime book that creates cherished family memories, or the educational adventure that sparks a lifelong interest in learning.
Gail Heath’s Miracle on the Mountain: An Appalachian Christmas shares a message of love and redemption through the heart-warming tale of Granny, a faithful, disciplined, and generous Appalachian woman.
On a blustery winter day, Granny starts down her home’s snowy, mountain landscape to attend Christmas Eve service in the village. When her dog, Shep, wanders off, Granny runs into Pete. The young man uses firewood collecting as an excuse to not attend service, hiding a deeper motive beneath.
Granny asks after his grandfather, who is in the midst of a long recovery after being attacked by a boar. Pete is forlorn, casting aspersions at Granny’s message that a miracle may yet happen, especially on this of all nights. Sensing his loss of faith, Granny offers Pete a few cups of her warm chicory as she regales the miracle on the mountain she witnessed ten years ago that made her a true believer.
In Granny’s tale, a cantankerous man named Luster appears one spring on Granny’s mountain. He lives in a ramshackle cabin with his dog and complains any time Granny makes noise. Following the guidance of her upbringing, Granny campaigns to sweat out Luster’s gruffness with kindness and prayer, but to no avail. By winter, Granny has left it up to the Lord to thaw the man’s misery.
On Christmas Eve, a snowy night much like the one ten years later, Granny feels the Lord encouraging her to visit her solitary neighbor.
She walks through the storm with a fresh loaf of bread to wish Luster a merry Christmas, which earns her his hottest bout of temper yet. The grinch refuses any of Granny’s warmth, and she reconciles that she can do no more, deciding Luster has no heart to be touched.
Later that night a tragedy befalls the village. Granny offers her warm home and hot chicory to a sheriff and his volunteers searching for a lost child. She seeks out Luster once again, hoping he would lend his mass and strength to the search effort, but his shack is empty. Luster’s hound, Shep, bounds through the snow and coaxes Granny to follow him. Together, they brave the wintery weather, and Granny encounters a miracle beyond her imagination.
What makes Miracle on the Mountain: An Appalachian Christmas special is its simplicity alongside the sharpness of Heath’s writing craft.
With lively characters in Granny and Luster and dialogue that stays true the spirit of Appalachian character, the reader gets everything they need to feel Granny’s message in their hearts.
The artwork from Barabash Sviatoslav creates an immersive Christmas atmosphere through detailed backgrounds that place readers firmly in the heart of an Appalachian winter. Each scene radiates warmth despite the mountain chill, inviting readers to step into Granny’s world of snow-covered cabins and frosted landscapes. The characters are portrayed with dynamic energy, their active poses drawing readers directly into the unfolding story and making them feel part of each scene’s emotional moment.
Miracle on the Mountain: An Appalachian Christmas by Gail Health expresses the spirit of Christmas through a fresh perspective.
Its message isn’t confined to one set of beliefs. Friendship, understanding, and sacrifice may be protected by people in ways we don’t always understand, but even at times when we’ve given up hope a surprise may just remind us that miracles do happen, sometimes where we least expect.
Bees frighten Bella, but a learning adventure turns her fear to fascination in J.W. Zarek’s delightful children’s book Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm.
Bella’s bespectacled Grandma Yetta asks for help in her wildflower garden. Bella hops along with her bucket of gardening tools, surrounded by beautiful hovering butterflies. But a sudden encounter with a large striped flying insect sends Bella running.
Grandma Yetta explains that the buzzing bee is merely curious or trying to protect her home or babies. She advises Bella to stand very still, and the bee will fly away. Bella gives it a try and sees her own fears fly away as the bee continues its journey through the garden.
Grandma suggests taking a visit to Farmer Joe’s Sunny Meadows Bee Farm to learn about the importance of these amazing flying creatures.
Farmer Joe coaxes the hesitant Bella to learn about our “buzzing friends,” taking her first to a glass observation hive full of bees at work. Farmer Joe explains the different jobs bees perform, from collecting nectar to caring for young bees—and even fanning their wings just to keep the hive cool!
With protective face netting and elbow-length gloves, Bella next visits the boxed beehives and learns how the placement of the hives can influence the taste of their honey. Farmer Joe describes how the bees make honey in the first place.
Sweet illustrations by Anastasia with GetYourBookIllustrations show the roles of the bees with childlike whimsy.
The queen bee wears her royal crown. Worker bees carry miniature tools and nursery attendants hold newly hatched baby bees, all doing their part to support the hive.
Wide-eyed Bella asks what else bees do.
Grandma Yetta explains how bees pollinate fruits and vegetables. Their communication “wiggle dance” is complimented by amusing images of a dance floor complete with big speakers and a sparkling disco ball. Zarek includes even more facts about bees, from their sleep patterns to flight speeds.
The fascinating little creatures ultimately awe Bella, and all she’s learned about them dispels her fears and leaves her instead with a desire to help the bees. She even pays tribute to them by donning an adorable bee costume.
Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm makes learning about bees approachable for young readers.
The book concludes with a page of affirmations for children like “Bee Joyful,” “Bee Happy,” “Bee Honest,” and “Beelieve in Yourself.” Zarek also provides a glossary of words related to Bella’s visit to the bee farm, as well as some friendly tips for readers to help bees in their area.
A furry little friend known as “Pip the Domovoi” appears in the background visuals several times throughout the book, prompting children to discover fun new details within Anastasia’s beautiful illustrations.
Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm by J.W. Zarek both entertains and educates at once. Young readers will appreciate the easily followed narrative and fun, colorful illustrations, and children of all ages will learn something new about these productive little insects and their importance to our ecosystem.
We had the pleasure of speaking with the amazing writing team of Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover, and Jessica Alexanderson (aka: Scuba Jess) recently. Together, they authored The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans,the 2023 CIBA Grand Prize in the Little Peeps division.
Jaffer, Rudover, and Alexanderson have created a program called Recycling is Like Magic (formerly Scrap University Kids), which teaches children about how they can help make our world cleaner through recycling, and their award-winning book is read to schoolchildren across the Pacific Northwest to teach them about the importance of participating in environmental projects. Here’s what we talked about:
Chanti:Let’s start with the basics. Can you tell us a little about how your writing team came together and what inspired you to start creating books to support your recycling education mission?
Magic: We noticed a lack of recycling education books in the children’s book genre, so, we decided to write one that would share our recycling knowledge to increase the overall recycling rate. Now, the book, along with our other efforts have encouraged our AMAZING readers and recyclers to recycle over 3,516,695 cans!
Chanti: That’s an incredible impact! I love that you’re combining child literacy with environmental education. When you think about your roles, do you see yourselves primarily as authors or as educators?
Magic: Yes, we are authors, and we are very happy our book was so well received, but we really think of ourselves as educators. Engaging with children by reading our book to them is a great way to introduce them to the idea that we are all responsible for taking care of the earth.
Chanti: That educator mindset really comes through in your work! When it comes to writing children’s books, do you find yourselves following traditional publishing conventions, or do you prefer to forge your own path?
Magic: As entrepreneurs, we color outside of the lines. We are always looking for ways to connect with children and seek out opportunities to get our message out to them as well as the community at large. We see our children’s books as a way to teach children through a fun story where they can identify with the characters and see themselves as recyclers. Those kids then influence the behavior of their friends and family, resulting in even more lifelong recyclers. Because of this, The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans far outweighs any public service announcement or political campaign we could have offered, and it has quickly become the catalyst for change.
Chanti: How do you come up with your ideas for a story that is meant to grab the attention of young children?
Magic: Our work in protecting the environment provides plenty of opportunities to be inspired. We work with people who tell us the stories of what they see and hear about the recycling efforts in their community and the results of those efforts. Our own children also provide great inspiration for our stories. Their inquisitive nature often presents the questions we aim to answer in our books.
Chanti: Drawing from real-world experiences and your own children’s curiosity—that’s brilliant! Writing for children requires such a specific skill set. How do you continue developing and refining your craft?
Magic: Because our books are aimed at educating children, we look for opportunities to explain difficult concepts in a way that children will understand. This helps to think about our word choice and sentence length when we’re writing.
Chanti:That focus on accessibility is so important. Since you work as a collaborative team how do you organize your writing process? Do you have a structured approach, or is it more organic?
Magic: Because we work as a team, we have created a repeatable process that we follow for each title, passing the book between us as we add new pages and, eventually, we end up with a story that we can edit to make sure it flows well, makes sense, and delivers a clear message. Having said that, we all generally let the process flow rather than forcing it to happen as we feel that is the best way to create a readable book that kids will enjoy. If we feel stuck we turn to nature to break through writers block—Brad Rudover goes for a walk in the forest and Scuba Jess goes for a dive (of course!)
Chanti:I love how you each have your own way of reconnecting with nature when you need inspiration! Every writing team has their influences. Can you share some of the authors who have shaped your approach to children’s literature?
Magic: Brad Rudover loves Dr. Seuss’s creative genius, and his bright, active characters. They are the perfect model to create the bright, active characters who love recycling in our books. Shaziya M Jaffer and Scuba Jess are influenced by Dr. Seuss’s wife, Helen Palmer, who wrote A Fish Out of Water. To learn more about the craft of writing a great children’s book, we turn to Dr. Seuss’s famous book, Green Eggs and Ham, and to learn about the business of writing we turn to From Good to Great by Jim Collins.
Chanti:Dr. Seuss is such a perfect influence for what you’re doing! Your mission clearly extends far beyond just writing books. How has becoming published authors affected your involvement in your community?
Magic: Our whole mission revolves around community engagement, beginning with children. As we’ve dived deeper into spreading the word about recycling, we’ve found ourselves focusing more on philanthropy and opening doors to engagment with the greater environmental movement.
Chanti:That community focus is wonderful to see. What specific things are you doing to promote literacy in your region?
Magic: We donate our books to elementary schools that need more recycling education in our region. Shaziya M. Jaffer always says, “Our perfect readers are children who want to make the planet a better place.” And Scuba Jess relies on her experience as a diver. “I love sharing my passion for ocean conservation through underwater photography and cleanup dives, and I bring these experiences to students by visiting classrooms, hosting Zoom calls and reading our books at libraries across Washington state. My goal is to inspire kids with fun and easy ways they can help protect our oceans. With over 10 years of diving and 1,465 dives, I’ve seen firsthand how much our amazing sea creatures in Puget Sound and beyond need our help. If there’s one thing I can ask of anyone reading this: please pick up litter when you see it, never toss cigarette butts on the ground and always recycle your aluminum cans—every action makes a difference!”
Chanti:That hands-on approach is incredible, and Scuba Jess, your diving experience adds such authenticity to your environmental message! As we wrap up, what exciting projects is the Recycling is Like Magic team working on now? Are there more books in the pipeline?
Magic: We are always looking for ways to enact behavioral change for the betterment of society, so we work to create many educational and actionable avenues into the recycling world. We’ve followed up The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans with another book called, A Recycling Adventure to the Scrap Yard, and we have two more children’s books in mind for our four-book metal recycling series. The third book is being written now and will be called A Recycling Adventure to the Steel Mill. It focuses on the steel melting process after Daddy’s truck was shredded at the scrapyard, and we see what it will be turned into next.
Our “Two Million Can Recycling Contest” is also a big project, with a goal to double contest participation by engaging with approximately 50 schools. It will feature more incentives for participating students, including a $500 bonus for collecting 150,000 cans, pizza parties, and more!
“Our goal is to eliminate metal from the waste stream within the next 30 years by providing recycling education to children.
Given the success of our Million Cans Recycling Contest, Beverage Can Industry Champions sponsored by leading organizations driving sustainable aluminm packaging, we can say with confidence that our book is helping increase recycling rates. we can say with certainty our book is the solution to increasing the recycling rate.
Kids gamify collecting cans which leads to immediate impact, but more importantly, it creates long-term behavioral change. They quickly learn that throwing cans (or any metal) into the trash is an unacceptable because those materials are recyclable and valuable.” – Brad Rudover, Recycling is Like Magic!
With the launch of our nonprofit, The Recycling Society, anyone who supports our mission can now donate or get involved. Learn more at: recyclingsociety.org
Lorelei, the charismatic and outspoken seven-year-old, leaps at the chance to save her school’s science fair from disaster in Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas, and Sewers, second book in Kristen J Anderson’s Lorelei the Lorelei series.
Beyond excited for the science fair, Lorelei prepares a project with a mission. She hopes to change people’s perception about cicadas, which most consider a gross nuisance of a bug. On the day of the science fair, during a trip to the restroom, Lorelei encounters a plumbing catastrophe.
With the help of her family and friends, Lorelei put a plan in motion to protect the school fair, while learning valuable lessons about sportsmanship, classroom behavior, and empathy. She may be silly and likeable, but some of her quirks can get her into trouble too!
Even when she gets into trouble, Lorelei is always and unapologetically herself.
Readers see Lorelei express her emotions, usually with loud and sudden enthusiasm. In the lead up to the science fair, Lorelei feels excitement, nervousness, disappointment, and even a moment of frustration towards her class rival. The supportive adults in Lorelei’s life, from her grandma and grandpa “Bumpa” to her teachers and school administrators, help to steer Lorelei in the right directions whenever she responds inappropriately to a situation.
As Lorelei says herself, she is only a kid and learns about emotions and social skills every day.
Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas, and Sewers is a story that will get kids excited about science projects and will make older readers nostalgic for exciting days at school, whether a science fair, a special assembly, or even a short field trip.
Excellent for beginner chapter book readers, Kristen J Anderson’s Lorelei the Lorelei series is a must-read for young inquisitive minds.
“Our goal is to eliminate metal from the waste stream within the next 30 years by providing recycling education to children.