The Dante Rossetti Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Young Adult Fiction. The Dante Rossetti Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
Named in honor of the British poet & painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti who founded the Pre-Ralphaelite Brotherhood in 1848.
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience between the ages of about twelve to eighteen (imaginary or real). Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery, Paranormal, Historical, Romance, and Literary, we will put them to the test and choose the best Young Adult Books among them for the winners of the Dante Rossetti Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction. For Middle Grade Fiction check out our Gertrude Warner Awards and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards.
These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2025 DANTE ROSSETTI entries to the 2025 Dante Rossetti Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Dante Rossetti 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 2026Chanticleer Authors Conference.
These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2025 Dante Rossetti Book Awards novel competition for Young Adult Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
A.M. Fitz – Away Through the Woods
Abigail O’Bryan – Iron Rose
Alejandro Torres De La Rocha – Mortal Vengeance
Brenda Stanley – It Happened in the Hollow
C.W. James – Mission Red Scythe a James Vagus Teen Espionage Thriller
Celia Seupel – Girl with the Silver Hair
Clifton Wilcox – The Case Against Jasper
Eban Flo – Rhymin Limon and the Comet Conundrum
Ellis K. Popa – First Light of Dawn
Erika Lynn Adams – Allie’s Adventure on the Wonder
Gavin O’Donnell – The Pontypool Pirate
Glen Dahlgren – The Wrath of Order the Chronicles of Chaos Book 4
Gracie Dix – Beyond Superhero School Let the Games Begin
J.C. Cole – Ordell’s Constellation
Jack Bartley – Hilo Dome
Jessica Natalie Reino – Coming Up for Air
Jo Taylor – Margaret of Thibodaux
Joan Wright Mularz – Slate and Dash Go South
Joe Giampaolo – The Eldritch Chronicles Wrath of the Sentinel & Other Ghost Tales
Johnnie Bay – Dreams and Lies
Leslie Wibberley – Seriously Universe
LS Delorme – Bright Midnights
Lucinda Brant – Falling Up an Enchanting Georgian Fairytale Romance of Sorts Regarding a Beautiful Beast and His Penniless Redeemer
Lynn Slaughter – Missing Mom
Lynn Yvonne Moon – The Devil’s Between the Beads
Maggie Master – The Hopeling
Maria Giakoumatos – Midnight Waltz the Infernal Symphony Part 1
M.D. Ganni – The Old Treehouse
Melissa Grant – Cloudia with a Chance of Darkness
Michael Collado – Can You Hear Me Now
Michael J. Bowler – Losing Austin
Nan Evenson – Walk on
R.B. Shifman – Paper Airplane Broken Bones
Rebecca Davis – The Day-After Zone
Robert Wright Jr – Millicent and the Alien Abduction
Robyn Dabney – The Ascenditure
Shawn Hays and Stephen Hays – What Light Was
Tatiana White – The Gifted Society
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.
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.
The Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Children’s Fiction. The Little Peeps Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience for Early Readers. Story books, Beginning Chapter Books, Picture Books, Activity Books, and Educational Books.These books have advanced to the Long List for the 2023 CIBAs.(For Young Adult Fiction see ourDante Rossetti Awards, for Middle Grade Readers see ourGertrude Warner Awards.)
These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2025 LITTLE PEEPS entries to the 2025 Little Peeps Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Little Peeps 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 at the Bellingham Yacht Club sponsored by the 2025Chanticleer Authors Conference.
These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2025 Little Peeps Book Awards novel competition for Children’s Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
Alison Frenz – I Bet I Can Make You Yawn
Amy B. Mccoy – Katie Finds Her Voice: A Story About Autism
Andrew Woolnough – Nuts About Dinosaurs
Andy M Riley – Finding Hanna’s Happy Place
Angelina Natale – Peanut and Butter: A Sky View Farm Adventure
Ann P. Borrmann – You Little Monkey
Ann P. Borrmann – Never Take a Pirate’s Pearls
Anna Gerrodette – Wild Rides with Pedal and Blaze
Anne Polli – Mason the Magnificent
Antonia Blackmore & illustrated by Sarah P Sharpe – Figgles & Flo the Elephant in the Room
Ben St. James – Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town
Brandon Moore – Bridget Kimble Learns Self Control
Bridgetta Tomarchio – Monsters Don’t Say Meep Even the Tiniest Roar Can Make the Biggest Difference
Brittany Petish- Sally the Brave
Cal Lopez & Natalia Ulloa – Humans Are Awesome: A Kid’s Guide to Staying Smarter Than AI
Carrie A. Buck – Ivy Learns to Share
Christine Kessides – Tail Tale Too
Corey Turner – Cloudy Days
David Waugh – Benny the Lost Balloon
Deborah L. Staunton – Owls Can’t Sing
Dzvinka Hayda – The Legend of the Dipper
Ellissa Schwartz – This Day I Hold Dear
Everett Livingston – The Story of You
G.R. Foster – The Puppy That Wanted to Be a Flower
Gail Heath – Miracle on the Mountain: An Appalachian Christmas
Glenda Keiper – Clancy McFancy and the Tree with Bright Green Leaves
Gretchen K. Webber – Beanie the Weenie
J.W. Zarek – Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm
J.W. Zarek – Bella Brown’s Messier Than Messy Room
J.W. Zarek – The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed
Jane Xu – Can Pandas Be Koalas Too
Jessica A. Macpherson – The Little Things We Do
Jessica Mcanelly – Birdie’s Picnic Party a Tasty Take on Food Safety
Jomo Jesus Thomas Suriel – The Angry Vacuum
Kate Shooltz – Kate the Earthling
Kelly Curtin and Molly Hallinan – Molly and Potato
Kenneth Brown – Saving Private Brown
Kim P. Chesney – A Mysterious Night at the Library
Kim Sloan – Billy Bob’s Adventures Learning the 50 States
Kristen J Anderson – Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas, and Sewers
Kristy Whilden – Alice’s Colorful New World
Laura Ball – Albert the Donkey Solves a Mystery
Leslie Calimeri – One Day with Dinosaurs
Lisa Mueller – Dot’s Spots
Lolisa Marie Monroe – Dungoolee
Lori Hoffman Penna – Catawampus the Story of a Crooked Cat
Lori Orlinsky – Being Middle
M.D. Mcalister – Phin York and the Giants of Wintercoombe
Mark Anthony King – Trigger the Dog That Thought He Was a Horse
Michele L Sayre – The Long Lazy Summer Wonders of Childhood Beyond
Michelle Mcalister – Carolina Is a Knight
Michelle Mcalister – Gilly Green Will Sing
Michelle Mcalister – Nighttime for Everyone
Michelle Mcalister – Snelliot the Bold
Mike Darcy – Little Joe and the Big City
Mike Stonecypher – There’s a Girebra in the Forest
Miki Taylor – Bentley Finds a Hippopotomonsterous
Mr. Steve – Fishing Is Fun
Mr. Steve – The B Hive
Nicole Metas – Hemi Bunny Finds a Mommy
Olga Podoprigora – The Banana From Space and Other Stories From Riverstone
Once Upon a Dance – Bellyrina
Paloma Williams – Milo’s Big Beautiful Journey
Pamela Gray Willcox – Tux the Little Emperor
Patty York Raymond – There Was a Tenacious Teacher Who Scarfed Down a Sticker
Payton Lynch – The Journey To You
Rae St. Clair Bridgman – W Is for Winnipeg a Little Architect’s ABC
Robin Currie – How Do You Sleep
Ruth Amanda – Ess-Car-Go!
Sally Kashner – River Song
Sally Kashner – The Night Has a Secret
Sherry Roberts – Amica Helps Zoe
Sherry Roberts – Just Call Me Pardner
Shlomo Goldman – Ryder the Spider Discovers the Body
Svetlana Kitik – Mother’s Mega Marrow: a Gardening for Kids Nature Storybook About Growing Food, Sharing, and Outdoor Learning
Sydney Roubian – Scarecrow Finds a Heart
Tamara Neal – I Know Why the Red Bird Talked
Thomas Anthony – Walter the Polar Bear
TK Sheffield – Nellie’s Island Small Hooves Big Heart Island Adventures Start
Tom Morency – Doris the Dragon
Vassi Rombis – Luna the Little Witch the Magic of Teamwork
Victoria Fletcher – Lovely Locks of Gold
Wanda Carter Roush – The Jellybean Gospel the Born-Again Bunny
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.
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.
Only 7 days remain to enter your books to these CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success!
The Chanticleer International Book Awards provide ongoing recognition that amplifies authors’ digital footprints through high-traffic website features, social media promotion, newsletter spotlights, and long-tail marketing that continues promoting winners throughout the year and beyond!
The Dante Rossetti, Gertrude Warner and The Little Peeps Awards are still open!
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Little Peeps Awards for Early Readers!
Kristen J Anderson –Lorelei the Lorelei: The First of Many Firsts
Raven Howell –Keep Trucking
Julie Lomax –Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson
Dr. Gerry Haller –Will’s Adventure to the Candy Mountain
Shaziya M. Jaffer, Jessica Alexanderson and Brad W. Rudover –A Recycling Adventure toThe Scrapyard!
Mike Mirabella and Lenny Lipton –I Used to Be Shy
And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Early Peeps Grand Prize Winner:
Island Moon
By Ruth Amanda
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Gertrude Warner Award for Middle Grade Fiction!
Thomas Kuhn – Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol
Debbie Noble Black – Deetjen’s Closet
M.J. Evans – Coal Dust and Dreams
M.C. Dingman – Samantha Smee: A Pirate’s Life
Maggie Lynch – The Power of S.A.D.
Sue C. Dugan – Mayday
Carolyn Armstrong – No Time To Waste
Sandy Grubb – Just Like Click
And a huge round of applause for our 2024 Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner:
Back to Bainbridge
By Norah Lally
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Dante Rossetti Award for Young Adult Fiction!
Mark Kraver –The Willow
C.H. Brown –The Appearance of Power
Eileen Charbonneau and Jude Pittman –Spectral Evidence
J.A. Nielsen –The Winter Heir (Fractured Kingdoms, Book 2)
John Middleton –The Pool of Initiation
E. L. Werbitsky –The Marsh Keeper
And a huge round of applause for our 2024 Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Winner:
The Realm of Gods
By Glen Dahlgren
The CIBAs offer a ladder to success with a range of achievement tiers and expert long tail marketing strategies. From the highly anticipated Long List to the prestigious Overall Grand Prize Winner, the CIBA lists energize both authors and readers, maximizing your digital footprint and expanding your fan base.
We are always eager to support the Best Books through the CIBAs. Join the ranks of celebrated authors who have already taken this critical step in their publishing.
Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 17-19, 2026) where Winners from all 28 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.
In a world hungry for good books, your story deserves to be heard. Submit now and leave a lasting impression.
The Dante Rossetti Awards celebrate stories that bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood. Young readers exist in a liminal space, and we are pleased to feature Young Adult Fiction in the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards!
Join us in celebrating the previous Grand Prize Winners of the Dante Rossetti Awards!
The Realm of Gods: The Chronicles of Chaos Book 3 By Glen Dahlgren
Our review for the newest Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Winner is still upcoming. In the meantime, here is what GoodReads readers have been saying:
“I honestly cannot begin to describe how much I loved The Realm of Gods!! I’ve been so very invested over all four books and I’m so very sad it’s come to an end – but what an ending it was!
I’m not even sure what to say without spoiling it, I’m still absolutely reeling from how epic the ending was!!
think I’ve gone through just about every emotion reading these books. I’ve laughed, I’ve grieved, I’ve whooped with joy – even nearly throwing my phone (always at those halfway points) and the ending literally gave me goosebumps it was just brilliant!!”
-Toni
“The Realm of Gods is an epic conclusion to The Chronicles of Chaos series, and I absolutely LOVED it. The story picks up right where the last book left off, diving straight into the action. The world-building is fantastic, and the characters continue to grow in ways that feel natural yet surprising. I especially appreciated how even the villains were complex and interesting, making the stakes feel higher and more intense. Listening to the audiobook added another layer of immersion, and the narration really brought the characters to life.
This final book wraps up the series beautifully, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. The pacing is perfect, and the emotional depth of the story shines through. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy like The Lord of the Rings or The Wheel of Time, this is definitely a series worth diving into. Highly recommend!” -Amber
“The Realm of Gods is a perfect ending to a great series however this reader is very hopeful the author will add to the series in the future. Like with the previous books I found the story to be interesting and captivating and just an absolutely fun, thought-provoking read.” -Dwayne
Sour Flower
A Manuscript
By Maryanne Melloan Woods
Sour Flower,the unpublished feel-good coming-of-age novel by Maryanne Melloan Woods, contrasts the joys of teen friendship with the hardships of growing up in a broken family.
As a fourteen-year-old in 1970s San Francisco, Marigold (call her “M”) Hayes is fed up with her life.
M is very much aware of her role as the mature buzzkill in the family. Her parents, college dropouts and now divorced hippies, barely have it together. M often has to act as the mature adult for the sake of housing and basic necessities. With a spaced-out father who barely supports them and a mother who thinks her daughter is a square, it’s a miracle that M has kept her family afloat for so long.
When her English teacher suggests M apply to Barnum—an elite prep school offering scholarships to students in need—she dares to hope. Maybe this could give her a chance to pursue her dream of becoming a financially stable businesswoman.
Michael J. Cooper’s latest historical fiction novel, Wages of Empire, draws readers into the perilous journey of sixteen-year-old Evan Sinclair and his father into WW1. On this path, their lives will intersect with such historical figures as TE Lawrence, Gertrude Bell, the Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann, the Arab nationalist Faisal ibn Hussein, the proto-Nazi and advisor to the German kaiser Guido von List, and Kaiser Wilhelm II himself.
Set in the summer of 1914 we find Evan living in the American southwest where his father moved the family from England for his Oxford sabbatical. Evan struggles to cope with his mother’s death in childbirth and yearns to escape his father’s controlling grip. As war breaks out in Europe, Evan decides to leave home and join the fight, without telling his father.
Taro: The Legendary Boy Hero of Japan By Blue Spruell
Adventure, classic tales, fantasy, and exciting action combine in TARO: Legendary Boy Hero of Japan, a well-poised debut novel by award-winning author Blue Spruell.
In the turbulent final decades of the sixteenth century, feudal Japan reeled in mayhem as the central hereditary dictatorship collapsed, and tyrannical powers fought to control the empire. TARO: The Legendary Boy Hero of Japan is the story of how one man revolutionized a nation by taking its reigns and forging a new destiny through his depths of compassion and determination.
The story begins with Taro as a young boy. As an heir to the Takeda family, Taro enjoyed reading, much to his father’s disapproval, as he wanted him to follow in his footsteps as a skilled Samurai. Tragedy changes Taro’s presumed destiny when his parents are murdered in a fierce power struggle, leaving him an orphan. Shortly after, a witch saves him from drowning and begins Taro’s new life of adventure, introducing him to a world of mythical creatures. On this new journey, Taro discovers shocking secrets about his lineage, and with them, his ultimate purpose in medieval Japan.
The Best Week That Never Happened By Dallas Woodburn
Dallas Woodburn’s debut novel The Best Week that Never Happened is a roller-coaster ride through Hawaii and the mysterious depths of its briny deep, sparkling with unreal magic, a poignant romance, and incessant hope.
Tegan Rossi, a freshly graduated eighteen-year-old, awakens in the secretive hideout she discovered with Kai Kapule as two eight-year-old children on her first trip to Hawaii Island. She needs to make amends with Kai as they had a major squabble over something very important that she now oddly forgets. When Tegan catches up with Kai in Hawaii, she enters her best week yet – the Best Week That Never Happened.
The first-person narrative is a fusion of Tegan’s past three years ago and ten years ago, as well as a mystified chronicling of her present with Kai on the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Dante Rossetti Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Young Adult Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, Glen Dahlgren’s book, The Realm of Gods will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Dante Rossetti 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!
Join us in celebrating the 2024 First Place Dante Rossetti Winners!
A note from Chanticleer:
This year’s Dante Rossetti Winners is special, in the way that half of our First Place Winners for this year are manuscripts. We are very excited to help these authors celebrate their work, and hopefully see them come out someday!
Mark Kraver – The Willow
Mark Kraver reveals a swashbuckling side of American history in his latest young adult historical fiction novel The Willow. Heroine Abigail Spragg uses her pirate fortune to fund a school for girls, which teaches its students, including Abigail’s teenage daughter Hannah, to fight like their seafaring ancestors.
When Abigail receives a letter from one of her many pirate connections requesting that she use his fortune to help a mysterious acquaintance open this school, she finds the idea preposterous. After all, education for women is rare in 1700s New England. The East Coast is bathed in a strict status quo and still recovering from the witch trials that had taken so many lives. Many people go out of their way to avoid straying from societal norms.
Nevertheless, Abigail sets out, reconnecting with her widowed sister Eunice and bringing her oldest daughter along as they seek the enigmatic Hope Terwilliger and open “The Willow Finishing School”.
The full review will be released upon publication!
According to the authors blog, Book 1 is out of the editing stage, and she is going to be releasing all 3 books in the trilogy together once they are finished. We are very excited to see those when they come out!
Seventeen-year-old Newfoundlander Charlotte Jaddore loves nothing more than learning sacred healing arts from the elders of herMi’kmaq and Beothuk grandmothers. But the year is 1692 and her father needs her help. Their American cousins in Salem, Massachusetts have been accused of witchcraft. Will Charlotte help her father fight for the lives of Philip and Mary English?
When father and daughter arrive in Salem, their cousins have already been imprisoned. How can the couple survive against spectral evidence— harming their victims from afar as invisible projections? The motives of their accusing neighbors are anything but spiritual. They are after the English family’s wealth.
And the sights of those accusers are now fixed on the heirs. Can Charlotte get young Mary, Philip and William to Newfoundland, without infecting her own beloved island with spectral evidence fever?
Spense might have saved his country of Telridge and won the heart of the faerie princess. But he doesn’t feel like a hero—not while Dewy is stuck in the Winter lands, all because of a bargain she made on his behalf.
After months of fruitless research, Spense abandons the libraries of Telridge and turns to the Faerie Oracles to seek a solution. Meanwhile, Dewy is no damsel in distress. She is on a journey of her own, diving deeper into her magic, and finding alliances in the most unexpected of places.
As they each seek the Winter Heir, they face unsettling truths about themselves, their world, and the steep costs of magic.
From Chanticleer:
The Winter Heir, thesecond book in J.A. Nielsen’sFractured Kingdomsseries, picks up where the first book,The Claiming, leaves off—with its protagonists struggling under the weight of a vital bargain.
Lady Dew Drop, Dewy to her friends—and her frenemies—is languishing in the court of the Winter Fae, a summer princess nearly frozen in both heart and spirit as she does her best to fulfill the pact she made with the Winter King. Meanwhile, the man who got her into this mess, the human mage and illegitimate princeling of Telridge—Spence Ferrous—tries to fulfill the deal for her.
But the story is much bigger than these two young lovers. The Winter King is dying without a legitimate heir. And it’s his own proud, arrogant fault. As much as both the humans and the Summer Fae would be willing to let him suffer the consequences of his own actions—he’s not the only one who will.
Sixteen-year-old Calvin Hughes can see human energy and in that revealing light learns the best and worst of the people around him.
He tells no one what he sees, until a young girl vanishes beneath the marsh and the truth behind her tragedy is too disturbing to hide.
But when enchantments lure Cal toward the haunted waters and his sole confidante betrays him, Cal discovers the danger of knowing too much and the price for sharing secrets, especially one that could change the world.
The Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction are named for Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), the British painter, poet, and a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Better known for his romantic paintings, Rossetti was also a prolific poet who, along with his siblings, formed one of literature’s most creative families. His sister Christina was a celebrated poet, Maria became an essayist before joining a religious order, and brother William served as a prominent editor and literary critic.
We chose Dante Rossetti to represent our Young Adult Awards because the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood’s core principles: having genuine ideas to express, studying nature attentively, sympathizing with what is direct and serious and heartfelt, and producing thoroughly excellent work. These mirror what the best young adult literature achieves. Like the Pre-Raphaelites who defied Victorian social conventions, exceptional YA fiction encourages young readers to question norms, observe the world carefully, and find their own authentic voices.
La Viuda Romana by Dante Rossetti
The Art of Writing for Hearts and Minds in Transition
Creating exceptional young adult literature means respecting the intelligence and emotional capacity of readers who are simultaneously naive and wise, hopeful and cynical, dependent and fiercely independent. YA authors walk a fascinating tightrope: addressing mature themes and complex emotions while remembering that their readers are still developing their understanding of themselves and the world.
The best YA fiction doesn’t talk down to its audience or oversimplify complex issues. Instead, it explores themes like identity, justice, love, loss, family, friendship, and social change with the nuance and respect that young adult experiences deserve. Whether it’s a dystopian rebellion that mirrors real-world social justice movements, a contemporary romance that explores healthy relationships, or an epic fantasy that examines power and corruption, exceptional YA literature helps readers process their own experiences while providing the escapism and adventure that makes reading addictive.
Young adult readers have sophisticated BS detectors that can spot condescending or inauthentic writing from a mile away. The authors who succeed in this space are those who remember what it feels like to be young while bringing adult writing skills and perspective to stories that honor the complexity of the teenage experience.
Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!
We’re excited to honor Glen Dahlgren, whose epic fantasy conclusion The Realm of Gods: The Chronicles of Chaos Book Three claimed the 2024 Dante Rossetti Grand Prize with a story that pulls no punches in its exploration of power, rebellion, and the battle between order and chaos. In this climactic volume, protagonist Galen must navigate the Dreaming – an ethereal realm where past, present, and future collide – while confronting both his nemesis Carnaubas and the horrifying truth that the exiled gods of Order still hunger for dominion.
What makes The Realm of Gods exemplary YA literature is its refusal to simplify complex themes of tyranny, rebellion, and human connection. Alongside Eve, a young girl with the ability to see the threads connecting everything, Galen embarks on a desperate quest to prevent Order’s return – a premise that resonates with young readers who understand that fighting against oppressive systems often requires extraordinary courage and unlikely alliances. The novel’s recognition as both a Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Winner and recipient of the American Fiction Award and Indies Today Best Epic Fantasy Award demonstrates how exceptional YA literature can compete on any literary stage. In addition to ongoing promotional features, The Realm of Gods will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Glen Dahlgren will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview, and The Realm of Gods will receive a coveted Chanticleer Editorial Review.
Categories That Capture the Full YA Experience
The Dante Rossetti Awards welcome young adult fiction across every genre and emotional landscape:
Contemporary YA – Stories grounded in today’s reality that explore authentic teen experiences, relationships, and challenges
SFF & Paranormal – Science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal tales that use otherworldly elements to explore very real themes
YA Adventure/Romance – Action-packed stories and love stories that acknowledge the intensity of young relationships and experiences
YA Historical – Past-set stories that help young readers understand different eras while exploring timeless coming-of-age themes
Dystopian/Edgy/Urban – Darker stories that don’t shy away from difficult topics or challenging social commentary
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense – Puzzle-solving adventures and high-stakes narratives that respect young readers’ ability to handle complex plots
Each category acknowledges that young adult readers seek different types of stories depending on their mood, interests, and life experiences, from light romantic escapes to heavy social commentary and everything in between.
The Complete Youth Literature Journey
The Dante Rossetti Awards complete Chanticleer’s comprehensive celebration of youth literature at every developmental stage:
Little Peeps Awards – Picture books and early readers that introduce children to the magic of storytelling
Gertrude Warner Awards – Middle grade fiction for readers developing independence and exploring more complex themes
Together, these three divisions ensure that exceptional youth literature receives recognition at every stage of the reading journey, supporting the development of lifelong readers and critical thinkers.
Looking at Young Adult Excellence
Check out some of these outstanding YA books we’ve celebrated recently!
An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze
By David Scott Richardson
In David Scott Richardson’s YA WWII historical novel, An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze, teenager Scott Johannsen—“Scotty” to his mom and friends—leads us on an adventure through the wartime Ravenna neighborhood in Seattle, Washington.
Boeing manufactures B-17s, his grandparents and neighbors grow victory gardens, his parents build a bomb shelter in their basement, and mandatory blackouts occur every night. Scotty navigates a chaotic world filled with danger and wonder yet finds security with family and friends in this heartfelt story.
Scotty runs with his pack—James, Marty, and Burr. We witness what lengths they will go to on a search for chocolate. With Ravenna Park as a backyard and Puget Sound just a short drive away, Scotty’s life is filled with exploration of the natural world. His fishing adventures with his dad in the Sound become an exciting way to supplement his family’s food rations as he dreams about netting a fighting salmon.
Luna: Rhone and Stone Book 2
By Strider S.R. Klusman
A Chanticleer Dante Rossetti First Place Winner and Cover Design Grand Prize Winner!
Luna, the second book in Strider S.R. Klusman’s YA Rhone and Stone Series, follows Rhone and his alien partner Stone as they develop a ship that can sail through the air.
The two train to become agents for the Office of Public Recrimination, urged to join by their friend – and now boss – Aundrea. Rhone struggles through training with the help of his trusty partner, but a much more difficult test remains before them – their first assignment.
Aundrea sends them to Corgy, a port town, without explaining their mission. But it doesn’t take long for Rhone to encounter troubles from shore and sea alike.
He and Stone meet Mayor Dugan, who takes an instant dislike for Rhone, posing as a wealthy merchant’s son. But it’s his front, designed so by the ladies of the OPR, and commands a great deal of respect and authority from the locals, if not Bella. Sometimes it’s difficult not to forget his actual purpose for being at Corgy. As an agent of the OPR, he must solve the town’s greatest problem, a rash of pirate attacks on Corgy’s vital ocean-borne trade; if they continue, Corgy won’t survive.
Crossroads of Empire by Michael J. Cooper brings readers back into sixteen-year-old Evan Sinclair’s journey through the battlefields of WWI. The adventures and the war itself pick up right where the award-winning Wages of Empire left off.
As in the first book, Evan begins his part of this story by going missing, this time not just from his father’s perspective, but from his own. Severely injured during his service with the Flemish resistance, Evan is discharged from a French field hospital. He’s on his way back to England by hospital ship when it is sunk by a German U-boat. When he reaches British shores as the sole survivor in a lifeboat, he’s left with amnesia and has no memory of who he is.Evan’s search for his own identity leads him to Rosslyn Castle, the Sinclair family’s ancestral home in Scotland. There he unravels secret family histories and connections long buried. Finally, with assistance from a wise woman, Evan regains his memory. Without the protection the amnesia provided, he faces a host of painful and traumatic memories.
The Hidden Library, Book 2 of the Isle of Dragons Series
By L.A. Thompson
Isle of Dragons: The Hidden Libraryby L.A. Thompson is a breathtaking race to seize the reins of destiny and find a magical library that was once the subject of stories and lore. Jade and Kaylen, once friends, oppose each other in search of this hidden library and its world-changing secrets.
Demoted and dejected, Kaylen reels from her valiant but failed attempt to bring back the final item that King Jarrod needs to fulfill a prophecy. The iconic stone remains out of reach. Kaylen is summoned for an audience with the king. A glimmer of hope for the future flickers, but the king demands an even more ambitious mission of her. He will restore her rank and honors if she finds for him the mysterious hidden library that can open a gateway between worlds. It’s a deadly challenge that will once again pit her against an old friend.
Jade summons all her strength and courage with others who stand against the king who has made her family suffer. When she and Kaylen clash, sparks will ignite as hot as a dragon’s roar.
These works demonstrate how the best young adult literature combines sophisticated storytelling with authentic understanding of the teen experience.
See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!
We’re excited about all the exceptional young adult 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 Dante Rossetti Awards recognize the unique challenge and responsibility of writing for young adults, readers who deserve stories as complex, authentic, and emotionally honest as their own experiences. Whether you’re exploring contemporary issues, dystopian futures, epic fantasies, or historical periods, these awards celebrate books that respect young adult intelligence while providing the emotional satisfaction and escapism that great literature offers.
Your Young Adult Story Matters
Young adult readers are at a crucial point in their relationship with literature where they’re deciding whether books will remain an important part of their adult lives. Your YA novel could be the book that helps a teenager understand they’re not alone, provides comfort during a difficult time, or simply offers the perfect escape when life feels overwhelming. These readers are passionate, loyal, and influential; when they love a book, they become its most enthusiastic ambassadors.
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.
The Dante Rossetti Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Young Adult Fiction. The Dante Rossetti Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).
Named in honor of the British poet & painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti who founded the Pre-Ralphaelite Brotherhood in 1848.
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience between the ages of about twelve to eighteen (imaginary or real). Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery, Paranormal, Historical, Romance, Literary, we will put them to the test and choose the best Young Adult Books among them for the winners of the Dante Rossetti Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction. For Middle Grade Fiction check out our Gertrude Warner Awards and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards.
1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners were announced at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony by Reenita Hora on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 at the Bellingham Yacht Club in beautiful Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.
This is the OFFICIAL 2024 LIST of the DANTE ROSSETTI BOOK AWARDS First Place Category Winners and the DANTE ROSSETTI Grand Prize Winner.
Join us in congratulating the following authors and their works in the 2024 CIBAs.
Mark Kraver – The Willow
C.H. Brown – The Appearance of Power
Eileen Charbonneau and Jude Pittman – Spectral Evidence
J.A. Nielsen – The Winter Heir (Fractured Kingdoms, Book 2)
John Middleton – The Pool of Initiation
E. L. Werbitsky – The Marsh Keeper
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 DANTE ROSSETTI Awards is:
Attn CIBA Winners: More goodies and prizes will be coming your way along with promotion in our magazine, website, and advertisements in Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards long-tail marketing strategy. Welcome to the CIBA Hall of Fame for Award Winners!
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A Note to ALL the WINNERS: The coveted CIBA Blue Ribbons will be mailed out starting inMay. We will contact you with an email to verify your mailing address and other items. You will receive an OFFICIAL EMAIL NOTIFICATION with Digital Badges and more information.
NOTE: We will post at least two 2024 CIBA Divisions’ OFFICIAL Winners per business day starting April 14, 2025. We do a final sweep and reconciliation prior to making the Official CIBA Posts for the 2024 First Place and Grand Prize Winners. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. There are many moving parts involved with the Chanticleer International Book Awards Program.
Thank you for participating in the 2024 CIBAs! We are looking forward to reading your future entries.
The Dante Rossetti Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Young Adult Fiction. The Dante Rossetti Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
The Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Children’s Fiction. The Little Peeps Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
