2022 Northern Lights Book Awards Winners!
Picture Book of the Year
Annette Feels Free: The True Story of Annette Kellerman, World-Class Swimmer, Fashion Pioneer, and Real-Life Mermaid
Author/Illustrator: Katie Mazeika
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Middle School Book of the Year
Forever Birchwood
Author: Danielle Daniel
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, Ltd.
Winner of the Board Book Category
Stay This Way Forever for Little Ones
Author: Linsey Davis
Illustrator: Lucy Fleming
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Winner of the Mindfulness Category
Dear Black Child
Author: Rahma Rodaah
Illustrator: Lydia Mba
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, Ltd.
Winner of the Mindfulness Category
Little Book of Kindness
Author/Illustrator: Francesca Pirrone
Publisher: Clavis
Winner of the Preschool Category
You’re the Hugs to My Kisses
Author: Barbara Herndon
Illustrator: Diane Ewen
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Winner of the Preschool Category
Because You Are
Author: Jael Richardson
Illustrator: Nneka Myers
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, Ltd.
Winner of the Picture Book 4-8 Category
You Are Not Alone
Authors: Alphabet Rockers
Illustrator: Ashley Evans
Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore
Winner of the Picture Book 4-8 Category
This Could be You: Be Brave! Be True! Believe! Be You!
Author: Cindy Williams Schrauben
Illustrator: Julia Seal
Publisher: Cardinal Rule Press
Winner of the Concept Category
Ada and the Helpers
Author: Travis D. Peterson
Illustrator: Melissa Fischer
Publisher: Launch Mission Publishing
Winner of the Picture Book – All Ages Category
Sunflower Sisters
Author: Monika Singh Gangotra
Illustrator: Michaela Dias-Hayes
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Winner of the Picture Book – All Ages Category
The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Author: Pat Black-Gould
Illustrator: Katya Royz
Publisher: Purple Butterfly Press
Winner of the Author/Illustrator Category
Literary Critters: William Shakesbear’s Journey for Inspiration
Author/Illustrator: Sophie Corrigan
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Winner of the Illustrator Category
My Key
Author/Illustrator: Amal
Publisher: Clavis
Winner of the Picture Book Non-Fiction Category
Our World Is a Family: Our Community Can Change the World
Authors: Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson
Illustrator: Nomar Perez
Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore
Winner of the Historical Category
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans
Author: Barbara Elizabeth Walsh
Illustrator: Layne Johnson
Publisher: Calkins Creek
Winner of the Poetry Category
Where We Come From
Authors: John Coy, Shannon Gibney, Sun Yung Shin, and Diane Wilson
Illustrator: Dion MBD
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Winner of the Graphic Novel Category
Borders
Author: Thomas King
Illustrator: Natasha Donovan
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, Ltd.
Winner of the Family Category
Three Pockets Full: A Story of Love, Family, and Tradition
Author: Cindy L.Rodriguez
Illustrator: Begona Fernandez Corbalan
Publisher: Cardinal Rule Press
Winner of the Family Category
Playtime for Restless Rascals
Author: Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Winner of the Holiday/Notable Days Category
Bunny Finds Easter
Author: Laura Sassi
Illustrator: Ela Jarzabek
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Winner of the Nature Category
Listen to the Language of the Trees: A Story of How Forests Communicate Underground
Author: Tera Kelley
Illustrator: Maire Hermansson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore
Winner of the Animals/Pets Category
Happy Birthday, Fiona
Author/Illustrator: Richard Cowdrey
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Winner of the Animals/Pets Category
This Farm is a Family
Author: Dan McKernan
Illustrator: Denise Hughes
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Winner of the Health Category
Ice Cream with Grandpa: A Loving Story for Kids about Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Author: Laura Smetana
Illustrator: Elisabete B.P. de Moraes
Publisher: Flying Cardinal Press
Winner of the Humor Category
Don’t Call Me Fuzzybutt!
Author: Robin Newman
Illustrator: Susan Batori
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Winner of the Food Category
Queen Bee’s Alphabet Cookbook: Teaching Basic English Skills and Healthy Nutrition One Bite at a Time!
Authors: Teri Ecker and Mariah Ecker, RD
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Winner of the Religious/Spiritual Category
Baptized in the Water: Becoming a Member of God’s Family
Author: Glenys Nellist
Illustrator: Anna Kazimi
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Winner of the Religious/Spiritual Category
A Prayer for Our Country: Words to Unite and Inspire Hope
Author: Senate Chaplain Barry Black
Illustrator: Kim Holt
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Winner of the Educational Category
The Book of Untold Stories: Fourteen Prompts to Spark the Imagination
Author: Sherri Maret
Illustrator: Thomas Hilley
Publisher: The RoadRunner Press
Winner of the Educational Category
The Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project
Author: Lynne Marie
Illustrator: Wendy Fedan
Publisher: Mac and Cheese Press
Winner of the Emotional Health Category
Mama Bird Lost an Egg
Author: Evelyne Fournier
Illustrator: Chloloula
Publisher: CrackBoom! Books
Winner of the Emotional Health Category
Where Do Your Feelings Live?
Author: Catherine Hernandez
Illustrator: Myriam Chery
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, Ltd.
Winner of the Best Series Category
The Lord’s Prayer: For All God’s Children
Author: Harold L. Senkbeil
Illustrator: Natasha Kennedy
Publisher: Lexham Press
Winner of the Best Series Category
The King of Christmas: All God’s Children Search for Jesus
Author: Todd R. Hains
Illustrator: Natasha Kennedy
Publisher: Lexham Press
Winner of the Best Series Category
The Apostles’ Creed: For All God’s Children
Author: Ben Myers
Illustrator: Natasha Kennedy
Publisher: Lexham Press
Winner of the Middle-Grade Fiction Category
Thrive: The Overthrow
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, Ltd.
Winner of the Middle-Grade Historical Fiction Category
The Other Side of the River
Author: Alda P. Dobbs
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Winner of Best First Picture Book
Mrs. Noah
Author: Patti Richards
Illustrator: Alice Pieroni
Publisher: Little Lamb Books
Winner of Best First Picture Book
Kara’s Dreams
Author: Ritu Anand
Illustrator: Veen Redwood
Publisher: Pathbinder Publishing
