Children’s Book Award Nominees

2023 Children’s Book Award Nominees

The OTTER Award

OTTER Award

This Washington State award is given yearly to a transitional chapter book for all students in grades K-5.

  • Starla Jean (Starla Jean, book #1) by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by A.N. Kang
  • Monster and Boy (Monster and Boy, book #1) by Hannah Barnaby, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
  • Max Meow Book #1: Cat Crusader by John Gallagher
  • Missed Meal Mayhem (The Hunger Heroes, book #1) by Jarrett Lerner
  • The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian #1: The Fuzzy Apocalypse by Jonathan Messinger, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff
  • Trouble at Table 5 #1: The Candy Caper by Tom Watson, illustrated by Marta Kissi

Sasquatch Book Award

Sasquatch Award

This Washington State kids’ choice award is given yearly to a 4th-6th grade chapter book.   

  • Ana on the Edge by A.J. Sass
  • Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
  • Cleo Porter and the Body Electric by Jake Burt
  • Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster
  • Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
  • Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera
  • Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley
  • One Last Shot by John David Anderson
  • Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian
  • Show Me a Sign by Clare LeZotte
  • Stand Up, Yumi Chung by Jessica Kim
  • Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright

The William C. Towner Award

Towner Medal

This Washington State award is given yearly to an informational text for grades 2-6.

  • Battle of the Butts: The Science Behind Animal Behinds by Jocelyn Rish
  • The Little Spacecraft that Could by Joyce Lapin
  • Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty
  • The Magic of Sleep: A Fascinating Guide to the World of Slumber by Vicki Woodgate
  • Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Melissa Stewart
  • Scurry! The Truth About Spiders by Annette Whipple
  • The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung
  • The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation by Alice B. McGinty
  • I am Smoke by Henry Herz
  • Zion Unmatched by Zion Clark and James S. Hirsch

Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award

Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award

This Washington State award is given yearly to a picture book for all students in grades K-3.

  • AAAlligator by Judith Henderson
  • Amara and the Bats by Emma Reynolds
  • Butterflies are Pretty Gross by Rosemary Mosco
  • Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator by Emma Bland Smith
  • Don’t Hug Doug: (He Doesn’t Like It) by Carrie Finison
  • First Blade of Sweetgrass: A Native American Story by Suzanne Greenlaw
  • The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley
  • Fluffy McWhiskers: Cuteness Explosion by Stephen W. Martin
  • Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson
  • The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gould
  • My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World by Malcolm Mitchell
  • The Mysterious Sea Bunny by Peter Raymundo
  • Norman Didn’t Do It!: (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins
  • The Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship by Julie Abery
  • Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan
  • Seven Golden Rings: A Tale of Music and Math by Rajani LaRocca
  • Sloth & Squirrel in a Pickle by Cathy Ballou Mealey
  • Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler
  • Ten Beautiful Things by Molly Beth Griffin
  • XO, Exoplanet by Deborah Underwood

Young Readers Choice Award

Young Reader's Choice Award

This Pacific Northwest Library Association award is given yearly to a Junior Division chapter book for all students in grades 4-6.

  • Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron
  • City Spies by James Ponti
  • When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
  • The Barren Grounds by David Robertson
  • Wink by Rob Harrell
  • When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed