Winners
Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Children's / Young Adult
2024 WINNERS - BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2024 winners in the BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2023.
A Little More Beautiful: The Story of a Garden
2024 Gold Winner
Author/Illustrator: written by Sarah Mackenzie, illustrated by Breezy Brookshire
Publisher: Waxwing Books
ISBN: 9781956393002
A picture book that does, indeed, leave the world a little more beautiful than it found it. Sly as a fox and swift as a bird, Lou Alice is determined to leave each day a little more beautiful. When she moves away from her little house, no one notices she's gone except a little girl. A story about seeing and being seen.
Uno The One-Legged Spider
2024 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: written by Brandee Huddleston; illustrated by Courtney Huddleston
Publisher: The Readers Huddle
ISBN: 9798988888703
Uno is a spunky one-legged spider that lives in Gleewood Glen. The annual Big Race is quickly approaching, and Uno is excited to participate. Unfortunately, he is desperately in need of a new shoe. Will he earn money for his shoe in time to be ready at the starting line?
We're the Same, We're Different, We All Belong: A Children's Book That Teaches Kindness, Acceptance & Empathy
2024 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: KayJay Miller
Publisher: Force For Good Media
ISBN: 9781961930025
In her own heartwarming, hilarious words, Marnie, a spunky multiracial kindergartener, explores the concept of diversity. She finds that differences (e.g. race, size, accent, learning styles, ways of moving around) are only one part of a person's unique story.
2023 WINNERS - BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2023 winners in the BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2022.
Lulu the Beaver
2023 Gold Winner
Author/Illustrator: written and illustrated by Bethany Gano
Publisher: Bunny Books
ISBN: 9781736147269
Lulu tries to be a typical beaver, but her dream of being an artist is getting out! Despite her friends’ encouragement, Lulu’s struggle with fear and self-doubt has led her into a pattern of destroying her artwork — until an unexpected encounter changes Lulu, and the forest, for good.
The Little Red Dress
2023 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: by Jonathan Joseph, illustrated by Silvan Borer
Publisher: Little Red Fashion
ISBN: 9780578970455
Meet Michelle, The Little Red Dress as she recounts her exciting life from sketch to sample, runway and beyond. This rhyming tale of triumph for kids brings fashion to life and opens doors for exploring history & STEM through augmented reality triggered by the lush hand painted fashion illustrations.
Mom's Not Wipin' Your Bum
2023 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: by Lin Hawthorne, illustrated by Stevie Mahardhika
Publisher: Three Plus One Publishing
ISBN: 9798985266801
Zeke and his best friend Abacus zoom through an imaginative bathroom adventure. With Zeke’s mom handing him helpful tips along the way, Zeke learns to wipe himself! It's the start of many things he learns to do “by himself” and readers laugh their way to raising more independent kiddos.
2022 WINNERS- BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2022 winners in the BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2021.
Mighty Mila
2022 Gold Winner
Author/Illustrator: by Katie Petruzziello, illustrated by Nadja Sarell
Publisher: Mighty Books, LLC
ISBN: 9781736851005
Celebrate the power of believing in yourself with this heartwarming and hilarious tale of a spunky girl who's determined to prove she’s a big kid! Join Mila as she uses her creativity, willpower, and new cochlear implant hearing devices to overcome obstacles in this beautifully illustrated and inclusive story.
Miranda's Green Hair
2022 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: by D.H. Whyatt, illustrated by Corey Wolfe and Carlos Valenti
Publisher: Whynk Publishing LLC
ISBN: 9781735854700
Miranda’s Green Hair is a picture book filled with delightful rhymes and vivid illustrations from cover to cover. The charming story about how one stubborn little girl learns to understand and express her feelings about having her green hair washed and combed will capture your child’s imagination.
Rae’s First Day: The First Story in The Capables Series
2022 Silver Winner
Author/Illustrator: by Danny Jordan, illustrated by Agustina Perciante
Publisher: The Capables LLC
ISBN: 9781736458006
Rae is like many five year olds with one BIG exception: she has a super-secret superpower that she hasn't shared with anyone before. But, it’s her first day of school and her classmates are in need. Will she keep her superpower to herself…or use it to help her new friends?
2021 WINNERS- BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2021 winners in the BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2020. Click here to watch the Gold and Silver winner speeches.
Jump the Moon
2021 Gold Winner
Author: Kathy Simmers, illustated by Marjorie van Heerden
Publisher: Bound to Happen Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 9781735351100
Beautiful illustrations throughout this heartwarming true story bring to life the emotional journey taken by a girl and her pony that will teach readers, young and old, the importance of trusting your heart, following your dreams, and never putting limits on what is possible.
Ice Queen
2021 Silver Winner
Author: Felicia Farber
Publisher: Pyramid Press
ISBN: 9780996470841
A multi-award-winning YA novel about the dangers of teenage sexting and cyberbullying. In today’s society electronic devices can become digital weapons, and teens are at risk of having their online behaviors criminalized. This entertaining romantic suspense novel puts ordinary high schoolers in real-life scenarios that jeopardize their relationship and futures.
Shreya's Very Own Style
2021 Silver Winner
Author: Suhani Parikh, illustrated by Lovyaa Garg
Publisher: Modern Marigold Books, LLC
ISBN: 9781735031903
Seven-year-old Shreya has alopecia areata, an auto-immune condition that causes hair loss. She can do anything except figure out how else to style her hair so her bald patches won’t show. This is an uplifting, own-voice story about self-love and acceptance through the eyes of an Indian-American child.
2020 WINNERS - BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S/YOUNG ADULT
See below for the list of 2020 winners in the BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: CHILDREN'S / YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2019.
Get Back in the Book!
2020 Gold Winner
Author: Larry Issa, illustrated by Emma Chadwick
Publisher: Kalamus
ISBN: 9781999926700
The characters from a young writer's story have escaped to explore the world! Can YOU convince them to get back in the book? This extraordinary tale illustrates the powerful and positive impact of books and storytelling.
Eagle vs. Bear: Adventures of a Child Cub
2020 Silver Winner
Editor: Emile Millar
Publisher: EvB Media
ISBN: 9781734021400
Eagle vs Bear is a rock ’n' roll adventure story where each chapter comes with its own song, and kids love it!
The Interactive Constitution: Explore the Constitution with Flaps, Wheels, Color-Changing Words, and More!
2020 Silver Winner
Authors: David and Stephanie Miles, illustrated by Albert Pinilla
Publisher: Bushel & Peck Books
ISBN: 9781733633529
Packed with interactive features, the Constitution comes to life like never before. "Both history geeks and casual students should easily ratify this one." —Publishers Weekly magazine
About the
Independent Book Publishers Association
Founded to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,200 members, IBPA is the largest independent publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry.
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