Winners
Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Children's / Young Adult
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: 978-1-7368510-0-5
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: 978-1-7358547-0-0
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: 978-1-7364580-0-6
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: 978-1-7353511-0-0
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: 978-0-9964708-4-1
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: 978-1-7350319-0-3
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: 978-1-9999267-0-0
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: 978-1-7340214-0-0
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: 978-1-7336335-2-9
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.
For more information, visit www.ibpa-online.org.
