Here at Chanticleer, we love Children’s literature! There is just something about a truly well-told story that sparks the imagination of the young – and the young at heart.

So, as we celebrate Children’s Book Week – May 4 – 10, 2020, allow us to bring along a few friends and share with you some really good books.

Did you know that 2020 marks the 96th anniversary of the first edition of the first book The Boxcar Children by Gertrude C. Warner?

It’s true! We titled the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs) division for middle-grade readers The Gertrude Warner Awards in honor of the author of the well-loved children’s The Boxcar Children Series.

I guess you could say, we’re fans. BIG fans!

We love Gertrude and so many others! Here’s a little list of some of Middle-Grade Children’s authors you probably already know: 

Ron Dahl – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter series

Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians

R.J. Palacio – Wonder

Lemony Snicket – The Series of Unfortunate Events

Madeleine L’Engle – A Wrinkle in Time

Louis Sachar  – Holes

Kelly Barnhill for The Girl Who Drank the Moon

Neil Gaiman – for so, so many books!

Lois Lowry – The Giver

Now – a very special treat! Please take the time to find out about some of our very own personal favorite Middle-Grade Children’s Authors: 

The Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers – FINALISTS for 2019 – are 

• Amber L. Wyss – Phoenix Rising     
• M.J. Evans – PINTO!   
• M.J. Evans – The Stone of Wisdom – Book 4 of the Centaur Chronicles
• Beth Stickley – Tarnation’s Gate    
• Rey Clark – Legends of the Vale   
• Laura M. Kemp – Burnt Feathers   
• Alex Paul – The Valley of Death, Book 5, Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals
• Trayner Bane – Windhollow and the Axe Breaker (Windhollows, Book 3)
• Carolyn Watkins – The Knock…a collection of childhood memories
• Liana Gardner – 7th Grade Revolution
• Nancy McDonald – Boy from Berlin
• Wendy Leighton-Porter – The Shadow of the Tudor Rose 
• Kit Bakke – Dancing on the Edge
• Mobi Warren – The Bee Maker
• C.R. Stewart – Britfield and the Lost Crown
• B.L. Smith – Bert Mintenko and the Serious Business

These titles are in the running for the First Place positions of the 2019 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers

– and one will be named GRAND Prize Winner!

The 2018 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Grand Prize went to Jules Luther – for the unpublished book, The Portals of Peril

2018 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers First in Category Winners

• Keelic and the Pathfinders of Midgarth by Alexander Edlund
• Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend by Cheryl Carpinello
• The Portals of Peril by Jules Luther
• From the Shadows by KB Shaw
• Tallulah’s Flying Adventure by Gloria Two-Feathers
• Vampire Boy by Aric Cushing
• The Adventures of Rug Bug by Kay M. Bates

Paul Aertker took home the CIBA GRAND PRIZE 2017 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Grand Prize for

BRAINWASHED: CRIME TRAVELERS SPY SCHOOL SERIES 

2017 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers First in Category Winners

• The Supernatural Pet Sitter by Diane Moat
• Bryce Bumps His Head by Robert D. Calkins
• Brainwashed: The Crime Travelers Series by Paul Aertker
• The Queen and Knights of Nor by Rebekah Stelzer/R.L.Stelzer
• Lucky Rocks by Murray Richter
• Flowerantha by Bek Castro
• The Strange Case of Mr. Beets by A Pharmacist on a Yak (Anand Vora)  

The 2016 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Grand Prize was won by Alan Sproles & Lizanne Southgate for their work, The Train From Outer Space.

2016 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers First in Category Winners are:

• Life On Base: Quantico Cave by Tom & Nancy Wise
• The Train from Outer Space by Alan Sproles and Lizanne Southgate
• The Mystery of Hollow Inn by Tara Ellis
• Ethyr by M.P. Follin
• I, Mary by Mike Hartner

Are you interested in seeing how your Middle-Grade book stands up to the competition? Submit them to the Chanticleer International Book Awards and we will choose the best among the entries!

Click here for more information about The CIBAs!