Winners of Purple Dragonfly Book Awards Announced

Online, November 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - CHANDLER, AZ - The judges of the first annual Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in children's literature, have spoken, and the surprising results are in. Though God's Promise by Maureen Moss, a beautifully illustrated children's book that, according to judges, instills spiritual faith, security and love in the hearts of young and old readers alike, ran away with the $300 Grand Prize with a perfect score, Travel with Gannon & Wyatt: Botswana by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet swept four first-place "Best" categories: Charity, Outdoor Recreation, Cover Design, and Educational/Instructional; and a second-place award for the General category.

"One judge commented that the book was so well-written and exciting for young readers that its lessons 'go down like smooth, melting chocolate,'" says Linda Radke, president of Five Star Publications, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards.

Additional first-place winners, who all received $75, are: Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden by Kathy M. Miller for Best Animal/Pet book, Little Rockin' Roger and the Magic Glass Guitar by Benjamin Moores for Best Arts/Music, Hey Dad! Let's Have a Catch by Harold Theurer, Jr. for Family Matters, Roonie B. Mooney: Lost and Alone by Janan Cain for Family Matters, Living on Sisu: The 1913 Union Copper Strike Tragedy by Deborah K. Frontiera for Historical Fiction, Morning Rain by Sheila Cayolle for Interior Design. A complete list of winners including all second-place and honorable mention recipients can be found at www.FiveStarBookAwards.com.

The second annual Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest is already underway. Submissions postmarked March 1, 2011 or earlier are eligible for the Early Bird reward: a free e-copy of The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing or Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show. Final deadline for submissions is May 1, 2011. The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards Contest has also launched with Submissions postmarked December 1, 2010 or earlier eligible for the Early Bird reward and the final deadline for submissions on February 1, 2011. In order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score of 55 out of 80 must be earned for a place to be awarded to the entrant - even if it is the sole entry in a category. For complete rules and submission forms, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com.

The Purple and Royal Dragonfly Book Awards are part of the family of Five Star Dragonfly Book contests, which include the Chocolate Dragonfly Book Awards, honoring food-related publications; the Green Dragonfly Book Awards, saluting books that create awareness of the environment and eco-friendly living; and Dragonfly eBook Awards, which celebrate eBooks. For more on Five Star Dragonfly contests, access www.FiveStarBookAwards.com. Five Star Publications can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 480-940-8182.

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2009 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Winners

Grand Prize- God's Promise by Maureen Moss - Ashland, OR

Animals/Pets
• 1st Place - Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden by Kathy M. Miller - New Ringgold, PA
• 2nd Place - Ramdas: The One-Eyed Turtle by Robert Goerman & Dinesh Patel - New Kensington, PA

Arts/Music
• 1st Place - Little Rockin' Roger and the Magic Glass Guitar by Benjamin Moores - Manchester, England

Charity
• 1st Place - Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet - Rochester Hills, MI

Cover Design
• 1st Place - Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet - Rochester Hills, MI
• 2nd Place - Danny the Dragon by Tina Turbin - Dunedin, FL

Educational/Instructional
• 1st Place - Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet - Rochester Hills, MI

Family Matters
• 1st Place - Hey Dad! Let's Have a Catch by Harold Theurer, Jr. - Brooklyn, NY
• 2nd Place - Where Do We Go? By James F. Weinsier - Fernandina Beach, FL
• Honorable Mention - Princess Sally and Prince Tommy in the Kingdom Always by Jennifer L. Gray, Ph.D. - Federal Way, WA

General
• 1st Place - Roonie B. Mooney: Lost and Alone by Janan Cain - Riverside, IL
• 2nd Place - Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet- Rochester Hills, MI
• Honorable Mention - Hip Hip Hooray, It's Monsoon Day! By Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford - Tucson, AZ

Historical Fiction
• 1st Place - Living on Sisu: The 1913 Union Copper Strike Tragedy by Deborah K. Frontiera - Houston, TX

Interior Design
• 1st Place - Morning Rain by Sheila Cayolle - Alpharetta, GA

Outdoor Recreation
• 1st Place - Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet - Rochester Hills, MI

Spiritual/Religious
• 1st Place - God's Promise by Maureen Moss - Ashland, OR
• 2nd Place - Where Do We Go? By James F. Weinsier - Fernandina Beach, FL
• Honorable Mention - Your Preteen Apostolate by Nicholas J. Bottesi and Michele E. Bondi - Rochester Hills, MI