Gallery Nominated Books

Unicorn Not Wanted

By Fred Blunt

A humorous take on the unicorn trend, Unicorn NOT Wanted is a funny picture book starring an uninvited unicorn that hijacks the story.​

“There are way too many unicorn stories, so this book will be A UNICORN FREE ZONE!
And it will be set where you definitely won’t find unicorns… THE WILD WEST!

This is an anti-unicorn, unicorn story, which pokes fun at the never-ending stream of unicorn books, but then becomes what it sets out not to be… thanks to a unicorn intruder!

A unicorn arrives in disguise as a horse on the first pages, but when her hat is removed and her horn exposed, chaos ensues…

It’s really silly, but has a positive message of not stereotyping people and being yourself.

Banana Dream

By Hasan Namir, Illustrated by Daby Zainab Faidhi

Growing up in Iraq after the Gulf War, Mooz didn’t always like his name, which means “banana”. But when he learns the story behind it, he’s proud, even when being teased by his classmates. Now all he yearns for is to taste a banana—a lofty dream in a time when few countries are trading with Iraq, where bananas don’t grow.

Cozy in Love

By Jan Brett, Illustrated by Jan Brett

After losing a test of strength to another musk ox in his herd, Cozy is convinced he’ll never impress his crush, Lofti. But while he’s sulking, he learns of a bigger concern. His friend Bella, a beluga whale, is still playing in an inlet even though it’s cold enough for ice to form and block her way out. Cozy races to the inlet and, sure enough, Bella is in trouble. Luckily, Cozy thinks of a new way to use his strong legs and tough horns that might help save Bella and win Lofti’s heart as well.

Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person

By Laura Wifler, Illustrated by Skylar White

This children’s picture book follows a sibling of a child with a disability as they go through their day. A simple story with an important message, Like Me helps kids recognize the many similarities they share with disabled kids and model a loving and understanding approach to the differences.