Nominated Books

The Boy Who Cried Poop

By Alessandra Requena

A father is just trying to take his kids for a refreshing swim in the pool, but every time they jump in…

“DAD! I NEED TO POOP!”

By the time they get to the bathroom: “I don’t need to go anymore!” Sound familiar?
Back and forth, back and forth they go. “Just poop already!” yells the big sister.

Until finally, the little brother… does. Oops!

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.

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.

Just Gus

By McCall Hoyle, Illustrated by Vivienne To

Gus is a livestock guardian dog with one job―protecting his farm from coyotes and foxes. He likes keeping the sheep, the chickens, and his humans safe, and he’s very good at it.One day, Diego and his dad come to visit the farm, and Gus immediately connects to the small boy. They both like to sit still and enjoy the quiet, and Gus can tell that Diego likes being around a gentle giant of a dog, that it helps relieve the boy’s constant worry.When Gus detects the scent of a bear in the woods, he rushes to protect his flock, injuring his leg in a fight with the dangerous beast. Wounded, Gus needs to rest and heal away from his sheep, so he doesn’t risk reinjuring his leg. Diego suggests Gus come home with them to the North Carolina coast.Suddenly, Gus is thrust into a new world of saltwater and sand and neighbors who don’t appreciate the presence of a large guard dog, like the neighbor who reminds Gus of his first owner―the junkyard man with the heavy boots.Gus realizes Diego might need a friend as much as his sheep need a protector, but if he can’t learn to control his instincts, like barking and patrolling the neighborhood, Gus might lose his chance to stay in his new home. If he can’t protect the farm or his boy, Gus worries he might never find his place in the world.