2023 Winner

Beach Toys vs. School Supplies

Written + Illustrated by Mike Ciccotello

2022 Winner

Every Little Letter

Written by Deborah Underwood
Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz

2021 Winner

Not Your Nest

Written by Gideon Sterer
Illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers

2020 Winner

Grumpy Monkey

Written by Suzanne Lang
Illustrated by Max Lang
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

2019 Winner

After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)

Written and illustrated by Dan Santat
Published by Roaring Book Press

2018 Winner

My Friend Maggie

Written and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison
Published by Dial Books

2017 Winner

Nerdy Birdy

Written by Aaron Reynolds
Published by Roaring Brook Press

2016 Winner

Dozer's Run

Written by Debbie Levy
Published by Sleeping Bear Press

2015 Winner

The Day the Crayons Quit

Written by Drew Daywalt
Published by Philomel Books

2014 Winner

Each Kindness

Written by Jaqueline Woodson
Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

2013 Winner

The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town

Written by Mary Casanova
Illustrated by Ard Hoyt
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

2012 Winner

Snow Dog's Journey

Written by Loretta Krupinski
Published by Dutton Books for Young Readers

2011 Winner

Lousy Stinkin' Rotten Grapes

Written by Margie Palatini
Illustrated by Barry Moser
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

2010 Winner

Bats at the Library

Written by Brian Lies
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

2009 Winner

How to Get a Gorilla Out of Your Bathtub

Written by John Hall
Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Published by White Stone Books

2008 Winner

The Great Fuzz Frenzy

Written by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

2007 Winner

Our Tree Named Steve

Written by Alan Zweibel
Illustrated by David Catrow
Published by Puffin Books

2006 Winner

S is for Sunflower: A Kansas Alphabet

Written by Devin Scillian
Illustrated by Doug Bowles
Published by Sleeping Bear Press

2005 Winner

Souperchicken

Written by Mary Jane
Illustrated by Herm Auch
Published by Holiday House

2004 Winner

The Teddy Bear

Written by David McPhail
Published by Square Fish

2003 Winner

Goin' Someplace Special

Written by Patricia C. McKissack
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Published by Aladdin

2002 Winner

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Written by Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Published by Simon Spotlight

2001 Winner

Crocodiles & Alligators

Written by Seymour Simon
Published by Collins

2000 Winner

Stella Louella's Runaway Book

Written by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

1999 Winner

The Hat

Written by Jan Brett
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

1998 Winner

Piggie Pie!

Written by Margie Platini
Illustrated by Howard Fine
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

1997 Winner

Tops & Bottoms

Written by Janet Stevens
Published by Harcourt Brace