Children’s Book Awards & Honors | Marissa Bader
This page highlights the book awards and honors my children’s books have received, which focus on confidence, emotional growth, and navigating big feelings. I’m deeply grateful for the recognition from literary organizations and award programs that support meaningful children’s literature.
Awards for The Only Me
- Reader’s Favorite – Gold Medal in Children’s Books — Grade K-3 Category
- Reader’s Choice Finalist Award Finalist– May 31, 2024
- Mom’s Choice Award – Gold
- Reader’s Favorite – Five Stars Review Award
- Purple Dragonfly Book Award (Hon. Mention)
- Five Star Litpick Book Review Award
- Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2022 Edition — The Only Me listed as one of the top 100 indie books of 2022
Awards for Stella’s Brave Voice
- Reader’s Favorite – Silver Medal in Children’s — Picture Book Category
- Reader’s Choice Finalist Award – May 31, 2024
- Story Monster’s Approved Winner
- Mom’s Choice Award – Gold
- Reader’s Favorite – Five Stars Review Award
- Five Star Litpick Book Review Award
- Purple Dragonfly Book Award – Picture Books 5 & Younger (Hon. Mention)
Awards for Petunia the Perfectionist
- Selected as an Indie Author Project Select title, a curated collection highlighting outstanding independently published books. Through this program, the ebook is available to library patrons across the United States and Canada via BiblioBoard
- Ella’s Way Children’s Book Award – 2025
- Named a Finalist in the 2025 Midwest Book Awards in the Children’s Picture Book Category
- Named one of the Best Indie Books of 2024 by Kirkus Reviews Magazine – December 15, 2024 Edition
- Earned a Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews
- Earned an Editor’s Choice Review from BookLife Reviews by Publisher’s Weekly
- Fall 2024 BookFest Awards — First Place in Children’s-Fiction-Social Themes Category
- Named a Best Book of 2024 by BookLife from Publisher’s Weekly
- Mom’s Choice Award – Gold
- Reader’s Favorite – Five Stars Review Award
- Five Star Litpick Book Review Award
- Litpick Top Choice Book Review Award
- Literary Titan Book Award
Awards for Saturdays with Gramps
- Literary Titan Gold Book Award
- 2026 Feathered Quill Book Awards Finalist
- Selected as an Indie Author Project Select title, a curated collection highlighting outstanding independently published books. Through this program, the ebook is available to library patrons across the United States and Canada via BiblioBoard
- 2025 Royal Dragonfly Award Winner
- Fall 2025 BookFest Awards — Second Place in Children’s Picture Book Category
- Earned a 5-Star Review from Literary Titan
