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Literary Titan Book Award – Dec 2023
The Literary Titan Book Award proudly celebrates enchanting childrenโs books that captivate hearts with fantastic storytelling, radiant illustrations, delightful characters, and innovative concepts. Bestowing well-deserved recognition, we honor their boundless creativity and remarkable talent in crafting stories that ignite imaginations and bring joy to young readers.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Book Awards Oct 2023
The Literary Titan Book Award proudly celebrates enchanting children’s books that captivate hearts with their standout storytelling, luminous illustrations, delightful characters, and inventive concepts. Bestowing well-deserved recognition, we applaud the exceptional authors behind these literary gems, honoring their boundless creativity and remarkable talent in crafting stories that ignite imaginations and bring joy to young readers.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Courage, Self-Confidence, and Fun
A Special Sweaterย follows a young boy who, after learning to knit, wants to take on the big project of making a sweater; he has to overcome several obstacles to make his vision a reality. What was the inspiration for your story?
I have always admired the enthusiasm and optimism that, at its best, helps children to grow as people constantly. They may have unrealistic ideas about their chances of achieving the desired results but still want to try.
I was a resourceful child who was constantly trying to outdo myself. Sometimes, I built a hut with insufficient supplies. My dream of the finished building was much more wonderful than the cabin I finally created from twigs.
I also collected a bunch of fragrant flowers and tried to make perfume out of them. Of course, it was a bit sad when the result was only a smelly gray broth, not the sweet scent of a rose.
Later, as a parent, I have always tried to encourage my three children to test their limits – and in moments of disappointment, I have comforted them when necessary. They were all very active and believed in their abilities as builders, cooks, merchants, and journalists from an early age. My daughter was a great example of an indomitable child who built herself sandals from pieces of wood, nails, and ribbons. And she didn’t mind even though she couldn’t walk on them. All in all, the sandals were a success, and we still have great photos of this unique project!
Adults should remember that the most important thing in a child’s activity is not a perfect result. Even more valuable is the opportunity to dream and create – and the chance to try again.
Do you enjoy knitting or doing any other craft work like Eddy?
I have always been enthusiastic about knitting. My skills only developed as an adult when I could do things at my own pace. School craft classes, at least in my childhood, were about following exact instructions and often suppressed your desire to create.
Later, when I could take responsibility for knitting all alone, I started to enjoy it. Knitting is simply inspiring if you can design freely and choose yarns, models, and colors. Of course, the results of my knitting are already more satisfactory today.
My specialty is woolen socks, which I give away to my friends. When I knit something warm and homemade for my loved ones, it feels like I care about them with warm thoughts.
I have also included the idea of โโknitting in one of my upcoming children’s books. In it, an old writer, frustrated with the results of his work and their reception, invents a new way to influence. That also includes knitting. But I won’t reveal the story more now. Let’s wait for the illustration and publication.
Is there any moral or idea that you hope children take away from the story?
The most important message of the story is that children should have enough freedom to realize their ideas and dreams. It’s not a question of them being allowed to do or get anything, nor about materials and excessive costs. Instead, adults should recognize situations where a child’s creativity and ideas just need a little support and encouragement.
I want to encourage children to try their ideas without worrying about whether they will succeed perfectly or what others say. Building self-confidence is one of the most important things I strive for when writing for children.
It is also important to identify various limiting factors. There can be many kinds of people in the environment, which prevents the child’s natural desire to experiment. Authorities in schools and hobbies set limits. People in one’s family circle, both parents and siblings, can block and doubt. Even among friends, some may criticize and discourage you. In the midst of all this, children must find their personal power and learn to use their judgment.
Although many of the children’s efforts do not lead to tangible results, something even more valuable follows. Children gain courage, self-confidence, and fun in their lives. A person who has not been needlessly restricted or suppressed in childhood grows into a strong and whole adult.
Yourย “I Did It” series is one of my favorites, I love seeing children work through problems and have success. Will there be more books in this series?
There are currently three books in the I Did It series. In addition to this story, A Special Sweater, I have written the books My Sunflowers and A Tree House Night. They also describe situations where the children face resistance and difficulties but find ways to overcome them and achieve their dreams.
Children take the reins to some extent in all of these books. They don’t exceed the allowed limits in any radical way, but the message is the same: The limits set by the environment can sometimes be too strict. For growth to be possible, you must be encouraged to go a little further. Of course, I am not inciting dangerous anarchy because the safety of children’s lives means a lot to me.
I think such environments, where the child’s ideas and enthusiasm are at odds with the environment, are interesting and important topics in children’s literature. Maybe I will write more parts in the series. At least, there are many delicious ideas from my childhood and the lives of the children around me.
Play is an excellent way to develop skills needed later in life. My goal is to help children grow into mentally strong adults with self-esteem. Cooperation with other people also becomes natural and equal from this starting point.
I have to admit that after writing each book in the I Did It series, I have felt proud of the accomplishments of the main characters. Witnessing their success and survival also makes the writer of the stories happy.
Author Links:ย Facebookย |ย Website
At school, I already learned how to knit a potholder. I can surely manage a sweater now! Eddy thinks.
Eddy feels confident about his skills, although nobody else does. The result will be something unique-but not like the photos in the magazin
My Own Family History Firsthand
Cuba, Your Children Cry shares your memories about growing up as a first-generation American of Cuban parents and your desire to experience Cuba for yourself. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I grew up with my parents having a love-hate relationship with Cuba. I did not understand why. The title came from my mom. My siblings would be at school, and I would be home with my mom. Under her breath, she would always say, Cuba, your children cry! And I used to think, why are there crying children in Cuba? I must have been 4/5 years old. We were a working-class family, so family dinners were a rare occurrence, and discussion of my parents’ time in Cuba was rare.
In my forties, I did quite a bit of traveling; I have traveled to over 100 countries. I had been to China and Russia but not Cuba. When the Obama administration started to open travel to Cuba, that is when I thought I should go to Cuba and close this family history circle. My spouse started working on his family history on ancestry.com and randomly asked me to do it too. At this point, I decided to travel to Cuba to discover my own family history firsthand. My parents were getting older, and none of my siblings had any information about my parents’ life in Cuba. On my first trip, I went alone; my parents refused to go; I journaled every day, and when I returned home, I made a photo book and included my journals, and gifted it to my family, thinking no one would ever go back to Cuba. My friend Laurin, who accompanied me on my first trip, also received the photo book, and she suggested I write a book. Brushing that suggestion to the side, I never thought of it again. My parents said they would go to Cuba when Castro died. When that happened, I started to plan our trip.
Two years later, I took my parents to Cuba and audio recorded their stories and journaled every day. When I returned, I completed another photo book and gifted it to my family. Laurin, who came with me on my first trip, asked me for a copy and again suggested I write a book. I did not think anyone would be interested in my book, so I said I would think about it. Then the pandemic hit, and my 50th birthday was right around the corner. And so, I thought, it would be cool to release a book on my 50th birthday. And the rest is history. In the process, I learned that my story resonated not only with Cuban refugees but also with anyone who was a refugee from different countries. It was important to me to discover my family history; writing the book was so cathartic, and in turn, it was important to me to tell this story of survival and tenacity.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The idea that love can be stronger than anything and it can be lasting. That being ousted from your country is probably one of the most challenging things that can happen to anyone, but perseverance and determination will get you through. That being different, having a different skin tone, and having an accent is ok. That even when English is your second language, you can still write a book!
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest thing to write about was interviewing my parents about their last days in Cuba. Then taking that information and putting it into words that told that story exactly as it happened. It took me a month to put it all into the correct words. I couldnโt imagine what my parents were feeling at that time. I remember taking pictures of them in front of their last homes before they left for the airport, not knowing about their future. It was such a sad moment. It was very difficult to get through that part of the book.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
I hope it encourages folks to investigate their own family history, travel to uncomfortable places, and have uncomfortable conversations. It will be worth every second and penny spent to complete their family puzzle.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
It began when I was browsing through my parents’ vintage photographs of a free Cuba in the 1940s and 50s at my home in Hialeah, Florida. I learned everything about Cuba from them, but I had never visited the beloved island only ninety miles from Key West, Florida. They told tales of romantic nights on the streets of Havana, an island where Cuban music escaped from small cafes and filled the streets with people dancing and laughing. I was learning the lingo recognized only by fellow Cubans.
Political strife upended the Cuba of my parents’ childhood and ultimately prevented travel back to the island. It was a conflict so intense that thousands risked their lives to escape through shark-infested waters on man-made rafts to Miami, or anywhere for that matter, to reach land and claim political asylum.
Living this juxtapositionโlove for the island and devastation at the collapse of a once beautiful societyโwas heart-wrenching. I felt as if I was being raised in a Cuban bubble while also being exposed to the elements of unfamiliar American traditions. A contradiction of sorts. For my entire life I craved a better understanding of where I came from, the details of how my parents fled Cuba and, most importantly, who I am.
I yearned to experience first-hand the Cuba of my parents’ memories, to stroll the Malecon, to immerse myself in the sights and sounds of that tropical paradise. After forty-six years of not knowing, I set out to learn the stories of the Iglesias family and to see the island through the tear-filled eyes of my parents. And finally, I accomplished that mission.
Literary Titan Book Award August 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are granted to childrenโs books that have enchanted and delighted us with their distinctive storytelling, vibrant illustrations, engaging characters, or innovative concepts. These books merit extraordinary recognition, and we are thrilled to applaud the tireless efforts, commitment, and creative talent of these exceptional authors.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
A Small Tooth is a Big Change For Kids
Terrific Teeth educates young readers about losing teeth and shows them how to handle it. What is the biggest fear kids have about losing teeth?
The fear of losing baby teeth has many surprising connections. It’s partly a physiological condition as new and unexpected changes happen to your body. Something that you just partially control yourself. Children may also fear that the process might be painful.
But there is some mental pain, too. The period when children’s baby teeth start to fall out is an extraordinary stage in their development. It is a turning point when a small child suddenly grows up to meet new challenges. Children can also be worried that a new kind of witch’s smile greets them in the mirror! And who knows when new teeth will grow to fill the gaps โ if ever!
That’s why approaching school age, in particular, often increases the children’s pressure and worries about whether they will learn everything they need in time before school starts. Losing teeth and getting them out one by one is a new task children must face simultaneously with many other matters. They may try to be as competent as possible but still feel small and need assistance and support.
What are some key factors parents should keep in mind when helping their kids deal with losing teeth?
It’s essential to remember that the period of children losing teeth is more significant than you would expect. To deal with it wisely, we’ll better consider all the challenges connected to that particular turning point in children’s lives.
The adults begin to talk to their offspring about starting school. The child might get the first proper bike and practice the route to the schoolyard. Besides that, there a many more new skills to learn at the latest, before school โ such as reading, swimming, and dressing all by yourself. A familiar life at home is scaling outward to the unknown.
In rapid changes and constantly facing new things, it is essential that the children feel safe all the time. Adults provide their best support by devoting enough time and patience and taking the little one’s concerns seriously. Don’t rush โ removing tiny teeth from a small mouth is a necessary process that lasts several years. Let’s be happy with our child about this new phase as well.
Regarding this matter, too, it is good to remember that things look different when we look at them through the eyes of a child. This is especially true of all fears. What seems like a small thing to an adult may worry a child for weeks.
What is the biggest challenge you had as a parent around dental health?
I’m a mother of three children. Fortunately โ based on my personal childhood experiences โ I was well aware of the possible dental challenges they might face with their teeth. It has helped me approach my children’s upbringing with patient compassion also in this respect.
Each of my children had a unique approach to this teeth-losing period. One was very scared, and taking the tooth away was a multi-day operation for the whole family. The other was a quiet loner who just needed a little encouragement and, finally, some ice cream treats. Somebody needed some praising after proudly presenting the loose teeth between tiny fingertips.
My father helped me get some of my first baby teeth out. He took me to buy ice cream to celebrate our joint success. It left me with a pleasant memory that I have sometimes applied to my children. It has been nice to celebrate the lost tooth somehow together. With my youngest child, we sometimes had to consult the dentist, and after each visit, we went to the bookshop to buy a book, some paperware, or pencils. Soon he was almost waiting for those visits.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have many roles in our small publishing company, Wickwick Ltd, and I work with stories along the production chain. That’s why I’m also now involved in the various stages of the books that we publish. There is writing, working with translators, editors, and illustrators.
I have just written many new manuscripts, as spring and summer are fruitful seasons for me. Stories pile up, and they will be published next year. I think the five stories I have written linked to important songs in my life will be fascinating. And I trust theyโll inspire the illustrators, too. Besides, I’m writing manuscripts for two great stories with very specific backgrounds. A family friend living on the other side of the world has “donated” me his unique experiences and suggested that I turn them into children’s books. And I will do it. However, it takes some time before these stories can be published with beautiful illustrations. I hope they will be ready for my readers sometime next year.
Fortunately, there are also books ready for publishing already this autumn. It calms my impatient mind! I’ll give you some examples. Friends and Rivals tells a story of power-hungry prince brothers. The illustration is made by the Croatian Iva Dukiฤ. This is our first book together, and I’m delighted with the result. The book’s insightful pictures convey moods from the brothers’ carefree days as children as well as from the dark years of fighting for power.
Also coming soon is The Bird Prison โ a fairy tale set in a beautiful garden with surprising limitations. The book has lovely hand-drawn watercolor illustrations by the Ukrainian Sofia Panchyshyn. A perfect garden turns out to be a difficult place to live for birds of different colors, each chirping their unique song. The stiff gardener, Griselda, is definitely not a fan of birds. I have witnessed with joy how my story has been transferred to paper in Sofia’s skillful hands. I expected wonderful pictures because I’ve seen some of her work before. But the illustration of this book exceeds all my expectations. I’m sure it will get a lot of admirers!
Author Links: Facebook | Website
“Terrific Teeth” is a book about losing baby teeth.
Is Emma about to start losing her baby teeth? What if they won’t come out–will horrible crocodile teeth grow inside her mouth, as her brother says? Luckily, Dad has some ideas in mind to help her.
Help! Emma’s first baby tooth is loose. “I want to keep this tooth. It’s just fine!” Emma insists.
But Emma’s brother is scaring her, telling her those horrible crocodile teeth will grow inside her mouth if she keeps all her baby teeth. Luckily, Dad has some ideas to help, and in the end, she gets to have a tooth party.
Literary Titan Book Award July 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are granted to children’s books that have enchanted and delighted us with their distinctive storytelling, vibrant illustrations, engaging characters, or innovative concepts. These books merit extraordinary recognition, and we are thrilled to applaud the tireless efforts, commitment, and creative talent of these exceptional authors.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Zoey Wonders Why
Navigating the labyrinth of self-identity and lineage can often be a challenging quest. However, Zoey Wonders Why, penned by the talented Nadia Khan, beautifully illuminates the importance of embracing one’s cultural roots as an intrinsic aspect of personal identity. Our young protagonist, Zoey, finds herself grappling with a complex school assignment – showcasing her familial origins, an undertaking complicated by her cosmopolitan lineage.
The narrative weaves Zoey’s intricate journey into a poignant tapestry that invites the readers to share in her conundrum, making the experience profoundly relatable. Khan’s eloquent prose feels akin to an intimate conversation with a young child, ensnaring the readers in an engaging discourse that effortlessly bridges the generational chasm. The narrative, studded with an endearing blend of simplicity and whimsical dialogue, promises to make a delightful read for young minds.
Zoey Wonders Why serves as a vibrant canvas, portraying a richly layered storyline that resonates with the themes of cultural diversity and familial bonds. The magnetic pull of the narrative is further amplified by the vivid illustrations, brimming with lush hues. The heartwarming illustrations, teeming with familial warmth and camaraderie, strike a tender chord, adding a captivating visual dimension to the book.
The profound narrative of Zoey Wonders Why empowers readers to celebrate their unique cultural heritage and appreciate the rich tapestry of diversity. It underscores the idea that the quest for self-identity may seem arduous, yet the courage to delve into one’s family history can be a rewarding voyage of self-discovery. This riveting book, replete with bright illustrations and Zoey’s charming humor, serves as an ideal bedtime story, subtly imparting life lessons amidst the joyous laughter of storytelling.
Zoey Wonders Why is more than just a bookโit’s an enchanting voyage through the complexities of self-identity, heritage, and the celebration of diversity, making it a stellar addition to any young reader’s collection.
Pages: 54 | ASIN: B09X5ZRMGN
