2024

CAL Finalists Announced

Book Cover Design: Children

Tap and Rap, Move and Groove by Connie B. Dow; Cover Design by Colleen Pidel

Oski Becomes a Service Dog by Chris Mandeville; Cover Design by L.B. Hayden

Book Cover Design: Adult-Suspense

Time Agents: Complications by Jodi Bowersox; Cover Design by Tristan Bowersox

The Other Side of the Rainbow by Julie Cordova

True Crime Redux by Stephanie Kane; Cover Design by Christine Van Bree

Book Cover Design: Adult-General

Unexpected Riches by C.S. Boyll; Cover Design by Jacqueline and Ariane Peveto

Raven Woods: Smoke Signals by Denise Gard

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner; Cover Design by Sandra Chiu

Illustration

Tap and Rap, Move and Groove by Connie B. Dow: Illustrated by Debbie Palen

Too Much! An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutierrez; Illustrated by Angel Chang

Poop Theory: Find Your Pony by Andrea Rudolph; illustrated by Jennifer Matthews

Articles

“Dwight Eisenhower: America’s First Pilot President” by Penny Rafferty Hamilton

“Respiratory Distress in Pets: Helping Clients Understand the Dangers and Signs” by Roxanne Hawn

“Antidote to Truth” by Carol Ann Wilson

Essays

“Memento Mori: Eulogy For Marilee” by Catherine Underhill Fitzpatrick

“Memento Mori: Eulogy For My Father” by Catherine Underhill Fitzpatrick

“Just Like Your Father” by Carol Ann Wilson

Single Poems

“Contemplating a Statue of the Reclining Pan, Nimbin, 2012” by Dan Guenther

“Sunrise on the Short Grass Prairie” by Dan Guenther

“HEAT” by Petra Perkins

Short Stories

“Casting Grand Titans” by Leah Angstman

“The Light Ages” by Leah Angstman

“Anika & Edward” by Stefan Scheuermann

“Kami’s Curse” by Benjamin M. Weilert

Children/Early Reader

Monsters in the Briny by Lynn Becker

Too Much! An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutierrez

Cats by J.B. Stockings

Middle Grade

Hawk’s Cry: The Story of a Cheyenne Hero by Luann Koester

Control Freaks by J.E. Thomas

Katie Cooper, Time Traveler by Bill E. Wright

Young Adult

Finding Fionn by M.J. Evans

Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl

Spirited: No Accidents by S. M. Webb

Nonfiction: Biography Memoir

Dr. Martha Cannon of Utah: The Unexpected Victorian Life of America’s First Female State Senator by Joan Jacobson

True Crime Redux by Stephanie Kane

Bluebird Seasons: Witnessing Climate Change in My Piece of the Wild by Mary Taylor Young

Nonfiction: History

Dr. Martha Cannon Of Utah: The Unexpected Victorian Life of America’s First Female State Senator by Joan Jacobson

Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was by Kathryn Mayer & Greg Glasgow

Gold-Fated Family: J.J. Brown—Husband of Unsinkable Margaret “Molly” Brown by Jody L. Pritzl

Nonfiction: General

Grace in the Wound: Finding Hope in Long Term Grief by Kathleen Hendricks

Photography and Schizophrenia by Jean Manthei

Culturally Responsive Reading: Teaching Literature for Social Justice by Durthy A. Washington

Fiction: Mainstream/Literary

Paradise Undone: A Novel of Jonestown by Annie Dawid

As Joan Approaches Infinity by Kika Dorsey

The Lion’s Den by Jerry Fabyanic

Fiction: Mystery-Cozy/Amateur Sleuth

Brittle Bones by Paulla Hunter

Dying to Ride by Lenore Mitchell

The Killer Without a Face by Helen Starbuck

Fiction: Mystery-Law Enforcement

Hunting the Truth by Kathleen Donnelly

Mamie’s Well by Daniel Ginsberg

Play of Shadows by Barbara Nickless

Fiction: Thriller

Time Agents: Complications by Jodi Bowersox

Wyonation by Dallas Jones

Sinai Surrender by Jeff Lelek

Fiction: Fantasy/Paranormal

Personal Demons by L.R. Braden

Rhenn the Traveler by Todd Fahnestock

The Truth Stealer by Kendra Merritt

Fiction: Historical

Louise and Vincent by Diane Byington

Esperanza’s Way by Cindy Maynard

After Anne: A Novel of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Life by Logan Steiner

Fiction: Romance

Time Agents: Complications by Jodi Bowersox

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner

The Do-Over by Bethany Turner

Fiction: Sci Fi

Crystal of Tears by A. James

Surviving Daybreak by Kendra Merritt

Minimum Safe Distance by X. Ho Yen

Novellas

The Adventure of the Speckled Band…REVISITED by Daniel Ginsberg

A Home For Christmas by Jean Jacobsen

Promise Me Christmas by Gini Rifkin