CHANDLER, AZ (June, 2015)—Winners of the 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards have been announced by Five Star Publications, Inc. Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina by Michaela and Elaine DePrince has earned this year’s $300 Grand Prize as well as a First Place designation in the Biography/Autobiography/Memoir category. Michaela DePrince was known as girl Number 27 at the orphanage, where she was abandoned at a young age and tormented as a “devil child” for a skin condition that makes her skin appear spotted. But it was at the orphanage that Michaela would find a picture of a beautiful ballerina en pointe that would help change the course of her life. At the age of four, Michaela was adopted by an American family, who encouraged her love of dancing and enrolled her in classes. In this engaging, moving and unforgettable memoir, Michaela shares her dramatic journey from an orphan in West Africa to becoming one of ballet’s most exciting rising stars.

The winner of this year’s $100 drawing is Barbara Freeman, the author of Sugar: A Princess Pit Bull Finds Her Family and Super Smart Sugar. Freeman earned First Place awards in the Educational/Instructional and Family Matters categories and Honorable Mention in the Animals/Pets category.

Additional first-place winners include My Very Own Bucket Filling from A to Z Coloring Book by Carol McCloud and Caryn Butzke; illustrated by Glenn Zimmer; Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon by Terry John Barto, illustrated by Kim Sponaugle; CougaMongaMingaMan Meets Maggie by Nancy Scalabroni, illustrated by Terri Kelleher; When the Sun Goes Down by Nannette Nocon, illustrated by John Kastner; Gollywood Here I Come! by Terry John Barto, illustrated by Mattia Cerato; The Eel Hunt by Jennifer Somervell, illustrated by Margery Fern; A Colorful Journey Through the Land of Talking Letters by Mary Jo Nyssen, illustrated by Mike Motz; The Lucky Chipmunk by Sirui Li, illustrated by YingMing Zhao; Muddy Madeleine Meets an Arach-A-Doo by Amanda Stone Norton, illustrated by Veronica V. Jones; Wilson & Bella's Christmas Wish! by Susan Castriota; Hey, Baby, Look! by Kate Shannon, illustrated by Morgan Owens; It's This Monkey's Business by Debra Mares, illustrated by Taylor Christensen; Just Because by Chiquita Camille Payne, illustrated by Jerry Craft; That Mama is a Grouch by Sherry Ellis, illustrated by Don Berry; The Rain Forest Dance by Sandra Fernandez-Achenbach; Your Awesome Brain by Edwin Lee, M.D., F.A.C.E and Jim Huth, illustrated by Bryan Burright; Powder Monkey by Donna M. McDine, illustrated by K.C. Snider; A Place to Call Home: Toby's Tale by G.A. Whitmore; The Gift of Sunderland by J.E. Rogers, illustrated by Guy Atherfold; The Gift of Sunderland (ebook) by J.E. Rogers, illustrated by Guy Atherfold; Eden and Her Happy by Tracy Schlepphorst; If I Could Reach the Sky by Abbe Reichman, illustrated by Charles Berton; It's a Piece of Cake by Laurie Lunsford, illustrated by Brittani Gothard; Noisy Bird Sing-Along by John Himmelman; The Adventures of Paka The Lion Cub by Mary N. Keown, illustrated by Yvonne L. Martin; An Amazing Circus of Phonograms: Act 1 by Mary Jo Nyssen, illustrated by Mike Motz; Explorations of Commander Josh Book One: In Space by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik; Queen Vernita Visits Baja Quail by Dawn Menge, illustrated by Pamela Snyder; Sashi: The Scared Little Sheltie by Linda Greiner, illustrated by Morgan Spicer; The Dandelion Seed's Big Dream by Joseph Anthony, illustrated by Chris Arbo; The Great Danbury State Fair by Theresa Buzaid, illustrated by Steve Dasgupta; Angels, Angels, Everywhere by Michelle Beber, illustrated by Susan Shorter; The Lonely Loon by Margaret Ball Ottman; The Visitor's Choice by Alexander Davidson; If Jesus Lived Inside My Heart by Jill Roman Lord, illustrated by Amy Wummer; Pancakes with Papa: Five Ways to Remember by Dena Albergo Jayson, illustrated by Rainer M. Osinger; and A Place to Call Home: Toby's Tale by G.A. Whitmore  

“We had a very tight competition this year and our judges definitely had their work cut out for them," says Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, Inc. “I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to all of our winners.”

For a complete list of winners, visit www.DragonflyBookAwards.com. The next Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest is already underway. The early bird deadline is March 1, 2016. Final deadline for submissions is May 1, 2016.

For complete rules and submission forms for these contests, visit www.DragonflyBookAwards.com and click on the contest of choice.

Story Monster Approved! identifies quality children's books that have been kid-tested and judge-certified, making it easier for buyers to choose exceptional fiction and nonfiction books that parents will approve and youths will enthusiastically devour. Authors interested in having their books considered for the Story Monster Approved! designation should visit www.StoryMonsters.com to download an entry form. There is no deadline to enter and books are judged as they are received.

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