CHANDLER, AZ (June, 2019)—Winners of the 2019 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards have been announced and Always Anjali by Sheetal Sheth, illustrated by Jessica Blank, has earned this year’s $500 Grand Prize, as well as First Place designations in the Cultural Diversity and Picture Books 6 & Older categories. The book is a timeless story about appreciating what makes us special and honoring our differences. Anjali and her friends are excited to get matching personalized license plates for their bikes. But Anjali can't find her name. To make matters worse, she gets bullied for her “different” name, and is so upset, she demands to change it. When her parents refuse and she is forced to take matters into her own hands, she winds up learning to celebrate who she is and carry her name with pride and power.

The winner of this year’s Purple Dragonfly Book Award $100 drawing is Dr. Carrie Kollias, author of Maria's Marvelous Bones. Kollias earned First Place designations in the Health and STEM categories. A complete list of winners is available on the Dragonfly Book Awards website at www.DragonflyBookAwards.com.

“This year’s contest was very competitive with the record-breaking number of entries we received. Our judges definitely had their work cut out for them." says Linda F. Radke, president of Story Monsters LLC, sponsor of the Purple Dragonfly Book Award contest. “I want to extend my warmest congratulations to all of our winners on their achievements.”

The next Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest is already underway. The final deadline for submissions is May 1, 2020. Story Monsters LLC also offers two other contests: Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, which recognizes outstanding literature in all genres. The final deadline is October 1, 2019; and Story Monsters Approved!, a book designation program that highlights quality children's books with kids assisting with the judging. The final deadline to enter is February 3, 2020.

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

To learn more about Story Monsters LLC, based in Chandler, Arizona, visit www.StoryMonsters.com, email info@storymonsters.com or call 480-940-8182.

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