Garden State Book Awards

The Garden State Book Award is given annually to children's and young adult works of exceptional caliber. The first children's awards were selected in 1977 by the Children's Services Section of the New Jersey Library Association. In 1995, the awards were expanded to include teen books as well.

The Garden State Book Award Committee nominates books from each category and distributes ballots to New Jersey libraries and schools. The votes are compiled and the winners are selected.

2005 Winners

Best Easy to Read Book

Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown
Paula Danziger, illustrated by Tony Ross

Best Easy to Read Series Book

Biscuit Goes to School
Alyssa Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories

Best Children's Fiction

Loser
Jerry Spinelli, cover art by Mark Elliot

Best Children's Non Fiction

Bury the Dead: Tombs, Corpses, Mummies, Skeletons and Rituals
Christopher Sloan

Fiction Grades 6-8

The Thief Lord
Cornelia Funke

Fiction Grades 9-12

All-American Girl
Meg Cabot

Teen Non-Fiction

Where To Park Your Broomstick: A Teen's Guide To Witchcraft
Lauren Manoy