Congratulations to all of our amazing nominees and winners in 2023!
Below are some of the best of the best!
Best OCA Fiction Books of 2023
1st Place
“Canvas of Healing” Suzette Welling
(2023 Fiction Book of the Year)
2nd Place
“General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms” David Bush
3rd Place (Tie)
“Not My War” Valerie Anne Hudson
“Saving Sophie” Debbie Schrack
“Valiance” Vanessa Caraveo
Best OCA Non-Fiction Books of 2023
1st Place
“The Power of Being Seen” Roger Saillant
(2023 Non-Fiction Book of the Year)
2nd Place (Tie)
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
“The Old Man and Me” R.C. Larlham
3rd Place
“Taking Stock” Peter J. De Silva
“You Have to Live, Why Not Win?” Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton
1st Place (Tie)
“What I See is Love” Gabriella Fiorletta
(2023 Children's Book of the Year, Co)
“Marky the Magnificent Fairy” Cynthia Kern OBrien
(2023 Children's Book of the Year, Co)
“Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea” Miki Taylor
(2023 Children's Book of the Year, Co)
2nd Place
“Cate and the Garden Bandits” Betsy Coffeen
3rd Place (Tie)
“Sadie Sasquatch Goes to School” C. James Sweeney
“Nature Study Buddies” Charlene McIver
Rankings
Top 25 Ranked Fiction Books of 2023
1. “Canvas of Healing” Suzette Welling
2. “General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms” David Bush
3. “Not My War” Valerie Anne Hudson
3. “Saving Sophie” Debbie Schrack
3. “Valiance” Vanessa Caraveo
4. “Over the Fence” Debbie Schrack
5. “Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
6. “Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” John Daze
7. “Tales of Monstrosity” Marx Pyle et al.
8. “Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
9. “Dar & Earth: Oraculi” Athena Kaiman
10. “Magic, Mystery, and the Multiverse” Aurora Winter
11. “Sword Above All” Domenic Melillo
12. “The Dagger: The Madigan Chronicles #1” Marieke Lexmond
13. “Mice” Jackie Sonnenberg
14. “The Little Toy Car” Gabe Oliver
15. "Dyami and the Gobi Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
16. “Fractured Shards” Shaun Keenan et al.
16. "It Eats What Feeds It” Max Hoven
17. “Grave Secrets” Cassandra Aston
18. “Gothic Revival” Michael Mullin
19. “Changing Tide” Robert Joncas
20. “Corruption” Parker Samuels
21. "Culver City" Brant Vickers
22. “The Superhero of Emotion” Emiliano Forino Procacci
23. “Cheerful Obedience” Patrick McLaughlin
24. “Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
25. “Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
1. “Canvas of Healing” Suzette Welling
2. “General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms” David Bush
3. “Not My War” Valerie Anne Hudson
3. “Saving Sophie” Debbie Schrack
3. “Valiance” Vanessa Caraveo
4. “Over the Fence” Debbie Schrack
5. “Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
6. “Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” John Daze
7. “Tales of Monstrosity” Marx Pyle et al.
8. “Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
9. “Dar & Earth: Oraculi” Athena Kaiman
10. “Magic, Mystery, and the Multiverse” Aurora Winter
11. “Sword Above All” Domenic Melillo
12. “The Dagger: The Madigan Chronicles #1” Marieke Lexmond
13. “Mice” Jackie Sonnenberg
14. “The Little Toy Car” Gabe Oliver
15. "Dyami and the Gobi Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
16. “Fractured Shards” Shaun Keenan et al.
16. "It Eats What Feeds It” Max Hoven
17. “Grave Secrets” Cassandra Aston
18. “Gothic Revival” Michael Mullin
19. “Changing Tide” Robert Joncas
20. “Corruption” Parker Samuels
21. "Culver City" Brant Vickers
22. “The Superhero of Emotion” Emiliano Forino Procacci
23. “Cheerful Obedience” Patrick McLaughlin
24. “Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
25. “Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
Top 25 Ranked Non-Fiction Books of 2023
1. “The Power of Being Seen” Roger Saillant
2. “The Old Man and Me” R.C. Larlham
2. “The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
3. “Taking Stock” Peter J. De Silva
3. “You Have to Live, Why Not Win?” Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton
4. “Start with Collaboration” Lois Sonstegard
5. “The Stress Book” D. Terrence Foster, MD
6. “The Off-Balance Theory” Dan Diaconu
7. “The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
8. “Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
9. “The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” Christopher Nelson
10. “Halloween Horror: True ER Terror” Dr. Adam Ankrum
11. “Growth” Karen DeBonis
12. “Heartspoken” Elizabeth Cottrell
13. “SACRED” O'Cyrus
14. “From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
15. “Tales of the Profitable Trader” James Harris
16. “The Power of Wholeness” Dr. Verlaine Crawford
17. “Abraham Lincoln's Path to Reelection in 1864” Fred J. Martin
18. "My Place Among Them” J. Stanion
19. “Genesis of a Genre” Joe Markko
20. “You Can’t Get a Racehorse Out of a Mule” Brenda and Shari Culpepper, Casey Carter
21. “Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
22. “On Sunny Days We Sang” by Jeanette Grunhaus de Gelman
23. “More Than Just a Pretty Space” Reiko Gomez
24. “Setback or Stepping Stone?” Wayne Faulkner
25. “Teens’ Guide to Making Friends” Kev Chilton
1. “The Power of Being Seen” Roger Saillant
2. “The Old Man and Me” R.C. Larlham
2. “The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
3. “Taking Stock” Peter J. De Silva
3. “You Have to Live, Why Not Win?” Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton
4. “Start with Collaboration” Lois Sonstegard
5. “The Stress Book” D. Terrence Foster, MD
6. “The Off-Balance Theory” Dan Diaconu
7. “The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
8. “Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
9. “The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” Christopher Nelson
10. “Halloween Horror: True ER Terror” Dr. Adam Ankrum
11. “Growth” Karen DeBonis
12. “Heartspoken” Elizabeth Cottrell
13. “SACRED” O'Cyrus
14. “From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
15. “Tales of the Profitable Trader” James Harris
16. “The Power of Wholeness” Dr. Verlaine Crawford
17. “Abraham Lincoln's Path to Reelection in 1864” Fred J. Martin
18. "My Place Among Them” J. Stanion
19. “Genesis of a Genre” Joe Markko
20. “You Can’t Get a Racehorse Out of a Mule” Brenda and Shari Culpepper, Casey Carter
21. “Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
22. “On Sunny Days We Sang” by Jeanette Grunhaus de Gelman
23. “More Than Just a Pretty Space” Reiko Gomez
24. “Setback or Stepping Stone?” Wayne Faulkner
25. “Teens’ Guide to Making Friends” Kev Chilton
Top 25 Ranked Children's Books of 2023
1. “What I See is Love” Gabriella Fiorletta
1. “Marky the Magnificent Fairy” Cynthia Kern OBrien
1. “Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea” Miki Taylor
2. “Cate and the Garden Bandits” Betsy Coffeen
3. “Sadie Sasquatch Goes to School” C. James Sweeney
3. “Nature Study Buddies” Charlene McIver
4. “Frankinschool” Caryn Rivadeneira
5. “Where are you, Alfie?” Mary Jean DeSantis
6. “Puppy Comes Home” Diane Capogna
7. “Henri and the Magnificent Snort” Samantha Childs
8. “The Fox's City” Tuula Pere
8. “Welcome Home, Pearl” Tuula Pere
8. “Mellie the Mermaid” Anna Finch
9. “The Caring Crab” Tuula Pere
10. “Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze” Sheryl Bass
11. “Story Monsters Among Us” Conrad J. Storad
12. “Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
12. “Wren and the Worry-Vanishing Magic” Kendra Fogarty
13. “ABC for Future CEOs” Chris Folayan
14. “The Dragon in the Closet” Carolyn Watson-Dubisch
14. “The Vampire’s Missing Cape” Steve Stables
14. “The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
15. “Hide and Seek Alphabet: With Australian Animals” Anna Finch
15. “Treasure Isle” Catherine Corcoran
16. “Mice to Meet You” Sylvia Elba
17. “Zelda the Rescue Dog to the Rescue” Jeffrey Schoenherr
18. “Between the Walls” Tuula Pere
19. “Kenzie and Bun Bun: First Dance Class” Stephanie Pyles
20. “Great Big Breath” DW Long
21. “A Butterfly’s Song” Tuula Pere
22. “The Gnatural” Mark & Ryan Bryson
23. “Mysteries of the Mist” Cynthia Rand
23. “What Is the Shape of My Egg?” Lisa Weckbacher
23. “Chella Chicken” Travis Shiwji
24. “Pearl’s Life” Tuula Pere
24. “Pearl, Our Butterfly” Tuula Pere
24. “Sora Searches for a Song” Once Upon a Dance
25. “Digger the Colony Worker Ant” Dr. Christian Kueng
1. “What I See is Love” Gabriella Fiorletta
1. “Marky the Magnificent Fairy” Cynthia Kern OBrien
1. “Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea” Miki Taylor
2. “Cate and the Garden Bandits” Betsy Coffeen
3. “Sadie Sasquatch Goes to School” C. James Sweeney
3. “Nature Study Buddies” Charlene McIver
4. “Frankinschool” Caryn Rivadeneira
5. “Where are you, Alfie?” Mary Jean DeSantis
6. “Puppy Comes Home” Diane Capogna
7. “Henri and the Magnificent Snort” Samantha Childs
8. “The Fox's City” Tuula Pere
8. “Welcome Home, Pearl” Tuula Pere
8. “Mellie the Mermaid” Anna Finch
9. “The Caring Crab” Tuula Pere
10. “Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze” Sheryl Bass
11. “Story Monsters Among Us” Conrad J. Storad
12. “Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
12. “Wren and the Worry-Vanishing Magic” Kendra Fogarty
13. “ABC for Future CEOs” Chris Folayan
14. “The Dragon in the Closet” Carolyn Watson-Dubisch
14. “The Vampire’s Missing Cape” Steve Stables
14. “The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
15. “Hide and Seek Alphabet: With Australian Animals” Anna Finch
15. “Treasure Isle” Catherine Corcoran
16. “Mice to Meet You” Sylvia Elba
17. “Zelda the Rescue Dog to the Rescue” Jeffrey Schoenherr
18. “Between the Walls” Tuula Pere
19. “Kenzie and Bun Bun: First Dance Class” Stephanie Pyles
20. “Great Big Breath” DW Long
21. “A Butterfly’s Song” Tuula Pere
22. “The Gnatural” Mark & Ryan Bryson
23. “Mysteries of the Mist” Cynthia Rand
23. “What Is the Shape of My Egg?” Lisa Weckbacher
23. “Chella Chicken” Travis Shiwji
24. “Pearl’s Life” Tuula Pere
24. “Pearl, Our Butterfly” Tuula Pere
24. “Sora Searches for a Song” Once Upon a Dance
25. “Digger the Colony Worker Ant” Dr. Christian Kueng
Best Authors of 2023
1. Tuula Pere (2023 Author of the Year/Co)
1. Debbie Schrack (2023 Author of the Year/Co)
2. Vanessa Caraveo (2023 Author of the Year Runner-Up)
3. Suzette Welling
4. Domenic Melillo (2022 Author of the Year/Co)
4. Conrad J. Storad
5. Leslie Kain
6. Marieke Lexmond
7. Anna Finch
8. Once Upon a Dance (Konora & Terrel Lefferts)
9. David Bush
10. Roger Saillant
1. Tuula Pere (2023 Author of the Year/Co)
1. Debbie Schrack (2023 Author of the Year/Co)
2. Vanessa Caraveo (2023 Author of the Year Runner-Up)
3. Suzette Welling
4. Domenic Melillo (2022 Author of the Year/Co)
4. Conrad J. Storad
5. Leslie Kain
6. Marieke Lexmond
7. Anna Finch
8. Once Upon a Dance (Konora & Terrel Lefferts)
9. David Bush
10. Roger Saillant
Best Artists of 2023
1. Anthony Richichi (2023 Artist of the Year, Co)-
"Colorworld"/"Where Are You, Alfie?"/"Raccoons Go Rafting"/"Puppy Comes Home"/"Finding the Blaze"/"The Dragon in the Closet"/"Witches, Bats, and Mystical Cats"
1. Dr. Steve Offord (2023 Artist of the Year, Co)-
"Tonya Harding"/"Reflective Mirror/Pigeon Dropping Art for Tahera"/"50 Paintings for 50 Coworkers"
1. Jackie Sonnenberg (2023 Artist of the Year, Co)-
"Aschenputtel"/Undisputed 2023 OCA Clash of Champions Winner for Art/Numerous other creations
2. Eunhye Shin (2023 Artist of the Year Runner-Up)-
"Bentley's Fantabulous Idea"
3. Catty Flores-
"Welcome Home, Pearl"/"Pearl's Life"/"Pearl, Our Butterfly"/"Scared to Swim"/"The Tree House Night"/"A Special Sweater"/"The Only Blue Crow"
4. Gayle Cobb-
"Nancy Grace Roman, Mother of the Hubble Space Telescope”
5. Danilo Cerovic-
"Mysteries of the Mist"
6. Claudia Gadotti-
“Nature Study Buddies”
7. Alexandra Burda-
“You Can Fly, Little Bird”
8. Wathmi de Zoysa-
“Mellie the Mermaid”
9. Hannah Farr-
"Henri and the Magnificent Snort"
10. Andrea Alemanno-
“The Fox's City”/"The Fox's Tower"
1. Anthony Richichi (2023 Artist of the Year, Co)-
"Colorworld"/"Where Are You, Alfie?"/"Raccoons Go Rafting"/"Puppy Comes Home"/"Finding the Blaze"/"The Dragon in the Closet"/"Witches, Bats, and Mystical Cats"
1. Dr. Steve Offord (2023 Artist of the Year, Co)-
"Tonya Harding"/"Reflective Mirror/Pigeon Dropping Art for Tahera"/"50 Paintings for 50 Coworkers"
1. Jackie Sonnenberg (2023 Artist of the Year, Co)-
"Aschenputtel"/Undisputed 2023 OCA Clash of Champions Winner for Art/Numerous other creations
2. Eunhye Shin (2023 Artist of the Year Runner-Up)-
"Bentley's Fantabulous Idea"
3. Catty Flores-
"Welcome Home, Pearl"/"Pearl's Life"/"Pearl, Our Butterfly"/"Scared to Swim"/"The Tree House Night"/"A Special Sweater"/"The Only Blue Crow"
4. Gayle Cobb-
"Nancy Grace Roman, Mother of the Hubble Space Telescope”
5. Danilo Cerovic-
"Mysteries of the Mist"
6. Claudia Gadotti-
“Nature Study Buddies”
7. Alexandra Burda-
“You Can Fly, Little Bird”
8. Wathmi de Zoysa-
“Mellie the Mermaid”
9. Hannah Farr-
"Henri and the Magnificent Snort"
10. Andrea Alemanno-
“The Fox's City”/"The Fox's Tower"